Why have perms never made a comeback?

[Sooobooored]

I am watching Top of the Pops 1982 and reminiscing about all the hairstyles, most of which I had myself. Perms and big hair have never made a comeback and I’m not sure why.

I used to have mine permed then 6 weeks later highlighted (with a cap) then start again 6 weeks later. My hair was mid shoulder length & set like concrete with mousse & hairspray, I had a plant spray bottle of water to damp it down to re blow dry it every morning & then tonged it with those Braun Independent tongs that were basically a mini flame thrower. It's a wonder I have any hair left, it used to cost a fortune.

Someone on here had a perm a few years ago and did a thread with updates maybe Honeydragon ?

I asked about a perm a few years ago wanting a wave rather than spiral curls. I remember something called a digital perm that was popular in Asia 15 years ago that gave that look but it never came here.

@Nat6999 I am loving the sound of your hair!

Alas I was never allowed a perm, I had a strict mother. In retrospect she may have had a point, but, oh the injustice at the time.

I had one perm. I walked out of the salon like Farrah Fawcett only for it to drop within days. The split ends lasted for years

My mum gave me a perm when I was 13. With those rollers that look like tampons trapped in garden wire. One side was tighter than the other. It lasted YEARS. There was a lot of frizz.

I would love a perm! I have a natural wave and really suit big hair as I'm tall and very large built. I look absolutely dreadful with straightened hair, all double chin, chubby cheeks and flat lifeless roots. I can achieve a permed look by plaiting my hair overnight but I don't like washing my hair before bed so that's a pain.

I had a perm a couple of years ago,

I had a perm last week. Apparently I was the third one that day!

@DustyMaiden
You have very similar hair to mine! It looks lovely on you

I've heard of digital perms. What they like? They sound very 21st century .

It's amazing how long it's been a thing for young women to have long straight hair. My dd (age 25) finds it extraordinary looking at 1980s TOTP women with shoulder length permed hair.

What are they like I meant

They were a nightmare to grow out. It's easy enough to get rid of a colour but not so easy to get rid of a perm if you want a change.

I have coloured hair and had a perm a couple of years ago . You have to have the perm then wait a couple of weeks for the colour. Unfortunately the hairdresser wasn’t as experienced as the girl who used to perm my hair in the 80s so I didn’t get the effect I wanted. I remember hairdressers using coke cans to get big loose curls. I also used to buy a box of bendy rollers and a spray that would create the perm effect if you left them in overnight.

@Mermaidwaves thank you 😊

I think I need some pics of modern perm styles.

Most hairdressers these days won't be experienced at perming, unless they work somewhere frequented by women in their 80s, and that is not the style most younger women would want.

Gawd I could do without ever crying again over a perm gone wrong.
Which was every time

I had a perm 2019 and a second in 2020.
It was a spiral perm and my hairdresser is older so happy perming as has been doing it for 30 years.
I just had the last of it cut out out the other week.
It was hard work to maintain and I benefited from lock down in embracing the frizz when I couldn't be bothered.
I don't think I'll have one again but enjoyed my experiment with it.

I used to save my pocket money for an acid perm, in the 80s. But more pricey than a regular one and softer looking.

Don't need to, these days!

I loved my perms back in the 80s.

Then in the late 90s while living overseas I persuaded my hairdresser to do one. He was reluctant but did it. I looked like Maggie Thatcher with dark hair. It was horrendous. Then when it grew a bit I had it blow dried one day as I was going to a ball that night. Usual hairdresser was busy so someone else did it. I looked like I had a bearskin on my head. Ended up going to a hairdresser friend’s apartment to be rescued. Which she tried once she’d stopped laughing. I couldn’t wait for It grow out.

Looking back my hair was too short for it really. It was always going to look dowdy rather than cool.

It hurt like hell and I looked like a poodle. No one should go through that in the name of beauty.

I’ve thought this. Especially after watching Ashes to Ashes recently.

I had one age 10 (!) and 14 and 17 and each made me cry. I wanted Julia Roberts but got Audrey Roberts
I'm hankering to try again though

My Dm had one and my dad didn’t speak to her for weeks. She didn’t care.