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Perm Sales Are Up; The '80s Are Back

Mon, 03/03/2008 - 3:08pm by bellasugar
2,260 Views - 27 comments

When model Agyness Deyn started dressing like Max Headroom, I figured it was just a harmless nod to '80s style. But now, I'm worried that the decade's look coming back in a bigger, more nefarious way. In Britain, the perm is back in a big way:

Sales of do-it-yourself permanent wave kits have climbed 50 percent in the past year, according to Superdrug. The chain sold more of the kits in the past week than it did during all of February 2006.

I lived through the first, er, wave of home perms, and I have the unflattering junior-high class photos to prove it. But apparently, most of the women buying these perms are in their teens and early twenties, so it's new to them. (Is it only a matter of time before Kelly LeBrock's hair, pictured, is dictating styles?) Can't say this is one retro throwback I'm going to follow, even if it does wind up being the next big thing.

But speaking of perms . . . if you need a midafternoon laugh, I've found a pretty good video clip. To see it, read more.

This clip isn't from the '80s, but it's still worth a view. Ever the comedienne, Giggle says that Scatter Perm would be an awesome name for a punk band.

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27 Comments Add a Comment

  • lily8206's picture
    lily8206
    1

    I've made the mistake.
    I HATE seeing the pictures.
    I will Never do it again!

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • emalove's picture
    emalove
    2

    I spent my middle school/junior high years (1987-1989) getting perms...horrible 80s flashbacks.

    I am NOT about to do that again!

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • bailaoragaditana's picture
    bailaoragaditana
    4

    Lol @ the Aqua Net remark! I am so NOT perming my hair, regardless of whether I lose my "hip" status or not... nooo way José!

    But that video... OMG. Yes. My mom's high school yearbook pictures... now I know how she got her hair to look like that! Sticking out tongue

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • brittanyk's picture
    brittanyk
    5

    I remember back in the day my grandma used to make me get two perms a year from the ages of like 3-12. I have many a bad picture of perm hair.

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • karisaamy's picture
    karisaamy
    6

    I got a perm in 4th grade and I hate seeing pictures of myself from then, it was not cute at all.

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • designergirl's picture
    designergirl
    8

    I don't mind curly hair coming back in style, but I have enough curls on my own. No need for a perm!

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • Jude C's picture
    Jude C
    9

    My mom made me perm my hair from ages 7 to 10. I'm never doing that again. The smell of the chemicals makes me sick.

    17 weeks 5 days ago Report Comment
  • sweetrae80's picture
    sweetrae80
    11

    I have gotten a few perms, when I was a young girl, and they never stayed! My hair is poker straight and if I could perm it, I would. I loooove curly hair! But everyone I know with curly hair wishes they had straight hair.

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • UrbanBohemian's picture
    UrbanBohemian
    16

    Wooow! The second and fourth Scatter Perms looked timeless. The others looked....creative Smiling

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • CaterpillarGirl's picture
    CaterpillarGirl
    17

    IN BRITAIN people, in britain perms are back not here. My hairstylist says they get one in a hundred and its always older women.

    I used to get spiral perms, never again.

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • retrodoll's picture
    retrodoll
    19

    They will look like a poodle, or they will have an afro.... It will be very very bad!!!!!!!!! Remember those curl shampoos? You could shampoo and get curly hair.. lol Natural curly haired girls are trying to tame what they have.

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • biggiefootie's picture
    biggiefootie
    20

    i had a perm... ONCE. it didn't really take, but Thank the good lord! I've made peace with my stick straight hair. Maybe when i'm 85 i'll be ready to try again... that seems like an acceptable age.

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • GlowingMoon's picture
    GlowingMoon
    21

    I'm with Lily8206. I made that mistake, and I will never get a perm again.

    Perms are soooo damaging to hair!

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • WiCkeD_LaDy's picture
    WiCkeD_LaDy
    22

    well.....
    by reading the other
    post I think I'll pass
    with that trend....
    everyone has BAD memories
    about it....
    and yes the song its
    pretty catchy.......
    LOL..............

    17 weeks 4 days ago Report Comment
  • AKirstin's picture
    AKirstin
    23

    I have been thinking about getting a perm. I had one for a few years as a kid, in the 80's. I want something soft and loose, straight hair is getting tired. They are actually much less damaging than they used to be, and it beats curling my hair every day, which is, of course, much worse for it than a one-time procedure.

    17 weeks 3 days ago Report Comment
  • moisville's picture
    moisville
    24

    I am going to have that damn Scatter Perm, Scatter Perm song in my head all day - nooooooo!

    17 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment
  • whitefox's picture
    whitefox
    25

    Wow - I'm delighted if bigger hair is coming back - I have naturally curly hair and no matter what I do, it's always "big". I actually tried straightening my hair once with disasterous results - bags of melted off hair!!

    But, for those of you who DO get a perm - be sure you know how to deal with curly hair. I think that was the problem in the 80's, or whenever. curly hair needs to be handled differently than straight and very few stylists, even, know how to deal with it. Get those natural, boar-bristle, round brushes and twirl small sections of hair when VERY WET until it's completely dry.

    Maybe I'll do a tutorial for Bella Sugar, if she wants! LOL

    16 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • monkeygorawr's picture
    monkeygorawr
    26

    I have gotten a few perms - my last 2 recent ones were fantastic! I loved how it looked and got tons of compliments on it. I would NEVER EVER do it myself though. Thats one thing I will always leave to the professionals. It was adorable and I'll probably get it again!

    16 weeks 6 days ago Report Comment
  • Emeraude's picture
    Emeraude
    27

    I just got my very first spiral perm this week. I love it! I was so tired of straight boring hair! Now I can actually style it or let it hang and be happy either way. The curls came out great, not frizzy at all, and everyone, and I mean everyone who knows me and sees me tells me to never go back to straight hair. If you get a pro to do your perm, you might just like it!

    13 weeks 2 days ago Report Comment

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