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Perm (hairstyle) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
IcallPlasticDressing
First Prize won at the Hairdressing Fashion Show London, 1935, using an Icall permanent-waving machine. The hair is shorter even than in the 1920s and curls/waves are sides, revealing the ears and neck. The colors were achieved by adding pigments to the setting lotion.
Lars Jacob 1972 Miami Beach
Afro permanent on a male resident of Miami Beach in 1972.

A permanent wave, commonly called a perm, is the chemical treatment of hair to produce curls.

Perms may be applied using thermal or chemical means. In the latter method, chemicals are applied to the hair, which is then wrapped around forms to produce waves and curls. The same process is used for chemical straightening or relaxing, with the hair being flattened instead of curled during the chemical reaction.

History

The first chemical treatment for curling hair that was suitable for use on people was invented in the year 1906 by the German hairdresser Karl Nessler (1872-1951). He used a mixture of cow urine and water. The first public demonstration took place on October 8, 1906, but Nessler had been working on the idea since 1896. Previously, wigs had been set with caustic chemicals to form curls, but these recipes were too harsh to use on human skin.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Peinado ondulado para niños

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