Am I nuts? I haven't had a perm since 7th grade. And back then, I did the wet look with it LOL.....yuck...I hate seeing old pictures.
I am considering getting a loose/relaxed spiral perm. I want to be able to get out of the shower and apply some products and go Is it that simple?
I have grown my hair out to my shoulders and it's driving me nuts! It's either a perm, or I chop it off to a short style again. *When* I do my hair I have to blow it straight (my hair has a natural wave to it which I hate) and then straighten it with a flat iron to get rid of frizzies. It takes forever and I usually just do a ponytail to avoid this!
Any thoughts?

By Mommyathome on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:14 pm:

I was thinking of something like this....but shorter of course. I like the soft looking curls.
Trust me...I look just like her!!! ;) ROFL

By Mommyathome on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:19 pm:

And this I am not liking at all. It looks to fluffy. How do I know what kind of perm to get?

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:31 pm:

Sorry, no help here! Every perm I ever had was disastrous. I had one that was so tightly curled, it looked like a cross between an afro and a hairy football helmut. I HATE to see pics of that - thankfully, there are not *many* of me during that particular bad-hair-period!

I thought your hair looked pretty in the few pics I've seen of you! You look like a younger version of a close friend of mine, and you appear to have the same hair type. Her hair is very fine and light brown/dark blond, not very thick, and has very little body to it. I always thought her hair looked fine, but she would get very loose perms, just enough to give it body. I would think the first pic you posted might work.

I'll never perm mine again! My hair used to be very thick, with lots of waves that I hated, and the hairs were not course, but not fine either. Now, it's thinning and fine, still the waves that I hate, but frizzy too, not to mention about 60% gray! So, given the choice, *I* am opting to color mine and keep it shoulder length, rather than long anymore. I blow dry and use a round brush on mine. I put styling gel in when it's wet and that pretty much does it for me.

By Audreyj on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 02:38 pm:

I worked as a professional receptionist in a very upscale boutique here in Atlanta. The benefits included free hair, nails, etc. But I had to be willing to let the stylists do what they wanted....I did it for two years before I got married and I learned a lot and it was fun but I never knew how I was going to look....of course, the stylists wanted me to look good to attract customers. (The was over 15 years ago when there was more to work with!...LOL) Anyway, not only does it depend on the type of perm you get but also on the product of perm and the condition of your hair when the perm is applied. How it is rolled, how long it is left in....all play a factor.

What I would suggest is that you go to an upscale boutique and arrange for a "consultation". Most consultations are about $15. You sit in the stylist's chair and tell her what you want and ask questions: how long have you worked? any references? will my hair type do this? etc. When it is a "first timer" who is unsure, it is worth the extra money to have it done right. Also, if you go ahead and invest your money and time into it now, when it is first applied, you can just have "root perms" in the future and trims. A good perm with a good stylist should last about six months. Hope that helps. I like the first one, too but it looks like she just has color and some orange/gold lighting and applied spritz spray and scrunched hers. You could try that, as well. Might give you an idea about what you want. "Scrunching" is when you apply a spritz spray and then just lightly take your hair in your hand and "scrunch" it. Good Luck. AJ

By Bea on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 12:23 am:

Audrey, I did just what you suggested and lost my hair. The owner of the upscale salon worked on me after several references and a consultation. I had long thick hair. He double rodded my head and then AIR NEUTRALIZED the perm. (sent me home with rods on my head). The next day he removed them. It hung in damp tendrils all around my face, but he sent me home with it still wet. I found out why. As it dried it became a mass of wool. I looked like someone with a 18 inch fro. Then it started falling out in clumps. I went back to find that he'd left town for an extended time. His associates put a strong conditioner and closely french braided what little hair I had left. I wore it like that until it grew enough to get styled. I only stopped the check I used to pay him. I should have sued.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 12:58 am:

Sheesh, Bea. I'm glad I have never had that experience. In the last year or so, I finally went back from having perms most of the time to my own hair. Then I got a perm again and let that grow out and the feedback from my coworkers was that they liked my real hair better. Ok, so that saves me a ton of money! I did like being able to get out of the shower and be able to go, though, with a perm.

The gal who cut my hair last week, combed it a different way, but I would need mousse to make it stay that way. One of these days I will get to the store to get some.

By Feona on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 06:10 am:

You can always perm it than chop it if it doesn't look good.

I just chopped mine off.(Shoulder length to boys length) Takes me one minute to blow dry. Think it improved my skin too... Got some long earring to help... I am kind of liking it. I never went this short before.

By Feona on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 06:15 am:

I forgot to say, the one perm I had was very bad. They left it in too long. I wanted to look like the pretty picture you had too. I had shoulder length hair. The hair dresser had to cut it to really really short. It looked like brillo pad. The hair dresser was on the phone. I was like 16 too. Now I would have screamed at her. Get over her and get this stuff out now!!!!!

Really wasn't nice.. I kept cutting it till it was cut out.

By Mommyathome on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:29 am:

Ahhhh! Now I can't decide! It's almost like it's a risky thing to do.
I'll have to keep thinking. I'm going to take the time to curl all my hair with a spiral curling iron and see how I like the general look. Maybe that will help me decide.

By Momoffour on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:00 pm:

Mommyathome. beautician here if you want that type of curl and not sure if you want it permanet try getting some hot rollers roll it up and see if you like it. If you try the hot rollers see if you can find the ones that are about 12in long and about the size of your thumb or middle finger. if you don't like it you can always wash it out but if you happen to get a perm and don't like it you can alway go to wal-mart buy a perm and just put it in you hair and comb it through it will straighten it and also use the netralizer with a little conditioner mixed in and it will really help repair any damage. I have seen some pretty rough looking perms and some really good ones it all depends on the person doing it and the type of perm they use. also if you get it cut my advice is cut it after the perm. it want cut your curl out but it will save you from cutting it before and perming it and loosing alot of length. I wish you were close I would do it for you....

By Mommyathome on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 10:24 pm:

Momoffour...I wish I were close to you too!! I would love for you to do my perm

Well, I spent just over an hour curling my hair this morning with a spiral curling iron. I *loved* the way it looked. DH really liked it and I got lots of compliments at church. I'm leaning towards doing it. I'm just still a bit nervous!

By Lorebunde on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 10:48 am:

Thats funny, I am growing my bangs out and my hair is now past my shoulders. I also mentioned to my husband I was thinking when it got a little longer (say Spring) I would get a "loose" perm. This morning he brought it up saying he did not think I would look good. I am 45, he said that is for someone younger. I think he's afraid it will come out terrible. I also love that long slightly loose curl like the pic in the first thread. I was also thinking of just using a curling iron or rollers and playing around with it.

By Truestori on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 03:58 pm:

Robin,

I know how you feel staightening it with the dryer and the iron. I have really thick hair and it is wavy and frizzy. UUGGGHHH
Have you thought about the Japanese straightner? I am going to have it done when I get a full day to myself. I love the way my hair looks after it is straightened and my hairdresser even jokes that my hair LOVES the straight iron. LOL

By Mommyathome on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 04:08 pm:

Well, I got the perm!!! I'm still uncertain if I love it or not. It looks OK. I was hoping for a bit larger curl, but she said she used the largest curlers (they were purple).
DH said he likes it, but I'm sure he could really care less LOL
I am going to let it relax a couple of days, and then I will post a picture!!!
It is definitely super easy. I just get up, wet it and apply product and go. It's like a 2 minute process. Certainly beats my 30 minute process

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

Pictures, pictures, pictures..........NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Tink on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 09:34 pm:

Don't make us wait! I am an instant gratification type girl!

By Melanie on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 10:08 pm:

Yes, please post pics!! Good for you for going for it!

By Insaneusmcwife on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 02:02 am:

I got mine permed last Thursday and I agree it is a lot easier in the a.m., I did have a problem the first few days with frizzies (maybe because I'm in the desert?) but I found that the Garnier Fructis Style Smoothing Milk works great to control frizzies .