I know it seems heard to believe but perms are making a comeback!
I have it on good authority*.
Now before you curl up with horror (see what I did there?!), here are the reasons I think the answer is YES, to the question, are perms making a comeback?
The Flowy Locks of the 70’s
Last time perms were big – and they DID get BIG, didn’t they?! – it was after the hippy stylings of the 70’s. Back then it was all about flowy and flowery looks: kaftans, maxi dresses, flares, and long hair.
By the time 1980 rolled around, we had the curling iron – and we weren’t afraid to use it! It didn’t matter if the back of your hair was straight, just so long as the front was curled away from your face.
And this is what currently seems to be coming back into style.
I’ve seen heaps of magazine articles and Youtube clips of “how to use your straightener as a curling iron” … and I’ve noticed that a lot of our female TV reporters have started changing the way they wear their hair. You guessed it; no more slick straight styles; now it’s a flick or even curls away from the face.
Are Perms Making a Comeback? You Decide!
This to me, is very significant: it was they style that immediately preceded the perm in the 80’s.
At first perms were fairly tame; the earliest versions just gave hair a bit of a wave (more cocker spaniel, than poodle).
But too much of a good thing is never enough – they got bigger and bigger and bigger – as you’ve already seen in my photos above!
As a lifelong owner of very fine, limp hair, perms were my saving grace for many years and if they should come back in, I just *might* be open to getting one again …
Are perms making a comeback? And if so – will you or won’t you?!
*My lovely hairdresser Donna.
I’ve got curly hair so I don’t think curls have ever gone out! I definitely think iron curls are all the rage and are likely to stay that way. I’m not sure the 80’s perm is welcome back just yet but boy, you rocked it!
Naturally curly hair never went out of style – just the fake permed ones! And thanks – the pics are good for a giggle, anyway!
Who knows? We recycle and upcycle so many styles – I would not be surprised to see some version of it! I used to be sad when crimping was in style, because my stubborn Asian hair refused to cooperate! Luckily hair appliances are a lot more fancy now so when it comes back, I’ll be ready haha.
You learn something new every day – I didn’t know that about Asian hair! Yes, I’m sure perms will be back eventually, just not quite in the 80’s way.
Oh dear I sincerely hope not! I had a few very unflattering perms during my younger years too and when I look at them I laugh out loud. I do like the soft flowy hairstyles that are all the rage at the moment.
Yes I like them too. I’m not a fan of the Duchess of Cambridge’s new fringe though – it keeps getting in her eyes, it would drive me mad!
It must surely be about time they came back. I won’t be getting one though. There are too many ugly photos floating around of me with a perm already!
Oh go on, you would have looked gorgeous I’m sure. Share a pic?!