Short permed hair

[LydiaTheTattooedLardarse]

I’ve been toying with having my hair cut short for a while now. I have wavy hair anyway, so I was picturing it a bit like Celine Dion used to have it, but lately I’ve been thinking I’d like it properly curly rather than wavy. The picture of Delta Goodrem is probably the closest I can get to what I want; the other pic is similar, but slightly more extreme than I’d go for.

I mentioned it to a friend (who admittedly has quite set ideas about what looks good) and she seemed horrified. She said it was an old woman’s hairstyle. I laughed and said I didn’t mean a cauliflower perm, and tried to explain what I meant, but she kept saying “No, no; you’ll look like an old woman”.

I know I don’t need anyone’s approval, so I’ll make up my own mind in the end. But it did get me wondering if everyone would think this. Also, is it a bad sign that I found it so hard to find a picture of what I’m looking for?

I tried this back in the 90s. Had to persuade my hairdresser to do it. It was dreadful. I looked like an old woman. My visions were much like your pictures. The reality was definitely not that. It wasn’t too bad when it eventually grew out quite a bit but in the meantime I just had to suffer.

Interesting,@Peridot1… what do you think went wrong? Wrong kind of perm? Hair too short?

Sorry OP, I'm with your friend. Short layers and a perm are a huge gamble....

I think that it will really depend on your own features.
I think there would be a very fine line between looking cute and elfin, or being full on golden girl.

I think If you had it slightly mulleted it would look a bit more modern.

I actually really like the style you mean, and I do have short wavy hair too, but I think it could go either way.

Could you try a wig?

The hair in both images are heavily styled, you won’t look like that with a perm,

thr easiest way is cut it short and use a curling iron, but it’s hard on your hair. And you need the facial structure to pull it off. It is a style favoured by older women. But to look like those images will take a fuck ton of work each morning,

@LydiaTheTattooedLardarse - I think a perm is much tighter curls than in those images. Natural curls are very different. Delta Goodrem’s hair looks natural. I looked like Betty Turpin!

I had a friend with very curly hair who kept it short. It was fabulously chic - I've just looked her up and she's grey now, but still with the same hair and nothing like an 'old lady perm'.

However, I agree it probably requires natural curls. A highly skilled technician could replicate it, no doubt, but it's a fine line and you'd be walking around with a bobble head for six weeks if they curl it too tight!

Also, a dropped perm still looks like a frizzy Banarama mess and I'm wincing at the vision of that in a short cut. Imagine a pan scourer stretched out horizontally from the sides of your head ...

I'd go for the short cut and experiment with curling it at home, if I were you. Your wavy hair will curl more when short, in any case.

Go to salon with a photo of Delta Goodrem.
Almost certainly come out looking like Vera Duckworth.

I have naturally curly hair and the shorter my hair, the tighter the curls. No perm needed. I had my shoulder length hair cut short a few months ago snd yes, it looks like an old lady cut. I liven it up with hair bands or clips but am growing it back out.

Could you get a wolf cut and see how that goes?
Short perm is indeed old lady hair

That’s a good point actually; my waves may look more like curls with short hair. I wonder if I could achieve the Delta look with scrunching rather than a perm?

If you have wavy hair you will achieve that without a perm with a lot of styling. Ex hairdresser here. Will a perm it will be more difficult. Those pics look like an z80s throwback!

It suits Alex Polizzi but I think that is natural curls.

I have naturally curly hair and would never get it cut to that length as it would just look like a 70s bubble perm and I’d look every one of my 61 years. I have a graduated bob which is much softer looking and grows out nicely so I only need a cut every 3 months or so.

That is hilarious! 🤣

Don’t do it - I have that hair <sob>

Currently growing out my pixie. I look like Vera Duckworth & Deidre Barlow’s love child. So much styling required, otherwise I look like I’ve been dragged through a hedge. Styled it’s not much better.