If there’s been one positive thing to come out of this pandemic, it’s got to be the normalisation of male grooming. In these days of Zoom conferencing and homemade music videos, the male beauty market has never been stronger.
We’ve seen increased interest in men’s cosmetics, not to mention the lockdown buzzcut. Now we’re going to talk about something even more unexpected – the rise of the man perm.
The man perm?
That’s right. And it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a perm for men. Now this isn’t an entirely new concept. Those of you who were alive in the eighties might remember footballer Kevin Keegan and his spectacular mane? But the style has been brought up to date.
Whose idea was it to bring back the man perm?
It started as a TikTok trend, with boys and men the world over posting 60-second videos of themselves entering the salon, then following the process through to the end result. And it didn’t take long before others followed suit and a new craze entered the mainstream.
How’s it different from the man perms of the eighties?
These days men are aiming for a more relaxed, tousled look, rather than tight ringlets. And instead of a full head of curls, the trendiest guys opt for short back and sides. Think the curtains of the nineties. Only permed.
How can I get this look myself?
Well, you’ll have to wait until after lockdown if you want it done professionally. If you want to prepare your hair now though, you could do worse than opting for an old skool bowl cut, which should provide the shape you’re looking for. And if you’re keen to see how it might look on you before committing to a perm, experiment with the curlers at home.
What if my hair’s too short for a bowl cut?
This is your opportunity to grow it! Seriously though, if you want to try the man perm but aren’t up for growing out your hair, a lot of men with shorter hair are going for a tighter perm. Shave the back and sides (opt for a fade if you can), then try for really tight curls on top. This one might be difficult to achieve at home, but you’ll have plenty of time to experiment!
Once I’ve got my perm, what’s the best way to keep it looking good?
You’re going to want a lot of products. Gel is your friend if you like a wet look, otherwise use a texturising clay to help separate out those curls and give a bit of definition.
