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See Also
See Again
© NL BeeldGetty Images
0 / 26 Fotos
'Pretty Woman' (1990)
- Who can forget actress Julia Roberts in the movie 'Pretty Woman', replete with her long, flowing curly hair? This super curly and voluminous effect was achieved using a perm hairstyling technique.
© NL Beeld
1 / 26 Fotos
'Pretty Woman' (1990) - This styling technique was a head-turning success during the 1980s and early '90s. In fact, the exaggerated perm was the fashion look of the '80s.
© NL Beeld
2 / 26 Fotos
'Flashdance' (1983) - Big hair was a big screen success. In 'Flashdance', actress Jennifer Beals wore her hair in a generous perm for the part.
© NL Beeld
3 / 26 Fotos
'Flashdance' (1983) - In the 1983 film, Beales' character, Alex Owens, has a full head of permed black hair, flowing and curly and cascading over the shoulders in a display that "owned" the hair styles of the period.
© NL Beeld
4 / 26 Fotos
'Flashdance' (1983) - Another styling feature of the '80s perm were curly fringes that tumbled over the forehead.
© NL Beeld
5 / 26 Fotos
'Grease' (1978) - Olivia Newton-John's character Sandy Olsen wore her hair big and bountiful in the blockbuster musical 'Grease.'
© NL Beeld
6 / 26 Fotos
Olivia Newton-John - The UK-based Australian actress adopted her character's perma-wave hairstyle for her off-screen persona.
© Getty Images
7 / 26 Fotos
Madonna - The pop diva was another celebrity who permed her hair to reflect the fashion trends of the era.
© Getty Images
8 / 26 Fotos
Farrah Fawcett - Some of the biggest hair was found on the head of the late actress and model, Farrah Fawcett. She was considered one of the most alluring sex symbols of the time, and took great care with the way she looked.
© Getty Images
9 / 26 Fotos
Sarah Jessica Parker - And here's the thing. Eternal Carrie Bradshaw of 'Sex and the City,' which ran from 1998 to 2004, would today not look out of place in the 1980s.
© Getty Images
10 / 26 Fotos
Cher - The singer and actress was another superstar who adopted the wild and bushy perma-wave, a look accentuated by her long black strands.
© Getty Images
11 / 26 Fotos
Europe - Perms also had their male advocates. In fact, wild herds of permed men known as bands styled themselves with big, frizzy, flowing hair perfecty exemplified by the members of Europe, a rock band formed in Sweden in 1979.
© BrunoPress
12 / 26 Fotos
Sepp Maier - Not to be outstaged, or outgrown, football players too opted for a perm, perhaps because they thought it would help them score more easily? Here's German goalkeeper Sepp Maier, curled up in the 1980s.
© Getty Images
13 / 26 Fotos
Amanda Seyfried - The 1980s passed and the perm was consigned to the hairstyles of yesteryear. But, it's back! All of it! The '80s have been resurrected—and permed hair is leading the way along with other fashion elements from that super extravagant decade.
© BrunoPress
14 / 26 Fotos
Jennifer Lawrence - Showing off a head of curly blond hair at 2018 Oscars ceremony was American actress Jennifer Lawrence.
© Getty Images
15 / 26 Fotos
Emma Stone - The star of 'La La Land' (2016) also rolled up to the red carpet with curls.
© BrunoPress
16 / 26 Fotos
Blake Lively - The actress was seen a few years ago showing off a long, wavy hairstyle but with a super natural look.
© Getty Images
17 / 26 Fotos
Jaime King
- Not to be out-permed herself, model and actress Miss King waltzed past the paparazzi with, you've guessed it, curly hair of the natural waves variety.
© Getty Images
18 / 26 Fotos
Vanessa Hudgens - Toady's version of the perm is styled with less volume than in the 1980's big hair heyday, and the look is more forgiving in a kind of post-beach way.
© BrunoPress
19 / 26 Fotos
Vashtie Kola - A perm cut also serves to better define the curly locks of those women who already have, er, curly hair.
© BrunoPress
20 / 26 Fotos
Origin of the perm
- Did you know that the perm is a hair styling technique which dates back to the early 20th century? Yes, the man to thank (or blame) is German hairdresser Karl Nessler, who created the look in 1906. The hairdresser created his "permanently" curled hair by coating fine hair with a cocktail of chemicals.
© Getty Images
21 / 26 Fotos
Bad hair days and disasters
- Nessler carried out early tests on his wife's hair. The poor woman almost went bald as a result. They are chemicals, after all! Eventually the Nessler technique was refined by using a combination of bicarbonate and sodium borate, and several metal rollers that were heated by fire.
© Shutterstock
22 / 26 Fotos
The 1980s, the height of big hair - The perm reached a crescendo of popularity in the decade of excess, where anybody worth a magazine cover wore their hair with extra volume, tight waves, curly fringes, lots of spray... and a wide grin.
© Shutterstock
23 / 26 Fotos
The comeback - By the mid 1990s, the '80s were definitely considered passé, along with the "tacky" perm. But what goes round comes round, and the hairstyle has made a triumphant return. However, the perm today is less ostentatious and far more subtle in style and presentation.
© Getty Images
24 / 26 Fotos
The modern, current look
- To achieve a more natural and post-beach effect, you'll need to use different rollers sizes. Curling should start midway along the hair and not at its roots. The 1980s do seem a long time ago, don't they. See also: The best hairstyle for you according to your zodiac sign
© Getty Images
25 / 26 Fotos
© NL BeeldGetty Images
0 / 26 Fotos
'Pretty Woman' (1990)
- Who can forget actress Julia Roberts in the movie 'Pretty Woman', replete with her long, flowing curly hair? This super curly and voluminous effect was achieved using a perm hairstyling technique.
© NL Beeld
1 / 26 Fotos
'Pretty Woman' (1990) - This styling technique was a head-turning success during the 1980s and early '90s. In fact, the exaggerated perm was the fashion look of the '80s.
© NL Beeld
2 / 26 Fotos
'Flashdance' (1983) - Big hair was a big screen success. In 'Flashdance', actress Jennifer Beals wore her hair in a generous perm for the part.
© NL Beeld
3 / 26 Fotos
'Flashdance' (1983) - In the 1983 film, Beales' character, Alex Owens, has a full head of permed black hair, flowing and curly and cascading over the shoulders in a display that "owned" the hair styles of the period.
© NL Beeld
4 / 26 Fotos
'Flashdance' (1983) - Another styling feature of the '80s perm were curly fringes that tumbled over the forehead.
© NL Beeld
5 / 26 Fotos
'Grease' (1978) - Olivia Newton-John's character Sandy Olsen wore her hair big and bountiful in the blockbuster musical 'Grease.'
© NL Beeld
6 / 26 Fotos
Olivia Newton-John - The UK-based Australian actress adopted her character's perma-wave hairstyle for her off-screen persona.
© Getty Images
7 / 26 Fotos
Madonna - The pop diva was another celebrity who permed her hair to reflect the fashion trends of the era.
© Getty Images
8 / 26 Fotos
Farrah Fawcett - Some of the biggest hair was found on the head of the late actress and model, Farrah Fawcett. She was considered one of the most alluring sex symbols of the time, and took great care with the way she looked.
© Getty Images
9 / 26 Fotos
Sarah Jessica Parker - And here's the thing. Eternal Carrie Bradshaw of 'Sex and the City,' which ran from 1998 to 2004, would today not look out of place in the 1980s.
© Getty Images
10 / 26 Fotos
Cher - The singer and actress was another superstar who adopted the wild and bushy perma-wave, a look accentuated by her long black strands.
© Getty Images
11 / 26 Fotos
Europe - Perms also had their male advocates. In fact, wild herds of permed men known as bands styled themselves with big, frizzy, flowing hair perfecty exemplified by the members of Europe, a rock band formed in Sweden in 1979.
© BrunoPress
12 / 26 Fotos
Sepp Maier - Not to be outstaged, or outgrown, football players too opted for a perm, perhaps because they thought it would help them score more easily? Here's German goalkeeper Sepp Maier, curled up in the 1980s.
© Getty Images
13 / 26 Fotos
Amanda Seyfried - The 1980s passed and the perm was consigned to the hairstyles of yesteryear. But, it's back! All of it! The '80s have been resurrected—and permed hair is leading the way along with other fashion elements from that super extravagant decade.
© BrunoPress
14 / 26 Fotos
Jennifer Lawrence - Showing off a head of curly blond hair at 2018 Oscars ceremony was American actress Jennifer Lawrence.
© Getty Images
15 / 26 Fotos
Emma Stone - The star of 'La La Land' (2016) also rolled up to the red carpet with curls.
© BrunoPress
16 / 26 Fotos
Blake Lively - The actress was seen a few years ago showing off a long, wavy hairstyle but with a super natural look.
© Getty Images
17 / 26 Fotos
Jaime King
- Not to be out-permed herself, model and actress Miss King waltzed past the paparazzi with, you've guessed it, curly hair of the natural waves variety.
© Getty Images
18 / 26 Fotos
Vanessa Hudgens - Toady's version of the perm is styled with less volume than in the 1980's big hair heyday, and the look is more forgiving in a kind of post-beach way.
© BrunoPress
19 / 26 Fotos
Vashtie Kola - A perm cut also serves to better define the curly locks of those women who already have, er, curly hair.
© BrunoPress
20 / 26 Fotos
Origin of the perm
- Did you know that the perm is a hair styling technique which dates back to the early 20th century? Yes, the man to thank (or blame) is German hairdresser Karl Nessler, who created the look in 1906. The hairdresser created his "permanently" curled hair by coating fine hair with a cocktail of chemicals.
© Getty Images
21 / 26 Fotos
Bad hair days and disasters
- Nessler carried out early tests on his wife's hair. The poor woman almost went bald as a result. They are chemicals, after all! Eventually the Nessler technique was refined by using a combination of bicarbonate and sodium borate, and several metal rollers that were heated by fire.
© Shutterstock
22 / 26 Fotos
The 1980s, the height of big hair - The perm reached a crescendo of popularity in the decade of excess, where anybody worth a magazine cover wore their hair with extra volume, tight waves, curly fringes, lots of spray... and a wide grin.
© Shutterstock
23 / 26 Fotos
The comeback - By the mid 1990s, the '80s were definitely considered passé, along with the "tacky" perm. But what goes round comes round, and the hairstyle has made a triumphant return. However, the perm today is less ostentatious and far more subtle in style and presentation.
© Getty Images
24 / 26 Fotos
The modern, current look
- To achieve a more natural and post-beach effect, you'll need to use different rollers sizes. Curling should start midway along the hair and not at its roots. The 1980s do seem a long time ago, don't they. See also: The best hairstyle for you according to your zodiac sign
© Getty Images
25 / 26 Fotos
The perm: remembering the 1980's big hair statement
Curls and waves are back, but styled in a less fussy and more natural way
© Getty Images
Big hair was all the rage in the 1980s. Celebrities Julia Roberts, Madonna, and Farrah Fawcett were famous for their perms—flowing, curly waves held in place by a can's worth of hair spray. Then suddenly, the perm was history.
But styling techniques have come a long way over the last 30 years, and getting a perm today is quite different from the way it was achieved back in the heady '80s. Browse the gallery and take a look at how celebrities used to wear their hair and compare the style with today's modern makeover.
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