Woman with spiral perm wearing a hat, sunglasses and eating an ice lolly

24 Cool Ways To Rock The Spiral Perm

The best cute and curly spiral perms inspiration around.

All Things Hair | August 23, 2019

If the spiral perm makes you think about older generations, you’re definitely not alone. The spiral perm has a bit of a dated reputation and it’s no surprise: Perms were big in the ’80s and can definitely something of an outdated feeling. Today, we’re making a case for the spiral perm and giving you 24 examples of modern ways you can bring this trend back.

Do you think you have what it takes? Read on for some major inspiration.

Straight Edge

woman with spiral perm blonde hair — Curls that are all one length will give you extra volume all over.

Pair your spiral perm with a straight edge haircut that steers you away from a round style and allows you all-over volume.

Yes to Frizz

spiral perm red frizzy curls — Get in on the frizzy hair trend.

Alternatively, consider going in on the layers for a rounder look and embrace the frizz that often comes with curly hair. Believe it or not, you’ll be getting in on one of this season’s biggest trends.

Dark, Dark Brown

spiral perm classic dark brown braid — Get a gloss, too.

Add an extra touch to your curls by asking your stylist for a gloss. This will make your dark hair extra bold and will draw more attention to your curls.

Add even more shine by running TRESemmé Colour Shineplex Serum through your strands.

Long and Loose

spiral perm red brown long loose — Consider a looser spiral.

Not all perms were created equally! This style, in particular, shows you a very on-trend way to wear a spiral perm. Consider a looser spiral that will feel much more relevant.

Red Bob

Short bob-length curls will help you make a beautiful and eye-catching statement.

Ombre Volume

spiral perm ombre volumized hat — Mix colour with texture.

Mix colour and texture by bleaching your curls for a very slight ombre effect.

Windblown

Comb out your curls for a soft and easy windswept look.

Brushed-through

spiral perm medium brown smooth — Get this Old Hollywood wave with this simple hack.

The absolute easiest way to achieve a glam Old Hollywood look is by brushing through tighter large curls. Use your hairbrush to gently brush through your perm to give your hair this wave effect.

Long Spirals

spiral perm medium brown long hat — Grow them out.

Grow your curls out and keep them nice and long. Switch out your usual shampoo and conditioner for a highly hydrating duo like Love Beauty And Planet Hope & Repair Shampoo and Love Beauty And Planet Hope & Repair Conditioner to keep your strands healthy and strong.

Loose Red Curls

spiral perm long red loose curls — Highlight your gorgeous colour.

Highlight your striking colour by opting for long loose curls.

Soft and Easy

spiral perm long loose brown curls — Soft curls are a super natural-looking option.

Soft curls that start immediately at the root of your strands are a great natural-looking option.

Alternate Sizes

spiral sperm long golden brown — Mismatch different sized curls.

Mismatch slightly different sized curls for all-over texture and interest. This results in a truly one-of-a-kind look.

Messy Curls

spiral perm long brown loose curls messy — A super loose messy spiral.

Embrace the messy and ask your stylist for a super loose messy spiral.

Eye-catching Curls

spiral perm light brown medium length — Subtle colour will draw attention to your strands.

Add a touch of glimmering highlights to your curls that are just a few shades lighter than your natural colour. This will make your curls even more eye-catching and bold.

Extra-large Curls

spiral perm large curls blonde — The bigger the better.

You may also want to consider an extra-large spiral for an even more dramatic look.

Understated Highlights

spiral perm highlighted brown — Threads of lighter brown make these curls pop.

Subtle thicker highlights will make your curls pop even more.

Curls for Days

spiral perm dark brown long — Grow them out.

Grow your hair out until they graze your elbows, and then get your perm. These extra-long curls are beautiful and bold.

The Loosest

spiral perm brown long loose messy — A barely-there spiral will add some extra texture.

A super loose spiral will give a very natural boost of extra texture in your strands.

Permed Bob

spiral perm bob brown — Short and sweet.

Keep your curls short and sweet by choosing a permed bob.

Rooted Large Curls

Large curls paired with rooted color are the ultimate recipe for adding dimension to otherwise thin hair. This is one of the best ways to fake thicker strands.

Rooted Bob

Go for a flirty and fun style and rock a rooted bob. You’ll be hitting two trends at once and feel super confident and bold, we promise.

Platinum Curls

spiral perm platinum blonde — Go all out.

Go all out by embracing curly hair and platinum locks in one bold move.

Tight Spiral

spiral perm long tight brown curls — Consider a long and super-tight spiral.

The ultimate spiral perm: the long and super-tight spiral. The end result is breathtaking and striking at the same time.

Let it Grow

spiral perm long loose brown — Spiral perms work on super long hair, too.

Wearing spiral curls on long hair will mean that your curls will likely get a little weighed down by the length. This can work in your favour if you’re looking for a more natural option.