80s Home Perm: Retro Hairstyles That Defined Decades of Style

In the 1980s, the home perm became more than just a hairstyle—it was a cultural movement, transforming how people expresed identity through luscious curls, bold waves, and gravity-defying updos right in their living rooms.

The Rise of the Home Perm in the 1980s

As home hair care products advanced, the home perm emerged as a staple in personal grooming. Women and men embraced electric curling irons and permanent wave solutions, turning their bathrooms into studios of creativity. This DIY revolution empowered individuals to craft glamorous, salon-worthy looks without frequent visits, making the 80s home perm a symbol of self-expression and independence.

Iconic 80s Home Perm Techniques

The classic 80s home perm relied on two key methods: the ‘twin wave’—creating symmetrical, sculpted waves on both sides—and the ‘towering updos,’ where hair was wrapped tightly around curling irons and pins to achieve tall, voluminous styles. These techniques required patience and the right tools, resulting in lush, sculpted looks perfect for parties, music videos, and everyday confidence.

Legacy and Revival of 80s Home Perm Aesthetics

Though styles have evolved, the 80s home perm remains influential. Modern curling technology and social media have revived retro waves and updos, blending vintage flair with contemporary techniques. From influencers reshaping their hair with vintage-inspired products to stylists celebrating analog artistry, the home perm’s legacy endures as a timeless celebration of bold, self-designed beauty.

The 80s home perm was more than a trend—it was a revolution in personal style, empowering individuals to craft unique, voluminous looks from the comfort of home. Whether you’re channeling the past or embracing retro-chic today, this timeless technique proves that great hair starts with passion, innovation, and a little creative flair.

The iconic perm is now a thing thanks to 80s hair heroes Cher, Jon Bon Jovi and erm Deirdre Barlow. Just like flares and suede, perms are an hair trend that yo-yo in and out of fashion without a care in the world. While curls circa 2016 could be seen as a tad more sophisticated (see model Steffy Argelich) let's not forget the greatest time of all for the perm.

Why did everyone get perms in the 80s? Author: Theo Botsford Last update: Sunday, September 7, 2025 Although straight hair was the norm at the beginning of the decade, as many late 1970s styles were still relevant, by around 1982 the perm had come into fashion. "If you're not ready to commit to a perm but want to try a fun retro curly look, stop scrolling! Watch as @jamiemcdhair shows you how to get 80s. Perms have become a pop culture memory that many prefer to forget, or at least joke about while looking back at their 1980s prom albums.

While more modern (and more relaxed) versions of a "permanent" have made random appearances at the hair salon in recent years, the extravagant perms of the past are still currently eluding us, and we hope. The decade was all about self-expression and very few hairstyles of the 80s capture the era's exuberance quite like the perm. The "perm" or permanent wave was the hair to have in the 80s.

The perm transitioned everyone from updos and straight to full out curl. During WWI, this style was very popular towards the women. As men were off fighting for their country, women were left behind doing the labor work in the factories.

The famous "We Can Do It!" war poster, of a woman showing off her muscles, demonstrates. Some men even jumped on the home perm bandwagon. That is not something that happened in Mister B's experience or with his friends, so he doesn't know if the same products smelled as bad in the '80s as they did in the '60s.

What memories do "Lilt" or "Toni" home perms bring back to you, boomers? Find and save ideas about 80s perm hairstyles on Pinterest. Perms are the original love/hate relationship.

The hair trend came to symbolize the '80s, immortalizing the iconic look of stars like Cher, Dolly Parton, and Sarah Jessica Parker. But the iconic '80s perm was a hair trend that required you to suffer to get the look. Anyone who grew up in the '80s will remember the dreaded perm cap.

Millennials and Gen Z are rediscovering the wonder of. Item #1057 There are over 60 photos in this collection of the permanent wave hairstyle, very common from the 1970s and 80s. The permanent wave, commonly known as the perm, was a hairstyle consisting of curls or waves set into the hair which would last for months.

These photos appear to be from the early 1980s and most measure about 8" x 10" with a few smaller pics. Many are marked.