topic Re: Perms? in Beauty

Perms?

this is my nic — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:12:40 GMT

I was a child when most women, those who weren't blessed with curly or wavy hair, had perms. There were even home perm kits for children which were done on me. Can we say child abuse?

Now, I've let my hair grow to a shoulder length in back, a bit shorter on the sides. I had a short layered style before letting it grow. It took about a year to get it to the current length.

My hair is stick straight and baby fine and I'm wondering if perms are done now. I think a good body wave would be what I need, but don't want it done by a hair stylist who doesn't have experience doing perms. I see older ladies who appear to have perms, short very curly, one style for everyone. I do not want that!

I asked my hair stylist, he said he rarely does perms and they are always done on elderly ladies.

Has anyone had a perm recently or know someone who has?

Thanks!

Re: Perms?

Phantom41 — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:17:11 GMT

My sister is a stylist and will do them occasionally on her older clients. Maybe try a body perm? I haven't had one in years and years. I know what you mean about "child abuse" that Toni home stuff was awful. Still remember my mom doing these on me and being embarrassed to go to school.

Re: Perms?

this is my nic — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:22:44 GMT

@Phantom41

They truly were awful, weren't they? I asked my stylist if they still smelled horrible; sadly, they do. Yuck!

Re: Perms?

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:27:39 GMT

I have been at my current salon long enough to get my hair done 4 times and I go every 6-7 weeks. I have never been there when anyone is getting a perm.

At my prior salon, which was much bigger, I saw elderly women getting perms.

Re: Perms?

Witchy Woman — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:34:26 GMT

@this is my nic

My current stylist recently suggested a perm...this, after having done one on me before that was disasterous. Maybe she FORGOT! I'm trying not to strangle her for it, because she hasn't faltered otherwise.

She tells me that she has bigger "rods" now. Yea, sure. I would need a rod the size of a tire to keep my NATURALLY CURLY hair from turning into a big ball of cotton candy.

I've been having my hair "smoothed" for years, and decided to let my curls come back. It's a long story, but it was in THAT environment that she suggested the perm.

I've had them. They didn't work on me.....ever. Some woman swear by them.

I'll never, ever, never, never EVER have another perm!

Re: Perms?

ALRATIBA — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:34:41 GMT

The salon I go to now does a lot of perms. Clientel is mainly older women. I just have my hair cut - but the majority of her business seems to be perms and color. (I do my own color.) And .... she's quite busy.

There are two salons in the neighborhood that cater to an older crowd - but very busy and both really good salons ... and prices are reasonable for NYC.

Re: Perms?

chrystaltree — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:39:16 GMT

That is a blast from the past. A time or two an elderly woman has come into the shop while I was there and asked for a perm. Younger hairdressers don't know how to do them. There's one older hairdresser in the show and she's only one who does perms. Instead of telling a hairdresser what you want, why don't you go for a consult and explain what you are looking for, take a picture, and get her advice about how to achieve the look. Don't get stuck in the past.

Re: Perms?

Pook — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:39:16 GMT

@this is my nic I have been getting large rod perms for 30 years now. I get 3 or 4 a year and not only do they curl but add fullness. My hair length is similar to yours and I get a soft curl with fullness. All I have to do is put 2 rollers in the front while I do my makeup and spend a couple of minutes to scrunch and fluff it out and part above the bangs and done. I don't know where you live but they are very common and not just for the curly short old lady styles. The salon where I go does a lot of perms like this for all ages. The smell is not as strong as perms were at one time. There also are many brands and types of solutions and once your stylist finds the right fit for you it's great.

Re: Perms?

PinkyPetunia — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:45:03 GMT

I wouldn't do a perm on stick straight baby fine hair. Try to embrace your hair the way it is.

Re: Perms?

fthunt — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:47:45 GMT

After reading these postings - only older women get perms...........I'll confess I get 4 a year. However, we're not talking tiny curls with blue hair here. Funny that some OP just posted a picture of Princess Di (and I laughed) because her style in pic is my style. My hair is fine and no natural curl whatsoever.........the larger the roller - the larger the curl is absolutely accurate. I get a perm and then a blond hi-lightening full head. Comb and go. It's fab

Re: Perms?

Zhills — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 18:48:39 GMT

I have baby fine, straight, pure white hair and I do perms 2-3 times a year.

You won't believe how many compliments I get on my "naturally curly" hair.

Wash, dry, run your fingers thru it, Done!

You can't use small rods or cheap perms!!!!!!!

Re: Perms?

CinNC — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 20:18:42 GMT

I had one done at an Aveda salon last year. I went in w/photos of really curly styles and stylist did it on small rods so it was more of a wave. Well, the next time I went in, she said it didn't take and I could come back to have a new perm. I was pretty annoyed - she is young, talented, but only did my hair the way she wanted to do it and this was the last time for her.

My current stylist - older guy - said my hair is too fine to take a perm unless I get something really curly. I went back to a shoulder length bob.

Re: Perms?

HLP — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 20:23:20 GMT

@Zhills wrote:
I have baby fine, straight, pure white hair and I do perms 2-3 times a year.

You won't believe how many compliments I get on my "naturally curly" hair.

Wash, dry, run your fingers thru it, Done!

You can't use small rods or cheap perms!!!!!!!

I too get a perm 2 or 3 times a year. When I was younger,yes the free style hair was great, but as an older person I like a perm. My hair is beautiful, if I say so myself. Also I use nothing but Wen products. But I've seen some styles on girls that are awful,looks like they got a cut with a dull razor, Whats with the dyed blond hair with the inch wide black streek going down the part? I always get nice perms, and I've been going to my girl for over 30 years. When your older you'll cut the long hair and be getting a perm.

Re: Perms?

Icegoddess — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 20:31:35 GMT

Well, thanks to all the people here and hair stylist who just labeled me old lady. Yeah, I'm 60, but I have been getting a perm once or twice a year for years. I naturally have fine hair with just a little wave in it. My hairdresser knows to use large rods and to leave the solution on the minimum amount of time. @CinNC, I don't know what your stylist is telling you. There are perms specifically for fine hair. I remember my stylist at one time used one called Frog Fur which was meant for hair as fine as frog's fur. I'm not sure if that is what she uses on me now, kinda doubt it, but she also uses the largest rods she has which are a mixture of peach and orange. There are probably even larger rods for looser looks, but my hair really takes it and it lasts until it gets cut out. Here's mine day of, they usually loosen up a bit after a few weeks.

Re: Perms?

sidsmom — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 20:33:25 GMT

Perms.

That will definitely be a ‘Remember When?’ thing

in the not-so-distant future.

Re: Perms?

Zhills — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 20:55:51 GMT

Don't count on it! I've been around 80 years and so have perms!

They look better than the mousy grey long straight hair I am seeing on the new retirees!

Re: Perms?

santorini — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 21:11:08 GMT

I go to a very large and popular salon. On my last visit (a week ago), a 20-ish young lady was getting a perm. I asked my hairdresser if that was rare. She said it's becoming "a thing" and she's been seeing younger people asking for them quite often in the last few months.

Re: Perms?

Pqfan — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 21:53:27 GMT

Remember the Toni perm? I had one and I still can’t figure out why I got one because my hair was already curly and had body. My mom gave me everything I wanted thank goodness I didn’t go bald. 😞🤦🏽‍♀️

Re: Perms?

Pqfan — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 22:03:09 GMT

@Icegoddess @Your hair looks so pretty!🙂

Re: Perms?

haddon9 — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 22:17:32 GMT

I had perms too when I was a child. I remember how awful and stinky they were! I had/have very straight fine hair too but it's thick. Because it's fine it will go both limp & a bit frizzy when it's humid out.

After complaining to my stylist about how my hair goes frizzy in humid weather she suggested a keratin treatment. It's to maintain my smooth, straight & slick bob style. I love how it turned out so much & had it again before going to Florida several weeks ago. what I found amazing was my hair would still look great when I would wake up after sleeping on it all night.

So while a Keratin treatment won't add body it will help maintain a straight style...at least for me. My stylist aslo added the solution a few inches down from the top so it wouldn't be as flat at the crown.

If perms tend to be given to mostly older women that tells me something....you don't want to have a dated look.