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Let’s cut straight to the chase – perms are absolutely on the rise, and anyone calling it a myth hasn’t been paying attention to what’s happening in salons across Australia right now! We’re seeing a genuine revolution in the perm game, and trust us, this isn’t your grandmother’s 1980s nightmare scenario we’re talking about.
The evidence is everywhere. Sales of perm-related products have skyrocketed, with moisturising treatments jumping 11.4% month-over-month and anti-frizz products rising 10.7% just in August 2025 alone. That’s not just hype – that’s cold, hard cash flowing through salon tills because clients are genuinely booking these services!
Here’s where it gets really interesting – the demographic shift is absolutely mind-blowing. Gen Z males have become the unexpected champions of the perm trend, and we’re not kidding around here! These young guys are walking into salons asking for the “broccoli haircut” – that’s a permed top with tapered sides – and they’re doing it because of K-pop stars and TikTok influencers.
The age group driving this trend? We’re talking 16 to 24-year-olds who never experienced the trauma of 80s perms, so they’re coming to the chair with fresh eyes and zero baggage. Meanwhile, clients in their 30s and older are still hesitant because they remember the horror stories from decades past.
But here’s the thing – teenagers and young adults are sharing their straight-to-curly transformations all over social media, and it’s creating this snowball effect that’s impossible to ignore. When hairstylist Jason Lee tells us that his younger clients are “especially receptive” to perms, and Damian Santiago reports “significant demand” among teen boys, we know this trend has serious legs!
If you’re still thinking about those crunchy, damaged disasters from the 80s, you need to completely reset your expectations because modern perm technology is absolutely revolutionary! Today’s perms use gentler chemicals, ammonia-free solutions, and even vegan options that won’t fry your clients’ hair into submission.
We’re talking about customisation levels that were completely impossible back in the day. Want loose beach waves? No problem! Tight spiral curls? Easy! Body wave perms for that wash-and-go lifestyle? Absolutely doable! The versatility is incredible, and that’s exactly why clients are embracing this service again.
The practicality factor is huge too. Modern perms give clients that coveted wash-and-go style that reduces daily heat styling damage. In our eco-conscious world, that’s a massive selling point. Clients can cut their morning routine in half while actually improving their hair health – it’s a win-win situation!
Let’s talk brass tacks here. Modern perms are running between $150 and $450 depending on hair length and thickness, they take under two hours to complete, and they’re lasting approximately four months. That’s fantastic value for clients and excellent revenue for salons!
The most popular styles we’re seeing include:
Here’s where we get excited because having the right tools makes all the difference between a good perm and an absolutely spectacular one! Professional sectioning is crucial for even application, and that’s where precision tools become absolutely essential.
You’ll want to invest in quality sectioning combs that give you clean, consistent parts. The application process requires steady hands and reliable tools that won’t let you down when you’re working with timing-sensitive chemicals.
For the post-perm styling phase, having flexible detangling brushes becomes critical because you’re working with newly textured hair that needs gentle handling. Traditional rigid brushes can disrupt the curl pattern you’ve just created, but innovative flexible designs work with the hair’s new structure rather than against it.
This isn’t just another fleeting trend – this is a genuine shift in how clients want to wear their hair, and smart salon owners are already capitalising on it! The beauty of the perm resurgence is that it’s bringing in new demographics who might not have been regular salon clients before.
Those Gen Z males we mentioned? They’re not traditionally big salon spenders, but they’re walking through your doors specifically for this service. That’s new revenue from an untapped market, and once they experience quality salon service, they often become repeat clients for cuts, styling, and products.
The timing couldn’t be better either. With sustainability and low-maintenance beauty becoming priorities, perms align perfectly with current consumer values. Clients can reduce their environmental impact by using less heat styling while achieving the textured looks they’re seeing all over social media.
Don’t underestimate the power of transformation videos! Clients are documenting their perm journeys and sharing them across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This organic marketing is worth its weight in gold because potential clients can see real results from real people.
Smart salons are already leveraging this by encouraging clients to share their transformations and tagging the salon. It’s creating this fantastic cycle where great results generate more bookings, which generate more transformations, which generate even more bookings!
The biggest obstacle isn’t technique or demand – it’s overcoming outdated perceptions. Many potential clients still associate perms with damage and unnatural-looking results. Education is key here, and that’s where your expertise as a professional becomes invaluable.
When clients see the difference between modern perm chemistry and old-school methods, when they understand the customisation options available, and when they witness the gorgeous, natural-looking results you can achieve, those barriers disappear fast.
We’re also seeing increased confidence from stylists who might have avoided perm services in the past. The improved formulations make the process more predictable, and the results are so much more versatile than previous generations of perms.
Perms are definitely not a myth – they’re a genuine opportunity that forward-thinking salons are already embracing! The combination of improved technology, new demographics, social media influence, and changing lifestyle priorities has created the perfect storm for perm popularity.
The question isn’t whether this trend is real – the question is whether you’re positioned to capitalise on it. With the right tools, training, and mindset, perm services can become a significant revenue stream that attracts new clients and keeps existing ones coming back.
At Glide Hair Tools, we can see from the request clients are making that the market trend is heading up!
The perm renaissance is here, it’s real, and it’s creating opportunities for salons that are ready to meet the demand. Don’t let this wave pass you by – dive in and ride it to success!
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