Hairstyle revolution: 1980s inspired perms are back in fashion

For years women have been ironing their hair as flat as can be, with straight locks all the rage, but now hairdressers are taking a step back in time with the much-loved 1980′- inspired perms making a comeback.

From the goddess of pop Cher who truly rocked the curly style, to Meg Ryan in the classic When Harry Met Sally and singing sensation Barbra Streisand, the perm was absolutely everywhere back in the day and it might not be long before it takes over once again.

The evolution of curls first began in the ’50s with Marilyn Monroe sporting a curly look and from there it took off and women and girls across the world were grabbing the rollers out at home or spending hours in a hairdresser’s chair with a hot hair machine over their head.

But when straighteners came into play in the early 2000s, perms became a part of history and hairdressers stopped offering the previously loved service.

Read more: Curly girls: How we rolled, permed and crimped our way to perfection

Now Hollywood stars and singers from across the globe are putting away their GHD’s – which are a necessity in most women’s bathrooms – and are on the hunt for hairdressers who have the ability to create the elusive perm. 

Formally taught to all hairdressers as they stepped into the salon, a perm involves putting the hair in rollers and applying an alkaline setting treatment.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Toni&Guy’s Elizabeth Shedwick said although it may be a lost art, that will change as more people latch onto the trend.

“In the early 2000s GHDs came out and everybody went straightener crazy, then it went into your Cheryl Cole blow-dry with a smoother curl, but even in fashion we’ve seen an ’80s revival, and the reinvention of the perm is likely to follow-on from that,” she explained.

However, it is predicted the perm won’t be exactly as it was in the ’80s as hairdressers now understand how to better protect the hair instead of turning it into a fried and frizzy mess.

“There’s more knowledge and awareness of the health and condition of hair, and chemical treatments can now be less damaging, so he end result is more natural waves and healthier hair,” hairdresser George Giavis told The Daily Telegraph.

Read more: Remembering the biggest hair trend of our time: Perms and body waves

Creating the perfect look is difficult and it seems we always want what we don’t have, curly girls envy those with straight locks and vise versa, but now may be the time for even the naturally curly to put away the straighteners and embrace their hair.

Have you ever rocked the perm? Do you think you’d try it again?