Possibly the coolest comeback trend ever is the return of perm hair. There is a definite buzz around what the modern perm can do for women wanting an exciting new look.

Recommended Video As a specialist in the perming process, I’m seeing a huge number of new clients come through the door for perm treatments. We’ve all heard the perm stories from the ’80s (some not so good!), but it’s now finally time for us to embrace a new generation of modern perms with beautiful results.

What Is a Perm?

A perm is a curly or wavy style, created by rolling the hair around perm rods and applying heat to that. Before you start, the hair has to be prepped by washing it with a sulfate-free shampoo. Then, the wet hair is wrapped around your chosen rods. Once the hair is rolled up, two products are applied — a perm lotion and neutralizer, which will work together to set the hair into a new shape. The total processing time is around an hour and a half to two and a half hours from start to finish, depending on the length and thickness of the hair.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lily B-B / Hair Colour & Perms (@lily.colour)

What Are Different Perming Methods?

Nowadays, there are a few different ways of perming hair, which results in a variety of perm hairstyles. You can have a traditional perm explained above, with less hush, modern products being used to achieve the result. One option here is getting a loose beachy texture if you want some permanent wave in straight hair:

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Another is getting a bouncy and voluminous curly perm – a great choice if you dye for a trendy curly shag cut. Such tight, corkscrew curls are also called spiral perm.

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There is also a digital perm or hot method of perming. This involves wrapping the hair around digitally heated rods and using a perm solution to set the curls. This method is extremely popular in a number of countries, including Japan and South Korea, and it is good for adding body waves and movement to only the bottom of the hair.