Perms are back in style: are you in?

Dear users, dear authors,
who among you would like to get a perm?

No. That doesn't suit me at all.

No, no, no....—no way. I’m glad that era is over. When I look at photos from back then today, the perm immediately catches my eye. I wouldn’t do that to myself anymore. But back then it was in style, and all the women had it. And I’m sure there are still a few today—and even some men. To each their own.

Best regards, Ina

Want to walk around looking like an exploded mop again? No, thanks—we’ve been there, and thank goodness that’s over. I already have a slight natural curl anyway, and that’s enough for me, especially since I wear my hair very short anyway.

Best, Inge

Oh no. Thank goodness my hair is so short that I won’t be tempted. 

Not all perms are created equal. If your hair is wrapped around thicker rollers and only the lower section is curled, it can look very natural.  Especially those with fine, straight hair often dream of full, wavy hair. So why not?
Luckily, I have natural waves, so I don’t need one. However, I still have to style my hair the way it wants to go—not the way I want it to 🙂

NEVER!

I’d be all over it. Unfortunately, the stylists won’t do it with my hair. I have about three times as much hair on my head as normal, and it’s long—down to my butt 🤣🤣

Oh, and I’d have to pay five times the price for it 🥴

I’ve actually been thinking about it, because there are definitely some really nice perms out there :)

But since I’m part of the “lazy” crowd (get up, run a comb through my hair at most, and that’s it), I’m afraid it’ll be too much work for me :D 

No, because my hair was pretty damaged back then.
There are some really nice perms out there, but I also have thick, unruly hair, so it’s just not for me

Since I have very fine hair, perms were the solution for me for a long time. But then my hair got damaged from them, and my scalp suffered a lot too.

A natural hairstylist gave me such a great haircut that I haven’t had a perm in several years now. My hair has recovered well in the meantime, and I’m doing just fine without curls.

When I was younger, I ruined my long hair with it too. These days, I just want something easy—and no more chemicals on my scalp. So a definite no to that.

Well, I’m also saying “no” to perms. They were “in” back then, but never again. Too many chemicals, and my scalp itched, or I even lost some of my hair because the stylist left the stuff on too long.

Now my hair is nice and soft and shiny (thanks to the clear water here—no limescale).

Diana , I know that too—with long hair and dyeing or tinting it, hairdressers throw their hands up in horror, and you end up paying a fortune.

If I want curls, I just use my curling iron or my rollers.

Want to see what an exploded mop looks like? :-) That was sometime in the mid-’80s, I think around ’85/’86. The jacket was one of the first pieces I sewed for myself back then; there was also a matching skirt. I could still wear something like that back then :-)

Best, Inge

I also had a perm when I was 14. My hair was long before I went to the salon, but after I left, it was so curly that it was only shoulder-length. It took me hours to comb it out even halfway, and after washing it, the curls popped right back up... but it was just the trend back then. 😁

If you have a good hairstylist, it’s a great thing. I’ve had some really good perms.
However, there was one traumatic experience (at a new salon) that really threw me off back then. My brother’s wedding, a fancy new dress, and a new perm. I’d told the master hairstylist (!) “not so short and not so frizzy.” Somehow, he must not have heard the “not”… it was all way too short and so frizzy. Even the term “sheep curls” didn’t comfort me. At first, I didn’t even want to go to the wedding, but then I let myself be talked into it. I still can’t bring myself to look at the photos today. In every single one, I look like all my relatives have passed away.

Many years later, I took part in a training program. It included various trades, including an apprenticeship program for hairdressers. They were always looking for models to practice on. So we always had our hair done perfectly. Then I was foolish enough to volunteer as a model for their final exam. Of course, the perm went horribly wrong. The young lady didn’t pass her exam either. Luckily, the instructor was able to salvage the situation somewhat.

Today I wear my hair short. It’s pretty thick, and a few cowlicks don’t make it easy for me.
I’m still looking for a replacement for my longtime hairdresser, who unfortunately moved away a few years ago for love. I was in the best hands with her for almost 25 years—even when it came to perms.

Sometimes I still find myself thinking about getting a perm again...