I remember those old home perms. First you roll your hair n these plastic curler rods, then you saturate with one solution, then rinse, then saturate with a second solution. My Mom used to give me "Toni" home perms when I was a kid because I have bone-straight hair and she thought I looked like Shirley Temple and should have hair like hers. I do remember the yucky smell. Recently, well back in the 80's, I went to a hairdresser who died my own natural brown hair platinum blond, all to please my husband. He's a great guy, but the in between color touch ups hurt like he//. The solution burned my scalp, so much it made my eyes water and within 2 weeks I had a head full of scabs. I complained to the hairdresser, who said "We must suffer to be beautiful." I stopped coloring my hair about 20 years ago, when I became a mother. DH isn't too crazy about my "natural" look, but I'm used to it.

I have very curly hair which I don't like, so as a teen I would get it straightened, it smelled awful and burned. Many a times I remember clearing out the salon because the smell was so bad. Everytime I washed my hair I had to use rollers the size of soda cans. Thank goodness for flat irons, the best invention ever!!!

I vaguely remember going to a perm place where they rolled your hair on rollers attached to some machine overhead . thank goodness those days are gone

I can live with the smell of the home perm Remember Bobbi??? Used bobbi pins

I have given myself so many perms. Salon perms never held, but home perms were always great. The smell is horrid! The past few years, I just keep it shorter and use the curling iron.

I liked the Lilt foam perms the best of all--easier to give and they lasted longer for me.

I got a perm today, and it is very smelly. First time in a very long time that I've had a smelly perm.

My first perm was on one of those wired-to-the-ceiling contraptions.

Sue

I was just asking someone the other day if they still made home perms....I haven't seen them in YEARS!!! Guess they don't advertise?

Never had a perm. I always wanted straight hair and mine is naturally curly. It straightens easily in the winter but I hate summer and the humidity.I LOOK like Shirley Temple and don't want to.

I used to do perms every 4-6 months. No more, it's so much easier not doing it. I do frost my hair every so often.

I do remember those perm machines of long ago. I don't think I ever had one, but my Mom did used to give me perms when I was a child. Remember....Which twin has the Toni? The only perms I've seen in stores is Ogilvie, which I get at Walmart for abt $6.36. It only takes about1 1/2 hrs and being I get my hair cut every 6 weeks, lasts abt 3 months.
Isn't human nature interesting? If we have straight hair (like me) we want it curly, If we have curly, we want it straight. I always coveted my late daughter-in-law's hair which had just enough curl...and was the prettiest shade of red.

Wow, I've seen pics of those perm machines with the wires, but have never known anyone who used them. They looked scary!

I've got super straight, short hair, and a curling iron is all I need. But I sure know the smell you're talking about DotMom!

Even some home dyes are strong with ammonia. Hubs dyes my hair and we have to hold our breath with some of them.
They only last a couple months, and boy do I need it done again. Lots of little grays coming in!

Dottie, you are so right! People with straight hair want curl, and vice versa! I'd love a bit of natural curl. When I mention "curling iron" people say, your hair is curled? Just because it's straight and it's hard to curl, and it's still not curled, just "lifted" lol

The neighbor used to give those perms to my mother and I still gag at just the memory of the smell. Don't think *you* are the only one who suffers from the stench! LOL Poor Buster! And your poor husband!

Grew up having permanents. Always hated them. When I entered my 60's cut my hair short, and now I'm wash and wear. No more permanents, yea!

My mother gave me my first and ONLY permanent; I was about ten. Why, I cannot imagine. I have always had thick hair. That Toni left me looking like a walking hedge. Happily, I was still more 'child' than adolescent, so it didn't scar me for life to look like that until my hair recovered.

Yes I remember the smell but I don't think they are as bad these days. My Mother was a hairdresser and often gave me perms. I still occasionally give myself a perm just for the extra body...I did one a few months back and it is growing off now but I think I will do another one. I am wearing my hair a little longer these days and I like what the perm has done to my hair. I had one at a shop not long ago and paid $60 dollars and it wasn't any better than the ones I do so I won't be doing that again.

LOL, Cynic. Hubs said he didn't smell anything???!!! and Buster was sleeping....where ever he decided to take that afternoon's siesta.

My hair is naturally thin and fine, so If I don't have a perm, there is no body and a curl, whether from rollers or curling iron, last just about an hour.

what kind of perm do you use?

I haven't seen a home perm on a store shelf in years!

I haven't had a perm since the 60's. It was hideous! Every year when we were kids mother would give us a perm before school started. We all went to school looking like we stuck our hand in an electric outlet. Geez, you should see my school pictures--then again, no you shouldn't.

Lily316, I would love Shirley Temple curls. My hair's straight as a poker, thin and fine.

How funny...when I saw someone had brought up my post about, Takes my breath away, I couldn't remember what it was about until I opened it. My, I must really be slipping! LOL

Cathy Dee.... it is an Ogilvie (sp?) perm. It is the only brand on the shelves in my Walmart.

My hair is straight as a board. From an early age, Mom insisted on giving me home perms, and the curl only lasted a week or so and I was back to straight hair. As an adult my hair held a perm much better, but my husband always complained about the stink. Once I gave myself a perm the day of our Bible study. Before we left the house I fixed my hair and sprayed it with hair spray. Something happened when the chemicals from the hair spray met with the chemicals from the perm and I swear it smelled just like a skunk. I was mortified and wanted to stay home from Bible study, but DH insisted we go. Nobody said a word about it, but I know everyone had to smell it.

Thank goodness I have naturally curly hair and don't have to go through that, I detest going to the salon and smelling it when they are doing it to someone else. Don't think I could handle it on me. It burns my eyes and takes my breath away and it is on someone else!

Back in the hippie days of long straight hair we would iron mine. But mom put so many wet towels on top of my hair there was not much chance of the iron burning it.

Clothespin for the nose, anyone??

o j