A perm puts the shape into the hair, not into your morning. Hair is wound onto rods, a solution softens the bonds that hold it straight, and a neutraliser locks it into the new shape. After that, you wash it, let it dry, and the curl is there.
That is the whole appeal. A perm is for people who are tired of building a shape with an iron every day, and for people whose hair is fine and flat and drops out of anything by lunchtime.
Artistly books it two ways. Women's Perm from $130, about two hours. Men's Perm from $100, about an hour and a half. The difference is length, density and how much hair there is to wind — not a different process.
What actually happens in the chair.
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01
We look at your hair first
Condition, and what has already been done to it. Bleach, box dye and heat damage change the answer. If your hair is not in shape to take a perm, you hear that before you are in the chair — not halfway through.
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02
The wind
Hair is sectioned and wound onto rods. Rod size decides everything: larger rods give loose body and wave, smaller rods give defined curl. This is the conversation to have before winding starts, because it is the part that cannot be adjusted later.
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03
Solution and timing
The perm solution goes on and is checked as it processes. Timing is the whole job. Under-processed and the curl drops within weeks. Over-processed and you have damaged hair for nothing.
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04
Neutralise, rinse, finish
A neutraliser locks the new shape in, then it is rinsed and dried off gently. You leave with the curl already showing, and with instructions for the next 48 hours that matter more than most people expect.
The men's perm, properly.
Men's perms are the busiest they have been in years, and almost every request is for the same thing: texture, not ringlets.
The usual ask is a loose wave through the top, left long enough to move, with the sides kept short or faded. It gives flat hair volume and gives straight hair somewhere to sit. Hair that used to need product and ten minutes falls where it should straight out of the shower.
Rod size is how that gets controlled. Larger rods give a soft, barely-there wave that reads as texture. Smaller rods give a defined curl. Both are perms, and they look nothing alike — so say which one you want before winding starts, and bring a photo if you have one.
You do need enough length on top for the hair to wrap around a rod. If you are shorter than the curl you are asking for needs, your artist will say so at the chair. The answer then is to grow it out a little and come back, rather than force it.
Men's Perm is from $100 and runs about an hour and a half. If you want the sides cleaned up at the same time, book the cut as well — men's haircuts start at $35.
Women's perms, and which curl you are asking for.
A modern perm is not the tight, uniform set the word still makes people picture. Most of what gets asked for now is a body wave: loose movement, volume at the root, hair that dries with a shape instead of hanging.
Tighter curl is still on the table if that is what you want. Same service, same starting price. The difference is rod size and how the hair is wound.
Two things set the result. The first is rod size. The second is the condition of your hair — fine hair takes a perm quickly and can over-process, while coarse or very long hair needs more time and more product. That is also why length and density move the price off the $130 starting point, and why the number is confirmed before anything is wound.
Women's Perm is from $130 and takes about two hours. If your hair is coloured, highlighted or has been bleached, get it looked at before you book — the question below covers why.
The first 48 hours.
Do not wash it for 48 hours. The bonds are still settling. Water inside that window is the single most common reason a perm drops early.
Do not tie it up, clip it, or tuck it behind your ears. Anything pressed against the hair in the first two days can set as a dent that stays. Sleep on it loose.
Change your products. Sulphate-free shampoo, and a conditioner or cream made for permed or curly hair. Leave the brush alone — scrunch it damp with your hands, and use a wide-tooth comb only when it is wet and conditioned. Brushing dry curl turns it into frizz.
After that, treat it normally. A hydration treatment now and then keeps the curl from going dry, which is the other thing that makes a perm look older than it is.
Questions we get asked.
How much is a perm in Winnipeg?
A women's perm starts at $130 and a men's perm starts at $100 at Artistly Salon & Spa, 567 St Anne's Rd Unit 2, Winnipeg. Length, density and how much hair there is to wind set the rest. Your artist confirms the exact number before anything is wrapped.
How long does a perm take?
About two hours for a women's perm and about an hour and a half for a men's perm. Very long or very thick hair takes longer to wind. If that applies to you, your artist will say so when you book rather than on the day.
How long does my hair need to be for a perm?
You need about four inches to work with. That is the practical minimum for hair to wrap around a rod and hold the curl — shorter than that and there is nothing to shape. If you are close to four inches and not sure, call 431-844-5500 or book the free 15-minute consultation and your artist will tell you before you commit to the appointment.
How long does a perm last?
Typically three to six months, depending on your hair type and length. A perm does not wash out, it grows out, so new hair comes in straight at the root while the permed length keeps its shape. Shorter hair looks like it loses the perm sooner, because more of it gets cut off at the next appointment.
Does a perm damage your hair?
It is a chemical process. It breaks and reforms the bonds inside the hair, so it is not a neutral thing to do. Done properly on hair that is in good condition, hair comes out fine and stays fine. The risk is real on hair already compromised by bleach, repeated colour or heat. That is why condition gets checked before anything is wound, and why your artist will tell you to wait if your hair is not in shape for it.
Can I perm coloured or bleached hair?
It depends on the condition of the hair, and that has to be looked at in person. Hair that has been coloured is often fine. Hair that has been bleached, highlighted or box-dyed is where it genuinely varies, because the same service can be safe on one head and a bad idea on another. Artistly's colour consultation is free and takes 15 minutes, and it is the right place to bring this question, because the answer depends on what is already on your hair. If it is not safe, you will be told.
How do I look after a perm?
Three things. Do not wash it for 48 hours, because water while the bonds are still settling is the main reason a perm drops early. Do not tie it up, clip it or tuck it behind your ears in that window, because anything pressed against the hair can set as a dent. And change your products to a sulphate-free shampoo and a conditioner or cream made for permed or curly hair. Scrunch it rather than brushing it, because brushing dry curl turns it into frizz.
Can men get a perm, and what does it look like?
Yes, and it is one of the things we get asked for most. A men's perm is from $100 and takes about an hour and a half. Most men are asking for texture rather than ringlets: a loose wave through the top, sides kept short or faded, so flat hair gets volume and straight hair has somewhere to sit. Rod size decides how tight it reads, so say which look you want before winding starts, and bring a photo if you have one.
Do you take walk-ins?
We do take walk-ins, but please call 431-844-5500 first to check availability before coming in. A perm is a ninety-minute to two-hour appointment with a specific artist, so it rarely fits a walk-in slot without notice.
Perms at Artistly are done by Zahara, whose work is hair, colour and brows, and Navpreet. You choose your artist when you book.
Every service and starting price is listed on the booking page. Nothing is "price on request", and your exact price is confirmed in the chair before work starts.
567 St Anne's Rd, Unit 2, Winnipeg — in St Vital, minutes from Southdale, Windsor Park, Island Lakes and St Boniface. 431-844-5500
Monday 10–7 · Tuesday to Saturday 10–8 · Sunday 10–6. See directions and hours.