I was curious about getting my hair permed in 1974 when men's perms were starting to become fashionable. I found a man's hair salon that was not a barber shop but a real salon for men that permed, cut and colored men's hair. I entered the salon and was questioning about cost and booking an appointment when the receptionist said they had an opening right now, this through me a curve since I was exploring the perming idea. But I decided that it was now or never and jump at the chance that started my perm fetish that has lasted for 50 years. I was then lead back to a private booth where the hairdresser shampooed by hair then she stated winding yellow and blue perm rods tightly to my head. Then came the saturation of the rods with the perm solution followed by being placed under a hairdryer for 35-40 minutes to set the curls. This was followed up with a rinse, neutralizer, another rinse than placed back under the hairdryer for 10-15 minutes. She then took me out from under the dryer and picked my hair into a afro style. Fifty years later I'm still having my hair permed every three months on yellow and blue rods on the top with the sides and back shaved two inches above the ears creating a very curly muffin top look.
by Mike Launder October 2024 on 25 Oct 2024

My first experience of seeing a perm being done was on my sister when we were both in our early teens.
Our mother had booked us both in to get our hair sorted ahead of returning to school after the end of the summer holidays.
We used to go to a shop that had 2 separate sides to it. One side was a barbershop with 3 chairs, a bench behind where you sat to wait your turn and basins in front of each chair below the large mirrors
The other side of the shop was a ladies hairdressers also with 3 chairs and another type of chair with a basin behind it.
Whenever we used to go to get our hair cut, I would usually end up being finished first, so go next door and wait for my sister and mum to be finished often wondering what it would be like to get my hair cut in that side of the shop.
On this occasion, I sat waiting my turn in the barber side and my sister went next door to the salon. The barbers was fairly busy with 2 other lads waiting before me and only 1 barber working. I didn’t mind waiting here as I knew my sister would be a whole next door, saving me some embarrassment of having to wait in the salon after I’d been finished with in the barbers.
To my surprise, my sister walked into the barbers with her hairdresser and was told to sit up in one of the empty big barber chairs. Evidently the salon was too busy next door for what my sister was wanting to have done.
I watched with awe to what began to happen in front of me to my sister.
The hairdresser put a towel over her shoulders, followed by a large blue plastic cape that covered her and the chair completely. She looked very nervous. By this time my mother came into the shop and sat beside me. I asked what was going to happen to my sister Ellie and she explained Ellie was going to have her hair permed.
From there, my Ellie’s chair was turned to face us and she looked terrified. The hairdresser lowered the back of the chair and guided her to lean back into the sink now behind her.
Ellie’s hair was washed and then she was returned to upright, by now she was smiling at mom and I as she caught us looking at her. The hairdresser turned the chair back so she was facing the mirror from where Ellie could see us looking at her and her nervously looking back at us.
The hairdresser then started to wind loads of little blue and red rods into her hair.
By this time it was my turn to have my haircut.
Usually I would just have a scissor cut, but on this occasion, Ellie spoke across to me and the barber saying did I want what she was having. A swift no from me put an end to that. Our mother intervened and asked the barber to wash my hair before cutting it. I’d never had that done before and was fairly scared of the thought. But if my sister had just had her hair washed and came up smiling, I suppose I should give it a try.
The barber placed a similar large plastic cape over me and turned the chair so I could lean back into the basin. It felt great to have my hair massaged and the huge xape felt wonderful as well.
After the wash, I was sat up and turned to face the mirror again. From here I could see Ellie had a head full of rods and the hairdresser was pouring a smelly liquid all over them. She commented how bad it was smelling
My haircut continued and once finished, I sat back on the bench next to my mum to watch the rest of Ellie’s perm experience. It was fascinating even though it took ages. Other lads in the shop were surprised to see a girl in there but also intrigued to know what was going on. Ellie had drawn quite and audience.
After what seemed an age of Ellie being turned back and forth, rinsing, more lotions, more rinsing, changing of towels and capes, she was eventually dried and shown her newly made curls in the mirror.
Mum was delighted with her new look and I was very taken with being able to see most of this new process that I would never have seen before. It gave me quite a tingle I’d never experienced before.
Ellie and I spoke on many occasions about her perm adventure and even she admitted a tingle she’d never had before.
As we have grown older and gone our separate ways, we often reminisce of that experience. Ellie has had many perms since, albeit in hair salons and I’ve had my hair washed at barbers and salons over the years and loved every occasion




by Anon3 on 10 Sep 2024

Love your story, Washfetish. I remember my first perm like it was yesterday. I was 19, studying at TAFE, but would always skip class and read hairdressing mags in the library. Then, one day, I thought why read, why not just do it, I caught the train home but got off several stops early. Then, walking around trying to choose from 3 salons. Picked the one I wanted, walked in and Paul ( hairdresser ) was at the front. Asked him if they did mens hair, or mens perms? Yes. Then what was the cost? Around $80 ( this was back in mid 80's ). Finally, when could he fit me in? Before I knew anything, he had me by the arm, ushered me to the basins, gowned me in a black gown, and gave me beautiful shampoo. Then, over to the bench where another guy was being bleached, and girl getting permed. Sat me between them, rolled my head in perm rods. I had every emotion running through me. Then, saturated me in perm solution , bagged me and I sat for about 50 minutes. Then, back over the basin to rinse off, and apply neutralizer. Sat back at the bench for another 30 minutes, then final rinse. Then, at the basin the perm rods came out, one final shampoo before going back to the bench to get it all combed and looking nice. By Steve C 5th June 2023
by Steve on 07 Jun 2023