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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To consider a perm?

42 replies

Myotherusernameisbetter1 · 03/11/2019 19:37

WIBU to get a perm?

I have really long fine straight ish hair in really good condition. I love my hair after it's been in plaits or a bun and has some body. I am absolutely useless with hair, i can straighten, do a bun, plaits or a pony tail and thats it, I'm not even very good at blow drying it properly. I can't curl hair myself and no hairdressers has ever managed to get curls to stay in for longer than a few hours.

I've been considering a perm on and off for ages because I've always wanted curly hair and I feel like my hair is so boring! Does anyone have one? Can anyone include a pic of their perm or give any advice in what to ask for? I don't want to end up looking like a poodle!

OP posts:
JenetteFranky · 03/11/2019 19:42

You could colour it ginger and pretend you’re from Annie the musical- do you also sing and dance?

glasshalfsomething · 03/11/2019 19:44

I’ve thought the same thing, but my hairdresser hasn’t ever done one. Guess if either have to go to an older fashioned hairdresser or source a specialist.

Would love to see other peoples perms.

EducatingArti · 03/11/2019 19:46

I've had one for 18 months now. I love it. You should go for it!

ScottishBlendTeaBags · 03/11/2019 19:48

You might as well try it, it'll grow out if you don't like it. Maybe waves would be nice?

Craftycorvid · 03/11/2019 19:49

Last one I had absolutely wrecked the condition of my hair. If you can find someone who still does ‘acid perms’ maybe ask about that as an option? Back in the day these were always a gentler alternative and less likely to leave you with brittle frizzy hair.

nocluewhattodoo · 03/11/2019 19:50

I'm also considering getting a perm, I had proper chunky ringlets before having DD, and whilst I suffered no hair loss at all, I now resemble hagrid in the hair department, my hair is now coarse and bushy with very little defined curl. Perms don't need to be old fashioned and paired with a blue rinse, on longer hair it wouldn't have that effect anyway.

Jeschara · 03/11/2019 19:51

Permed look ok for a while but when they grow out they look horrible. Also bad for your hair.

Original poster
Myotherusernameisbetter1 · 03/11/2019 19:52

JenetteFranky - unfortunately I don't sing or dance very well or else I may have done.

EducatingArti - can we have a pic pls?

ScottishBlendTeaBags - can you get waves with a perm? If so what do you ask for?

OP posts:
Original poster
Myotherusernameisbetter1 · 03/11/2019 19:54

I even hadn't considered growing a perm out! I'm glad I posted now. I'm still waiting for some pictures of real life perms though! Grin

OP posts:
Sunshineonthesilverlining · 03/11/2019 19:57

I was like you years ago. Long poker straight hair. I'd been obsessed with having curly hair for ages, it looked so nice on other people.

So as soon as I got my 1st wage from working I got it permed. At first I loved it. But as the months went by my hair got more and more damaged. I had to wait such a long time to grow out the perm. During this time I had a few inches of straight hair then just this frazzled frizzy mess of broken damaged hair. I had to wait until it was long enough so I could get a Bob cut just to get rid of the perm.

Whole thing took a couple of years. If you still have your heart set on it I asked for a spiral perm rather than random big curls.

Oh and over 20 years later I still have random bits of hair that grows at the back of my neck which still curls. It looks stupid and messy when I tie my hair up. I'm still rubbish at doing my hair so started watching hair tutorial videos on YouTube. Managed to master a few lovely styles.

Shoobydoo123 · 03/11/2019 19:59

I had a perm when I was younger (a long time ago) ..At the time I had fine, straight , shoulder length hair - but lots if it so it was quite thick. It started off tight but after a couple of weeks relaxed into loose waves. The trouble was that when it grew out you get a straight parting, then its wavy. I’m still tempted for just not having poker straight hair, but as you say I doubt whether anyone would know how to perm.

WeWantSweet · 03/11/2019 20:23

FWIW I contemplated a perm too but down to advice on Mumsnet I asked for a choppy bob at the hairdressers. It made all the difference to my not straight but not curly either, hair. With a bit of mousse my hair can now withstand wind and rain and not look too bad. Which is an advance on before, lol.

ScottishBlendTeaBags · 04/11/2019 09:05

I don't know for sure if you can get waves tbh, sorry! But I don't see why not, I guess they just don't leave the stuff on as long!

shrutefarm · 04/11/2019 09:24

Look up digital perms.

Alternatively, GHD have brought out a new curler called the Oracle. You run it over your hair like a straightener, no need to be good at curling. I can't curl to save my life but I can straighten!

Bluntness100 · 04/11/2019 09:28

I think you need to think about the growing out stage, how quickly does your hair grow? Because a few weeks after getting it done, you're into straight roots, and those roots get longer and longer. So then you're either trying to redo the roots or getting it all permanently straightened.

swampytiggaa · 04/11/2019 09:32

Yeah don’t do it. I developed naturally curly hair at 39 and it’s a pain in the arse to deal with. You have to be really careful with what you use on it.. no more brushing etc and it easily turns into a matted mess especially in the mornings.

VirginiaCreeper · 04/11/2019 09:35

I was a teenager in the 70s, the decade of perms (and that was just the menGrin).

It's not quite as simple as it sounds.
I had long very straight hair, if I dried it in rollers or even rags it would curl but would be straight within hours.
So I had it permed many times. Surprisingly a perm always improved the condition of my hair but the curls you get are not soft big curls. It's more tight wrinkles and so you have to style it either in big rollers or blow drying. I don't think blow drying had been invented then as I don't remember doing it that way.
Growing out was never a problem for me as it just tamed it a bit.

VirginiaCreeper · 04/11/2019 09:37

Also it's temporary.
It doesn't last until it grows out it lasts a few weeks so you aren't changing it forever.

AndTheSeaRollsOn · 04/11/2019 10:10

I usually have one (due one at the moment, it’s just about gone a getter six months) - mine is for practical reasons as I struggle (arthritis) to do my hair. I love it, I wash, scrunch and go. Find somewhere that does body wave - I searched on Pinterest and took a load of images in to my hairdresser.

AndTheSeaRollsOn · 04/11/2019 10:10

*after not a getter Hmm

k1233 · 04/11/2019 11:18

I had a friend with beautiful straight hair tell me she was thinking of getting a perm as she loved my curls. I brushed my hair and sent her a photo. That was enough, she got over the idea quickly Grin

Curly hair is pretty wild and not as easy to look good as you'd think. I'm lucky with mine that the curl drops daily post washing. Super curly day 1, curly day 2. Depending on how the top looks on day 2, brush that night and tie up or brush pm day 3. After brushing and tieing up, gets the big loose curls. Then day 4 will be waves.

Straight hair always looks tidy and smooth. Curly gets frizzy and takes practise to defrizz.

x2boys · 04/11/2019 11:24

Can you still.get perms? I was a teen in the 80,s we all.had a bad perm !😂 hopefully they are not as good remember them.

Original poster
Myotherusernameisbetter1 · 08/11/2019 18:53

Update

I decided to go for it and get a perm! Seeing as PPs took the trouble to comment I thought I'd post some pics.....

To consider a perm?
To consider a perm?
OP posts:
Original poster
Myotherusernameisbetter1 · 08/11/2019 19:00

Here is a before pic.... it's a very old pic but my hair hasn't changed in years.

To consider a perm?
OP posts:
Thehop · 08/11/2019 19:03

I really like it! It looks like beachy waves! Are you pleased?