Ask The Experts: Are perms back in style? April 3, 2019 14:03

Back in the day (ok it was the 80's after all) we would perm any hair that moved! And then with the evolution of cutting, the invention of styling products and a change in fashion the art was almost lost

Permed styles were almost forgotten during times of sleek looks, but now they are back in full force. Their magic creates the most endearing undone looks, the trendiest afros or simply lots and lots of volume...so we asked resident perm fan (and Master Hairdresser) Casey Kenny to give us her thoughts 

If you haven't already heard, perms are back in a big way in 2019.
If you're not seeing a celebrity documenting their perming journey on your Instagram feed (see: Olivia Munn, Emma Stone and Jaime King), or a slew of voluminous, textured styles dominating the red carpet, then you're one of the very few people that hasn't been inundated with curly hair inspiration.

So...even today some chemical treatment is necessary to create permanent curls, waves or texture. I like to refer to the process as 'permanent hair shaping'. The shaping involves breaking certain protein bridges in the hair before it is fixed in a new wavy shape. When opting for a hair perm, it is a good idea to treat the hair gently and with a lot of care before, during and after the perm. I would generally recommend a series of Bond Multiplying treatments before and after and permanent wave service to ensure their are optimum bonds to create a lasting wave.

Luckily, there are also plenty of special take home care products at your fingertips. These products protect each individual strand of hair with substances like keratin and collagen, plus take home bond multiplayers like FibrePlex to help maintain the energy in your curl help retain the hair’s vitality and elasticity.

Different Perm Styles: Curls, Waves and Volume?

Perms can create different styles, from afro curls to generous waves. Along with the correct choice of curly hair care & styling products they can help create a modern texture in your hair

When it comes to perms for long hair, however, there are limits in terms of hair length. It is difficult to reshape hair that is more than 12 inches (30 cm) long, because the hair is too heavy to be reshaped. The curls would simply straighten out due to the weight of the hair. Dependent on the size of the perm rods and the applied technique, a perm will create more volume at the roots or create curls all through your hair. As a general rule, the larger the perm rods are, the larger the waves will be. Larger permanent waves also tend to lose their shape faster than small curls.

How does a modern perm differ from what came before?

It’s a much softer, more believable curl. Before, all the curls were the same size and very tight, which made it an obvious perm. Now the curls and waves look so loose and natural, and all vary in size like naturally curly hair does.

How should you care for your perm?

The best thing to do is use a sulphate-free shampoo to keep your new look for as long as possible. You also want to use a diffuser to dry the hair, which will enhance the volume and curls and make it look extra bouncy. Alternatively, you can let the hair dry naturally for a softer finish, but rough-drying the hair like you would with straight hair will make your perm go frizzy. We have plenty of different styling and care products designed to enhance curl, depending on your natural texture