Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Does anyone perm their hair anymore?

26 replies

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 14/03/2025 21:21

I have thick, straight hair and can't do all the blow drying, gadgets etc to get waves and volume due to disability.
I was wondering if a perm might be a good idea.
Have perms moved on from the frizz and dryness I remember from my last experience of them 40 years ago?

OP posts:
Eyerollexpert · 14/03/2025 21:39

I work with young people and up until recently all the lads were getting perms. Also a neighbour got one recently and they still train young hairdressers at college to perm so must still be a demand. Lots of new technics and products for hair why not have a consultation it might help you decide.

user4434 · 14/03/2025 21:43

It’s definitely still taught as the last apprentice to qualify as a hair stylist at my salon was telling me a perm was the last thing she needed to do to obtain her qualification but she had a lot of trouble finding a model.

helpfulperson · 14/03/2025 21:44

i really fancy getting one again. My last was in the 90s

Printedword · 14/03/2025 22:02

I have thick straight hair so I have lots of volume and body. Perms were a long painful process and only ever resulted in wavy hair, which just seemed a waste of money.

I think the concept of a perm is out as a fashion again. My DS has bob length curly hair, he wishes it was straight. Not least because it is taking so long to actually grow.

MissyB1 · 14/03/2025 22:09

11 year old boys do.

CarpetKnees · 14/03/2025 22:16

Yes.
Most of the teens boys who are wondering around looking like Alpacas, for a start.

But yes, women do too.

Printedword · 14/03/2025 22:27

MissyB1 · 14/03/2025 22:09

11 year old boys do.

Omg, I hope not

Darkclothes · 14/03/2025 22:32

OMG! This is the 1st thread I've read that has affirmed that my young nephew likely does indeed perm his hair! SIL and I are not close at all, but I assumed it was a joke that their 10yr son had permed his hair. I had no idea this was a think in the UK!

MrsMoastyToasty · 14/03/2025 22:49

DM has a perm. She also has a weekly shampoo and set. Her hairdresser is almost as old as she is...

Copperoliverbear · 14/03/2025 22:52

I have been thinking of getting one as my hair is dead straight all the time, I’d love a wave or a curl a bit of scrunching and it’s done

fiorentina · 14/03/2025 22:52

11 year old boys to get their broccoli hair..

ChompandaGrazia · 14/03/2025 22:52

There are a couple of year 6 lads I know so have perms. As said above looking like an alpaca is a thing it seems.

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 14/03/2025 23:30

My 18yo DD was asking about a perm yesterday, so it’s definitely making a come back for gen z, boys and girls!

Careerdecisions · 14/03/2025 23:33

Good question! I often go to the hair salon at the local college. I am reliably formed that the barbers section get taught how to perm but the ladies hairdressers don’t have this in the curriculum anymore.

Original poster
Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 15/03/2025 07:20

I am horrified that young boys perm their hair! A quick google showed me a photo of some blonde bloke on Clarkson’s current telly show, which I have never watched.
Looks like a curly toupee.
I just want a bit of a wave or loose curls at the most.

OP posts:
CarpetKnees · 15/03/2025 17:21

My DNiece has permed her hair every year for the pat 5 years. She's only 24, so it certainly isn't the alpaca look-a-like wannabes or older ladies getting their hair permed.

Bouncealot · 15/03/2025 18:37

Finally found a local (Home Counties) hairdresser who can do perms-I have dead straight hair and all the lotions, potions and sprays and electrical gadgets will only wave my hair for an hour. I have asked many stylists who recoil as they have never done one or the salons haven’t even got the chemicals. One so called professional claimed she’d never cut a women’s hair short ‘it’s all about long and balayage nowadays’. Now I have a light perm to achieve Holly Willoughby type waves. Surely I can’t be the only one?

Goonie1 · 15/03/2025 20:13

I have a reverse perm

Goonie1 · 04/04/2025 10:37

Up until recently, I had a reverse perms….same process except rather than I be put in rollers, my hair was combed straight. Worked a treat!

ramonaqueenbee · 04/04/2025 10:46

I came on to say teenage boys too! The ones with naturally curly hair walk around like they've won the life lottery 😂

FalseSpring · 04/04/2025 11:03

I live on the south coast where there are plenty of hairdressers still doing perms but mainly for the over 70s! They have the skills and would probably be very happy to do a younger person's modern perm.

purplecorkheart · 04/04/2025 11:10

A salon in Germany that only does perms regular comes up on my for you page on Tic Tok, It is quite relaxing to watch it being done.

Be4thedawn · 04/04/2025 11:15

I had one a year ago. Loved it but it wasn't great for the condition of my hair, it's not something I could keep up

Manchesterbythesea · 04/04/2025 11:17

I have a hairdresser friend. Her daughter who’s about 26/27 has a perm. It’s so nice, really suits her.

Seagullsandsausagerolls · 04/04/2025 11:19

Yes. Twice a year. Gives my hair body and volume.

Swipe left for the next trending thread