RETURN OF THE PERM!
THE RETRO ’DO IS MAKING A HUGE COMEBACK IN 2021 – AND YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
The ‘curly shag’ has been on the up-andup of late, repeatedly featuring as a front runner when it comes to the hottest cut of the year. And it doesn’t look like this cool-girl trend is going out of style in a hurry.
Along with the return of this retro style comes the reprise of a hair treatment we never thought would see the light of day again: the perm. Yep, the resurgence of this popular ’80s and ’90s trend has once again piqued our interest after witnessing both Jennifer Lopez and Khloe Kardashian happily bringing the
John Frieda’s Frizz Ease Weightless Wonder Featherlight Smoothing Crème, $17.99, priceline.com.au style back. To get the skinny on this newfound interest in perms, we spoke to Dana Monkman of Toni & Guy to find out exactly how the modern perm process works, as well as what’s required for pre- and post-treatment care. WHAT’S INVOLVED?
“To begin the process, we set perming solution and our perming rods, which can vary in size depending on the tightness of the curl that you want,” says Dana. “The time for this to set varies, and will depend on the curl and texture of the hair. We then rinse the hair and apply a second solution, which sets the hair in shape. To finish, the rods are removed and the hair is rinsed thoroughly.” HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Dana advises that, depending on the tightness of curl you choose, a perm can last anywhere from three to six months. Of course, the tighter the curl is to begin with, the longer the life of your perm. “Perms can be so versatile,” she says. “Even adding some slight movement to superstraight hair can make styling easier, so I think we will see this trend sticking around
for a while.”
Curls Créme Brule Whipped Curl Cream (pack of 2), $40.92, amazon. com.au THE DOS & DON’TS
If you’re now a perm convert, and wanting to road test the curly shag, here are a few dos and don’ts for nailing the modern perm…
DO… GET A HAIRCUT BEFORE HAND
“Make sure your stylist cuts your hair into a longer version of the shape you want,” says Dana. “Curls bounce up, so you need extra length to accommodate for the extra bounce!” If you want to try the shaggy permed fringe, be extra careful about length.
DON’T… CUT YOUR HAIR AFTERWARDS
Immediately after getting the treatment isn’t a great time for a cut, as snipping your strands post-perm can weaken the curl.
DO… MOISTURISE YOUR HAIR PRIOR
“Try to have your hair in the healthiest condition before you go for a perm treatment,” says Dana. “A perm is still a chemical service and will make hair feel drier. The better condition the hair is in before you start, the better the result.”
DON’T… WASH YOUR HAIR
Any Legally Blonde fan worth their salt could recite this fundamental rule of the perm. You cannot wash your hair for at least 48 hours following the treatment, as this will lead to an uneven or entirely unsuccessful result.
DO… BUY PRODUCTS SUITED TO CURLY HAIR
Waterless Curl Milk, $14.99, chemist warehouse. com.au
“In terms of ongoing treatment, permed hair requires products similar to that of curly hair,” says Dana. “A curling cream is a great styling aid that will help define the curls and protect against humidity.”