Thinking about a Perm.. Am I Crazy?

[Rora]

Know why I love you DISers? You're about the most honest people I know!

So.. let's begin: I have long (mid-back), very straight, thick hair. It's been this way forever. It's boring. But, I'm a big baby and don't want to cut it short (yet).

Yesterday my hairdresser (girl I've known forever and trust 100%) suggested that I get a spiral perm.

At first I was horrified. I was an 80s baby so I didn't see the PERM in living color but I've heard all about it. Hairdresser reassured me that a spiral perm would be GORGEOUS, wouldn't frizz, would last 9 or so months, easy to take care of, etc.

I would love curly hair. But I just see this:

when I think perm.

So, give me the low down..

 

[KimR]

Funny that you should post this because just last night we were out with a group of people and one of the teens had just gotten a spiral perm. It was gorgeous, although it was not as long as yours (about shoulder length). I was surprised because I thought nobody had their hair permed anymore, but I guess it's coming back in fashion.

I think they work best if you already have 'good' hair to begin with, though, which it sounds like you do. A girl I used to work with back in the 80s had hair that sounds similar to yours and her perms always looked great.

 

[C.Ann]

Go for it!!

DD gets spiral perms - her hair would look pretty bad without it.. (Well - aside from the time she had it cut super, super short.. That looked really nice! Everyone loved it - except her DH - so she let it grow back and went with the spiral perms..)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister is getting one today as a matter of fact. She has very thin hair with no body and that is why she is doing it. She is just getting a body wave.

As far as a spiral, I had a few back in the 80's. You felt like your head was going to ripped off from the weight of the spirals and I am not joking, it is HEAVY.

I would say if you have any blood clot, stroke issues I would not get it because of that, a medical reason.

I just got my hair cut "short" and got bangs!!!

As far as perms, they all frizz and they take daily maintenance to keep them looking good. In other words, expect to add at least a half hour plus messing with you spiral perm in the morning. Perms like that are work.

I suggest getting some hot rollers instead and curling irons and see how you like messing with curling your hair everyday before you take the plunge.

 

[krcit]

I just want to know how you got my high school picture?

 

[Christine]

I think maybe they are getting better with perms.

My stylist has offered me, countless times, a perm to give my short, fine hair some volume. Because of my frightfull 80s experience, I won't do it but she assures me that it will be on my hair for 3 minutes tops and it will just "rough" up the hair. I've seen her do it on others and it really is fine but I'm still scare.

I never though, even in the 80s, that the spiral perms looked all that bad. They really were the most natural looking. I think as long as you don't have short bangs or getting the bangs permed, it will probably be fine.

 

[tlbwriter]

NINE months? That sounds awfully optimistic. And even if the perm lasts nine months, you'll have new growth that won't be curly, so you'll have curly/wavy on the bottom and straight on top unless you're willing/able to keep perming the new growth.

 

[Miniefan]

My sister is getting one today as a matter of fact. She has very thin hair with no body and that is why she is doing it. She is just getting a body wave.

As far as a spiral, I had a few back in the 80's. You felt like your head was going to ripped off from the weight of the spirals and I am not joking, it is HEAVY.

I would say if you have any blood clot, stroke issues I would not get it because of that, a medical reason.

I just got my hair cut "short" and got bangs!!!

As far as perms, they all frizz and they take daily maintenance to keep them looking good. In other words, expect to add at least a half hour plus messing with you spiral perm in the morning. Perms like that are work.

I suggest getting some hot rollers instead and curling irons and see how you like messing with curling your hair everyday before you take the plunge.

This is what I suggest too- get your hair styled in a spiral "doo" and see if you like it before you take the plunge.

Kim

 

[thewebbs5]

I keep waiting for that spiral permed hair to come back in style. Then I'll be "in style" again. I have natural curly hair. I was teen in the 80s so I was able to rock the big hair, but when everyone went to the straight flat hair, I was still rocking the big curly hair.
So I say go for it! If you live in a humid climate like I do, now is the time to do it. The drier fall/winter air makes curles behave nicely!

 

[si-am]

I wouldn't. Most perms look fake and frizzy. There are a few exceptions, of course, but I wouldn't risk it!

 

[moon]

Well, do you like curly hair? I have curly hair and I hate it. It isn't really that curly, but the frizz is a REAL PAIN to deal with.

I think the reason why those Japanese or Brazilian straightening systems are so popular despite that they are incredibly expensive is not so much because they get rid of the curl, but because they get rid of the frizz. It is such a time an frustration saver, a wonderful feeling not to have to deal with frizz every morning!

Finally, this is a question of taste, but I find straight hair to be the most beautiful of all types of hair. So silky and shiny! 99% of models in shampoo comercials have such long, silky, shiny straight hair

If you are bored with you hair now why not just change syle? Like long layers, or bangs? It would be a change without damaging the hair.

Good look with whatever you decide

 

[mrsv98]

I have thin fine hair damaged by thyroid disease and I get a perm about every 6-8 months for volume and I love it. It looks very nice, not "permed" at all. For the first week or two while it is settling down I use Frizz Ease to make sure it isn't too poodle like! and then just my regular products.

My hairdresser uses an organic perm which is wonderful and doesn't smell horrible.

 

[amez]

You probably know that spiral is the way they wrap it--I have long hair and when I get a perm if I don't get a spiral perm then the weight of my hair will slowly pull the curl out. So my roots would be straight and I would still have some curl at the bottom. A spiral does a great job in keeping it wavy/curly at the root of your hair. It is more work for the hairdresser to do a spiral--I've had two perms literally relax or fall out within a few days by hairdressers who didn't do a spiral. Another hairdresser explained why and now I know to stick with a spiral.
Amy

 

[Iott Family]

I just want to know how you got my high school picture?

That was cute!

 

[maciec]

I used to get spirals back in the 80's and early 90's and it always looked good. Now I have straight thin hair that really won't do anything. I have been seriously considering getting a spiral again, but I am scared to take the plunge too.

 

[DisneyDreamer8]

I get a perm about every 4-6 months. I have since I was 14. I have had really long hair and really short hair (that was the only time I didn't perm). My hair is very straight and thick.

Yes perms can frizz if you don't take care of them right. Don't brush them out. Only gently pick wet hair. You need to use a shampoo that is for perm or colored hair so it is very gentle (I use a 2-in-1). Then use a spray on/leave in conditioner. If you live in a humid climate you might want to use a curl defining gel/cream.

To keep the curl longer I don't wash my hair everyday. Usually every three days. Just use a shower cap if you don't want you hair to get wet or you can let it get really wet and re-apply the spray in conditioner.

I don't find that it takes me any longer to get ready. It takes no time to spritz your hair with water and spray in some conditioner, pick, put in clips or headband and walk out the door. When we were younger my sister who never had a perm was still in the bathroom trying to fix her hair long after I was gone.

 

[*BTMRR*]

You probably know that spiral is the way they wrap it--I have long hair and when I get a perm if I don't get a spiral perm then the weight of my hair will slowly pull the curl out. So my roots would be straight and I would still have some curl at the bottom. A spiral does a great job in keeping it wavy/curly at the root of your hair. It is more work for the hairdresser to do a spiral--I've had two perms literally relax or fall out within a few days by hairdressers who didn't do a spiral. Another hairdresser explained why and now I know to stick with a spiral.
Amy

This is true. You still have to realize, though, that if you don't get a repeat perm or cut all of the permed hair off, with a few months' growth you're going to have hair that is curly down on the lower parts and straight on your head. Your curl will relax over time but won't go away entirely.
It's kind of like coloring your hair--if you stop, you'll have "roots." Same way with a perm; you'll have straight "roots" and I always hated that. The spiral perm makes it look better growing out than a regular perm but doesn't solve the problem.
This is what I hated about perms when I was getting them back in my jr high/high school days. I felt like I couldn't ever stop getting them once I started!

 

[hambirg]

Just say no.

I had "The Perm" in high school. My hair is long and that beast took a long time to grow out. When I see pictures now, all I can wonder is. . .what WAS I thinking?