The day I realized perms were disappearing from our chair rotations

Last week a new client asked if I could do a perm and I got so excited (she was maybe 22?). I pulled out my rods from the back drawer and realized I hadn't touched them in almost 2 years. Back in 2015 at the Paul Mitchell school in Columbus, Ohio we did at least 3-4 perms a week in the student clinic. Now I feel like I'm one of the only stylists under 40 who even knows how to wrap a spiral perm without panicking. Has anyone else noticed perms basically vanishing from salon menus or is it just my area?

2 comments

2 Comments

evah408d ago

Gigi, I used to be one of those stylists who thought perms were just for grandmas and asked why anyone would want that look. Then a 19 year old came in with a photo of a 90s spiral perm and I had to dust off my rods just like you did. Now I think we were too quick to write them off because when done right, that texture can be really flattering on younger faces.

james_ross8d ago

You're right that we were too quick to write them off. The spiral perm especially gives a totally different look than the tight curls people think of from the 80s. It's more of a wave pattern that works with a lot of face shapes, including younger ones.