Straightening hair is now seen as being like your nanna getting a perm

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So says my friend's gorgeous but no filter ASD daughter! I was there for dinner tonight, had a bath and washed my hair before I went. As I left I said I needed to get home to straighten my hair before bed. And then she came out with this! I mean, I'm not that bothered if it is because my hair is a mess if I don't straighten it tbf. But... is it?

Well, poker straight 90s Afghan hound hair is not fashionable. A soft wave round the face from a middle parting seems to be much more the look I see on the younger ones round here.

Yes, that's true, a softer look is more fashionable now. But - that's not the same as saying that us middle-agers have the equivalent of a perm is it? Or is it?

Yes I think that sounds about right. If it softens the blow, I'm not even middle aged any more, but I think long, poker straight hair is one of the looks that defines your generation. And if you think it'll look a mess if you don't straighten it, well I'm afraid I have to break it to you that that confirms it.

Don't worry, my generation thought we were immune too. 

There is nothing more aging than poker straight bleached blonde or dyed jet black shoulder length hair no and yes, I suppose it is the equivalent of a nan perm these days.

When we were teenagers our nannas were probably in their 50s. We are now 40s and 50s (90s teens) so yeah, it's kind of like our nannas getting their perm or weekly shampoo and set or whatever they did.

Absolutely loads of the young ones around here have long poker-straight hair. Often in a low ponytail and with a north face puffa jacket or white fox hoody. So I'm not sure I'd agree.

My friend's fashionable 18 yo dd often wears her long hair straight as do lots of her friends. It's perhaps not poker straight, it has a bit of movement and layers.

Hmmm, what do you class as "young ones"?

My mother in law used to go for a shampoo and set every Saturday and she really enjoyed it. She had a chat with her hairdresser and got a cup of tea and a magazine under the drier. Sounds much more fun than wrestling with straighteners every day.

But then teens started getting perms in the 80s...

But if you think about it, the fact that she has the original nanna perm reference to draw on shows that she shares the same reference points with you and doesn’t see it quite the same… what else would you have compared the nanna perm to? It just is. And I’m pretty sure very few 80-year olds are straightening their hair. There might be something in her comments (like it’s a style associated with those in their 40s and above), however I think she’s teasing a bit too.

She knew about "nannas getting perms"? That predates me and I'm in my 30s. Seems an odd comparison for a young person to make.

15-25? Our niece is 23 and still has this look.

The op mentions someone's daughter so I assumed it was someone around that age group but perhaps not.

Gently, I think it's both age and class now. Definitely not a royal fan, but think Kate Middleton. Soft, elegant, expensive-looking hair. Not poker straight hair with see through white leggings and Uggs.

That is in itself a bit low-rent tho?

See-through white leggings??? What the hell are they?!

My DD has poker straight hair naturally. She's never needed to straighten it. It's way straighter than mine even after I've used straighteners! 🤣

Yes! The shaggy dog perm. I think I was about 18. Had to be just the right level of shaggyness, too curly and you’d complain you hadn’t wanted the wash and set of your gran!

It's all about the curls now OP!

Oh have you not seen this? I came across it in a NE town. Girl walking towards me in white leggings that were unintentionally transparent. Far too much for my not-long-awake eyes at that time of the morning.

Unfortunately it is. The 90s were 30 years ago.

Wow 😂Gently, my niece is just sporty, young, and busy studying and training as a vet so perhaps it is practical for her?

It’s not true at all. I’m urban/central and around DD plus lots of DDs young affluent friends. Parents in fashion etc etc.... these girls all have the straight very long hair with central parting no fringe. It’s ubiquitous. They would consider that long Bob with fake waves at the front to be very “millennial” ie dated/old. Kind of newsreader style. When they are all getting ready for a night out believe me the straighteners are on.

It always has been for me. I’ve never bothered to straighten my hair.

Ah a NE town. Of course it was. 🙄