The Perm is Back
Revisiting The Iconic
Curly Shag
The ‘curly shag’ has been on the up-and-up of late, repeatedly featuring as a front runner when it comes to 2018 hair trends. Being featured in the TONI&GUY Trends look book and the label.m campaign.
Along with the return of this retro ‘do comes the reprise of a hair treatment we never thought would see the light of day again: the perm. The resurgence of this popular ’80s and ’90s hair trend has once again piqued our interest after witnessing both Emma Stoneand Jaime King happily bringing the style back, cementing it as the latest celebrity hair trend to try.
To get the skinny on this new found interest in perms, we spoke to Dana Monkman of Toni & Guy to find out exactly how the modern perm process works, as well as the definite dos and don’ts when it comes to pre and post-treatment perm care.
“To begin the process, we set perming solution and our perming rods, which can vary in size depending on the tightness of the curl that you want,” says Monkman. “The time for this to set varies, and will depend on the curl and texture of the hair. We then rinse the hair and apply a second solution which sets the hair in shape. To finish, the rods are removed and the hair rinsed thoroughly”
And how long can you expect your new curly locks to last? Monkman advises that, depending on the tightness of curl you choose, a perm can last anywhere from three to six months. Of course, the tighter the curl is to begin with, the longer the life of your perm will last. We have seen the style pop up more and more as the warmer months have come along, so is this strictly a summer hair trend? No. “I see this as more than just a summer trend,” says Monkman. “Perms can be so versatile. Even by adding just some slight movement to super straight hair can make styling easier, so I think we will see them sticking around.”
If you’re now a perm convert,
and are wanting to road test the curly shag,
here are a few do’s and don’ts for nailing the modern perm:
DO
1. GET A HAIRCUT BEFORE HAND
“Make sure you stylist cuts your hair into a longer version of the shape you want,” says Monkman.
“Curls bounce up so you need extra length to accommodate for the extra bounce!”
2. BUY PRODUCTS SUITED TO CURLY HAIR
“In terms of ongoing treatment, permed hair requires products similar to that of curly hair,” says Monkman.
“I recommend the Label.M Treatment Shampoo and the Moisturising Conditioner.
If you are having trouble with styling, Label.M Curl Cream is a great styling aid that
will help define the curls and protect against humidity.”
DON’T
1. CUT YOUR HAIR IMMEDIATELY AFTER
Cutting your hair after getting a perm can weaken the curl if you cut your hair post-perm.
2. WASH YOUR HAIR IMMEDIATELY AFTER
You CANNOT wash your hair for at least 48 hours following the treatment as this will lead to an uneven result.