Perm for men

The desire for a curly mane is no longer just for women. Today, I'll tell you exactly what a perm is and why men have long since caught on to the trend in an expert interview, as well as an example of a man's perm.

The term perm refers to a chemical reshaping process in which a hairdresser transforms straight hair into a curly (or wavy) head of hair in the traditional way. Find out how it works and what needs to be considered in the expert interview with our stylist Mirjam from the PerfectHair.ch salon on Turbinenstrasse in Zurich.

Dear Mirjam, would you like to tell us a few details about yourself, who you are and how long you have been working at PerfectHair.ch?

I have been working at PerfectHair.ch as a nail and hair stylist for 5 years now. However, I've had experience in the profession for a long time. Even before my time at PerfectHair.ch, I specialised in curly hair, i.e. curls and supercurls. A haircutting technique that became famous thanks to Brian Mclean.

So your core business is based on curly hair and perm treatments?

Exactly. Customers who either already have curls or want them.

Do you know exactly what a perm is and how it is achieved?

A perm is a permanent reshaping of the hair that takes place by wrapping or the size of the wrap. The natural growth direction of the hair plays a central role here. Depending on the direction, the curls must fall as naturally as possible as a result of the perm. The intensity also plays a role. Here, however, it depends on what the customer wants and what is actually within the scope of achieving this desire. 

The permanent effect is achieved thanks to the perm water. In the first pass, the lotion is used to part the hair shaft. The whole thing is then rinsed off with water. The desired result is then achieved through fixation and neutralisation.

What are your experiences with perms so far and why do you think this trend has been revived?

I can definitely tell. The trend is definitely on the rise again. I think these classic permed curls are determined by fashion trends. Here, too, you can clearly see that our younger generation has revived the trends of the 80s. 

Most of my customers who come to me for a perm are between 18 and 25 years old. They have been loyal to me for 1 to 2 years. Beach waves and big waves are very much in vogue.

Does a man's perm last less than a woman's?

No, that doesn't matter.

How often can you have one done?

This is always very individual. It depends on the structure and quality of the hair. But above all, it also depends on the care you take at home.

As a rule, a perm lasts between 3 and 6 months. However, this also depends on the intensity. A weaker one lasts less. What I do not recommend, for example, is to perm blonde hair. As the blonde hair is already damaged and a treatment could only cause more damage.

Is the treatment harmful to the hair?

You have to realise that this is a chemical treatment and can definitely damage the hair. It is also important to note in advance that the hair will lighten slightly as a result of the treatment.

Nevertheless, for all these clarifications and open questions, we offer a detailed consultation where we explain everything to the customer. Also for the care afterwards or at home. This is the be-all and end-all of every perm treatment. Because it's the daily care that makes the difference. So also what the individual hair then needs in each case, be it moisturising, tip care, etc.

How much do you pay on average for the treatment?

Our prices for men who want a perm are between CHF 90 and CHF 115 (without cutting). Here we differentiate between treatment of the top of the head or the whole head. 

Is it possible to do the treatment yourself or is there an alternative for home use?

There may be products on the market that offer this. However, the problem or risk is that the treatment is then not carried out correctly and the hair is damaged in the long term. The result could be: limp and damaged hair that has to be cut.

Finally, do you have anything to say about perming men's hair?

I think the most important thing is really an in-depth consultation to evaluate the client's wishes. And the care at home.

What also plays a role is the length of the hair itself. Men in particular need a certain length to be able to twist the rollers in at all. The length as well as the quality.

I am very happy with the result. I wanted waves like those of the Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas and that's exactly how the result turned out! I was also given very good tips for home care. 

I would definitely do the treatment again. I've got such a taste for it that I'd probably go for a slightly more intense curl next time. All in all, I can literally warmly recommend the treatment. After all, just sitting under the heat cap feels kind of cool.