A Perm Rebuilds the Chemical Bonds in Hair
A perm is a chemical treatment that curls hair. Its name promises more than chemistry delivers.
A perm is a chemical treatment that gives hair a lasting wave or curl, short for *permanent wave*. The chemistry is real: hair keratin is held in shape by disulfide bonds between sulfur atoms, and the treatment breaks them, reshapes the hair around rollers, then reforms the bonds in the new position. The curl really is structural, but it is only permanent for the hair already grown — new growth comes out straight. *Permanent* is Latin *permanere*, to remain throughout.
- A hair treatment. *She had a perm.*
- To treat hair. *Perming her hair.*
- Permanent wave. *A permanent wave.*
- Disulfide bond — the chemistry. *A disulfide bond.*
- Latin — *permanere*. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | perm | A perm. |
| Verb | perm | Perming. |
| Past | permed | Permed. |
| Full form | permanent | Permanent. |
| Latin | permanere | To remain. |
- She had her hair permed.Salon.
- Disulfide bonds are broken and reformed.Chemistry.
- New growth comes out straight.Limit.
What holds hair in shape
- Keratin — the protein hair is made of
- Disulfide bonds — strong links between sulfur atoms
- Hydrogen bonds — weak, broken by water, which is why wet hair restyles
- A perm breaks and reforms the disulfide bonds
- Straightening treatments work the same way in reverse
Shortened from *permanent wave*, from Latin *permanere*, to remain throughout.
Why is a perm not really permanent?
Because only the hair already grown is reshaped. New growth emerges in its natural form.
How does a perm work?
It breaks the disulfide bonds in hair keratin, reshapes the hair around rollers, then reforms the bonds in the new position.