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Original poster

To miss perms?!

109 replies

PutTheBunnyBackInTheBox · 20/02/2017 18:37

I grew up in the 80's and had a few perms over the years and loved them! My DC of course piss themselves at the pictures but a perm was the best thing ever! (Do you remember the first hair wash after getting it done, so nerve-wracking in case they all fell outGrin)
So this morning I was driving into work and this older schoolboy was walking along with the most magnificent head of tight curls blowing in the wind Grin I'm pretty sure it was natural (men don't do perms anymore surely) but it brought back fond memories of my yoof.

What fabulous hair styles did you crazy MN'ers have back in the day?!

OP posts:
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Original poster
PutTheBunnyBackInTheBox · 20/02/2017 22:37

Reggae I had a spiky do too! It took so much hairspray to keep it up I think I'm majorly responsible for the hole in the ozone layer.

OP posts:
thenightsky · 20/02/2017 22:37

God yes... the Coupe Savage.. 1977.

I rocked the Farrah Fawcett-Majors look Grin

I seem to recall that you weren't allowed to wash your hair for 2 weeks after that 70s perm.

bimbobaggins · 20/02/2017 22:42

Omg, this is a conversation I have quite often. My perm days were my best hair days.i have quite thick coarse hair that perms took to really well.
Sadly the straight look doesn't suit me at all and I resemble a burst couch.

Wishforsnow · 20/02/2017 22:45

The shaggy perm was all the rage at school. I would spend hours scrunching mine, applying spritzer and hairspray Smile

Original poster
PutTheBunnyBackInTheBox · 20/02/2017 22:57

The shaggy perm was all the rage at school. I would spend hours scrunching mine, applying spritzer and hairspray

Ooh yes, and loads of mousse (that disappeared when you rubbed your hands together) and that contraption on the end of the hairdryer, a diffuser? Grin

God I miss the 80's.

OP posts:
SophieGiroux · 21/02/2017 09:37

I definitely think it's due a comeback. Conditioners are so much better now so dryness shouldn't be such a problem. It would be so easy in the mornings. Just wash, scrunch and go!

lonesomeandfragile · 21/02/2017 09:58

So I'm not alone! I'm seriously considering getting my hair permed again it's been a good 15yrs since my last one but ooh I don't feel so daft now Smile

paddypants13 · 21/02/2017 10:04

My step nephew has a perm, he's 8. His hair is short at the back and sides and longer on top. His mum's a hairdresser so he always has the latest look. (I have to say I think it looks a bit silly though.)

I have natural ringlets so I am glad curly hair is in.

Roomster101 · 21/02/2017 10:30

I have very fine hair and so loved perms as they give it so much more volume. It is a real shame that they went out of fashion. A friend with similar hair to me said (a couple of years ago) that younger hairdressers don't seem to know how to do them. I would be so please if it comes back in fashion for everyone!

AlexanderBerry · 21/02/2017 11:33

I wonder how much a perm would cost nowadays

BillSykesDog · 21/02/2017 11:37

Tatler had a big spread a couple of months ago about how perms were back with bigger rollers.

AnnPerkins · 21/02/2017 12:49

I was reminiscing about perms while having my hair cut on Saturday. I had a curly short bob with burgundy lowlights. I absolutely loved it and wish I could have it again. It would be much less of a ballache than having to straighten my hair every time I wash it.

You get perms to straighten hair these days don't you?

Northernlurker · 21/02/2017 12:51

I desperately wanted a perm. And a diffuser thing.

blackbunny · 21/02/2017 12:56

Remember the smell of the perming lotion?
If I sniffed that now it would take me right back to the 80s
I had to use an Afro comb on mine

Willow2016 · 21/02/2017 12:58

Oh lordy I still use my diffuser on my hair, its far quicker Smile
And I have an aftro comb too!

Thats it I am off to find a hairdresser who does perms Smile

AutumnalLeaves38 · 21/02/2017 14:09

Early 1990s.

Long hair. Against my better judgement, decided on (loose) spiral perm.

Actual end result pretty, but totally traumatised by experience at salon.

Apart from the fact it took forever, the appt. was late afternoon, 22nd December (i.e. dark outside, but massively busy, brightly lit salon).

Naturally, I was given bloody (floor to ceiling window) chair facing street.

Crowds of loitering shoppers, drunk office workers fresh from Xmas parties, and other clients awaiting their own haircuts, all gawping and sniggering at my Medusa-like, becurlered self (see example picture, but far, far more dramatic) Blush Blush Blush

Perm of any type: Never. Again.

To miss perms?!
BasicBetty · 21/02/2017 14:49

I always wanted a perm Envy. Am jealous of you lot!

lonesomeandfragile · 21/02/2017 14:55

Basic it's never too late Wink

JessieMcJessie · 21/02/2017 15:08

Ah yes, I too was a teenager in the eighties and we'll remember the "spiral perm with hair sprayed quiff" that all the cool girls had. I begged for one but the curls didn't take and I ended up with horrid layers and no curls. Got my own back when straight hair came in years later as mine is naturally poker straight so never had to spend a penny on straighteners.

I lived in Asia until recently and the thing that is all the rage there is the "digital perm". Sounds like something you download.... They hook you up to a machine like this:

It looks crazy but does create beautiful long loose waves. I think that's asian hair is notoriously hard to curl so extreme measures are required!

To miss perms?!
spankhurst · 21/02/2017 15:13

I had many a perm, DM started perming me when I was 12 Shock. I actually hated all of them as they left my naturally silky hair like a brillo pad - that may have been something to do with my inability to care for them properly, tbf.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 21/02/2017 15:14

I loved my perm. No problems in the morning, just wash and go.

MakeItStopNeville · 21/02/2017 15:18

They're coming back. I read it in The NY Times at the weekend.

I lovvvvvved mine.

DuchessofStBridget · 21/02/2017 15:21

I had my first perm last year in July (I was born late eighties so wasn't around for the craze the first time). I naturally have very straight, fine hair and it looks 100 times better permed - my hairdresser used the largest rollers she has and didn't do it all the way to the base. It was quite tight for about a week and then fell into waves. I absolutely love it - wish I'd had it done years ago!

KondosSecretJunkRoom · 21/02/2017 15:22

I'm going to bulk buy afro combs from Ali Express and sell at a ridiculous price on eBay and ride this Mumsnet wave to my fortune.

SuperFlyHigh · 21/02/2017 15:25

I had fine hair (and lots of it) and I had a few perms first one being when I was 15, a bubble one like Kylie Minogue as Charlene in Neighbours.

I actually really suited it. I remember using mousse so it was "crispy", scrunching my hair, a wide toothed comb to comb it and of course a diffuser to dry it with.

I had a few other ones, shorter ones like a bob.

Then in my mid 20s I had a perm again, but either my age or the perm but it didn't quite suit me or look the same as in my youth (21 or 22). I recall when I grew it out/had it cut out someone I worked with mentioned how better I looked like without the perm! Shock

But I enjoyed having my perms when younger!

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