Curly Perm: 20 Kinds of Curls to Consider for Your First Perm

New curls, who this?

In a time when natural hair textures are not only acceptable but are actually being celebrated, it can be easy for us non-curly haired girls to start having some hair texture envy. There are plenty of bold and beautiful curly hairstyles to inspire, and only so much time left to spare in your morning routine. Another 20 minutes to spend battling with a curling iron? No, thank you. Enter: the curly perm. The curly perm is an easy and efficient way to add texture and curls to your strands.

If you’re thinking about giving a perm a try then you’ll want to check out 21 kinds of curls to consider for your first perm:

20 Curls to Consider for Your First Curly Perm

curly perm white blonde bob — Lighten up with a white blonde permed bob.

1. White Blonde Bob

Wear your fresh perm short in an ashy white blonde bob for a sleek and on-trend look we can’t get enough of.

curly perm vivid red — Draw some major attention to your curls with a vivid red hair color.

2. Vivid Red

Draw some attention to your curls with a bright and bold vivid shade of red hair color.

curly perm very loose waves — Consider a loose wave perm.

3. Keep it Loose

Ask your stylist for a very loose wave perm. This is a low commitment way to try out some texture without going all in right away.

curly perm super tiny bleach blonde curls — Proof that perms come in all shapes and sizes.

4. Tiny Curls

Consider a perm with teeny tiny curls. This unique style is soft and low-key while still giving you that added texture.

curly perm pop of red curls — Taking ‘mermaid hair’ to a new level.

5. Pop of Red

This bold pop of red velvet hair color will draw attention to your curls in the best way. Keep your color vibrant for as long as possible by using Suave Professionals Color Protection Shampoo and Suave Professionals Color Protection Conditioner.

SUAVE PROFESSIONALS COLOR PROTECTION SHAMPOO

SUAVE PROFESSIONALS COLOR PROTECTION CONDITIONER

curly perm oversized red curls — Go for an oversized variety.

6. Oversized Curls

When most people picture perms they picture a head full of tight curls but there are other options too! Try these oversized curls for a slightly softer look.

curly perm oversized curls blonde volume — Go for major volume.

7. Voluminous Curls

Speaking of which, you can also consider a super voluminous look by opting for high-volume curls.

curly perm ombre long curls — Transition from dark to light.

8. Ombré Perm

Get in on two trends at the same time by opting for a long perm broken up by a beautiful and slow ombré.

curly perm naturally curly highlighted — Make it look like your hair is naturally curly.

9. Fake Natural Curls

It’s easier to fake natural curls than you might think. Faking a natural curl pattern is all about the right sized curls and making sure that some curls move in one direction while others move in the other.

curly perm loose spiral blonde curls — Guarantee the perfect spiral curl every day.

10. Spiral Curls

Guarantee a good hair day every day by opting for the perfect spiral curl.

curly perm loose dark brown waves — Loose waves are an easy and beautiful option.

11. Wear Them Loose

Loose curls get a beachy upgrade when you leave the curls straight at the very bottom.

curly perm loose brunette curls long — Wear your perm long and loose.

12. Long, Loose Curls

Perms work for hair of almost any length and can add some major volume to the top of a long style that might otherwise get weighed down.

curly perm long loose small brunette curls — Perms aren’t all smooth curls and silky edges.

13. Textured Perm

Incorporate some texture into your curly perm by going for a frizzier style. These small curls look very natural when worn frizzy like this.

curly perm long brushed through blonde curls — Brush through any kind of perm to achieve this look.

14. Brushed-Through Curls

Use a comb or a hairbrush to brush through your curls for an Old Hollywood wave effect.

curly perm dark brown s curls — Make a statement with a defined S-curl.

15. S-Curls

Go for high shine S-curls by running TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum through your perm.

curly perm blonde waves — The looser the better.

16. Undefined Waves

Wear your curly perm short and loose in this chic undefined bob.

curly perm beach wave blonde — The perm-friendly version of the beach wave.

17. The Beach Wave

Get a beach wave perm for sea salt dipped hair all year round.

curly perm auburn brunette curls — Opt for a curl that gives you built-in volume.

18. Built-In Volume

Volume is definitely a major key characteristic for any perm and this style is no different. It capitalizes on a unique horizontal volume for a particular kind of lift.