Permed Hair: Why Isn't the Hairstyle So Popular Anymore?
It’s a look as synonymous with the ’80s as legwarmers and spandex – the perm. It has graced the covers of glossy magazines, appeared in nearly every film from the decade and covered the heads of pop singers and rock stars alike. It was big, it was fabulous, and you better believe it was curly and required plenty of upkeep and specialized hair-care products, from the chemicals used in beauty parlors to create it to the cans upon cans of hairspray used to style it.
In fact, the permanent wave had such widespread appeal it eventually spread far beyond the bright lights of Hollywood and into mainstream beauty salons.
By the next decade, however, the perm all but faded into oblivion, becoming little more than the butt of jokes and a scathing reminder of the ’80s.
What was to blame for the perm’s fall from grace, and what can we expect for the future as modern celebrities attempt to revive this fashion ‘do (or don’t!)?
The Rise of the Perm
While the early 20th century experienced its share of hair curling inventions, it wasn’t until the advent of the cold perm technique that the big hair trend really caught on.
For decades, women not born with the coveted big, bouncy hair had turned to hot rollers and curling irons. However, the curls from rollers were only temporary, and, depending on a variety of factors could quickly fall flat.
As the number of celebrities with big, poufy hair rose, so too did the popularity of the perm. And, true to its name, the perm offered a permanent, chemical-based solution that changed the molecular structure of the hair and allowed women the chance to break free from their daily hot roller battle.
The Fall of the Perm
No trend is immune from becoming obsolete and the perm was no exception. While ubiquitously present on celebrities from Cher to Madonna, the perm could also be found on nearly every member of the PTA.
And it was perhaps this massive success which also led to the perm’s downfall. What was once considered chic and the height of fashion, the perm had now become part of the standard-issue “mom” uniform, along with Keds and straight-legged jeans.
Since “matronly” wasn’t the desired look of supermodels and celebrities, Hollywood’s love affair with the perm began to wash away.
As the stars slowly ditched the style so too did mainstream America, and the perm soon began falling out of fashion, destined to die a slow death.
By the mid-'90s, celebrities began sporting hairstyles which were polar opposites of the perm - long, flat and straight locks reminiscent of the '70s, and short, close-cropped pixie cuts.
The perm had been taken off life support and was now officially dead.
The Revival of the Perm
Everything old eventually becomes new again, which may explain why celebrities have, in recent years attempted a revival of the perm.
However, while the basic concept is the same—a chemical solution placed on the hair while a stylist coaxes it into curls—the perm has seen some major upgrades that make it less damaging and more appropriate for our modern times.
Perm solutions from the 80s were very harsh, due to the high ammonia content, which left hair dry and frizzy. However, these damaging perm solutions have since been replaced by low or no ammonia formulas which are much gentler, and leave hair soft and healthy.
And the perm’s application techniques have also received a modern makeover. Originally, stylists relied on small rods which provided tight, spirally coils. However, the modern perm is more about loose, beachy waves, and stylists are turning to other mediums such as fabric, rollers, or even their fingers to create that popular flowy, undone look.
Perms from the '80s left hair looking over-processed, fried, and frizzy, albeit voluminous and curly. So, while it did have its good points, the bad far outweighed the good and the harsh chemicals took a toll on the hair’s health.
The modern perm is less about imitating our favorite celebrities and more about enhancing our natural texture.
If you have color-treated or highlighted hair, however, and you decide that the glorious curls of a perm are right for you, you’ll want to visit a salon instead of going the DIY route. According to hair professionals, there are now special formulas for color-treated hair which can only be applied in the salon. Otherwise, you’ll risk looking like a bad '80s revival with frizzy, over-processed hair which isn’t a good look on anyone, no matter what the decade.
Resources— Good Housekeeping, Wikipedia
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