There are lots of smart and chic ways to perm hair men can choose from and try out. Whether you’re born with natural curls or you’re making that style change from straight to curly, a perm can give your mane a distinctively new and upgraded look. Adding varieties of perm haircuts can also give your perm an edge. But before heading straight right away to your hair salon, get to know some basics about perm hair for men and choose the best perm hairstyle that will suit you.
Perm Hair Basics for Men
A permanent wave, or what’s commonly called a perm, is a procedure where chemicals are applied to hair to change its natural texture to make it wavy or curly. Curls are created by wrapping hair around rods. Tighter and smaller curls are made using smaller rods while loose waves and larger curls are made using larger rods.
It’s recommended to have your perm professionally done by a salon stylist to prevent any unlikely damage to your hair. Also, if you have bleached or dyed hair, having a perm can make your hair more brittle and damaged, so make sure that the procedure is done by a pro.
You can also maintain your good perm locks with the best shampoo for men.
Perm Hair Techniques
The kinds of curls or waves on men’s perm hair vary with different hair types. Similarly, different types of perms have different effects on hair. The two types of perm for men’s hair are cold perm and hot perm.
Cold Perm
A cold perm merely uses a perm solution. This technique is best for men with finer hair. It is also ideal if you’re aiming for tighter curls like a spiral perm or ringlet. The classic cold perm procedure can take about three hours to finish. On the other hand, the spiral perm procedure can take about five hours but will give you more defined curls.
You have to take note that cold perms need more maintenance but are less likely to damage your hair. Also, curls from a cold perm are more highlighted when wet.
Hot Perm
A hot perm uses a combination of perm solution and heat to create curls. This is more suitable for guys with thicker hair types and those opting for loose curls like wavy curls. With this technique, hair roots are not lifted much because of the heat applied to the hair. With a hot perm, the curls are best shown when hair is dry.
Trending Perm Hairstyles for Men
1. Classic Short Perm
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The classic short hair perm for guys gives a great trendy style with little maintenance. Short hair gives tighter curls and a natural bounce. But you can use styling products like pomades and creams to boost the volume of your curls. Just scrunch with your fingers for a messy casual look or twist in place for a more professional result.
2. Perm Tight Curls
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For a modern take on short hair perm, men can opt for tight perms. This style gives more defined coils and can go well with an undercut or fade cut. Apply mousse or cream to enhance the curls and create a natural smooth finish. This sleek perm gives a more youthful look for guys.
3. Permed Hair Men with Low Fade
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A combination of perm hair with a low fade cut presents a more masculine effect. Check out some fade haircuts and get it done by a barber or stylist before getting your perm. You can go for a low skin fade or low taper fade style. You can style with hair products to add some texture and bounce to your curls. Without a doubt, this hairstyle is easy to maintain.
4. Permed with Drop Fade
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For men who want to go for a more dramatic look, a perm paired with a drop fade is a good style choice. Leaving the side sections straight creates a sharp contrast with the curls on the crown and center area of your hair. The straight strands also create a blend into the drop fade, giving it a striking look.
5. Permed with Cropped High Fade
Photo by rdls.balmes on Instagram
Another variation you can put up with a perm is a French crop or top fade. Hair is cut short and uniform on the sides to emphasize the curls on the top hair. This is a good hairstyle option for men because it works with any face shape or hair texture. To achieve that classic cropped look, make sure that you have enough hair length on top to highlight your perm.
6. Undercut with Perm Hair
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If you want a look to further define your perm, an undercut variation might be the style for you. Similar to a fade, the undercut creates contrast and distinction but gives you a bolder look. The sides of the head are shaved to a uniform length, depending on how high you want the undercut to go. This style also works well with a long fringe on top of the hair. Style your perm with a hair product to lift the curls.
7. Perm with Skin Mid Fade
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The mid fade offers a more professional take on men’s short perm hairstyles. It’s a recommended style for the office guy who wants a low-maintenance cut but still wants to highlight those fashionable curls. The perm and mid fade combination are good for guys with short to medium hair length, giving them a number of styling options. You can opt for loose curls, casual fringe, or coiled curls for a more formal look.
8. Permed Hair for Men with Hard Part
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Be a perm trendsetter by pairing it with a hard part cut. Your barber or stylist will shave a thick line for the hard part to create that classic look. This also shows your hair’s different textures. You can achieve this style by parting your hair either in the middle or on the sides. This stylish hair trend gives an eye-catching asymmetrical look to the modern guy.
9. Perm with Caesar Cut
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You can have a next-level look with a Caesar cut by having a perm. The classic Caesar cut is styled with the short bangs in front like a crew cut. Combined with the modern perm, hair is cut short but with an extra length in front that is combed forward, thus creating the iconic look.
10. Faux Hawk with Perm Hair
Photo by dyedhappy.byholly on Instagram
If you want to try a rugged but less extreme look, the curly hair in faux hawk style is something you can experiment on. This style works nicely for thick and wavy hair since it has a natural bounce to it. Hair on the sides are kept short either with a fade or undercut, and the perm is scrunched upward. Use a reliably strong hair product to push the curls up and keep them in place.
11. Perm with Taper Fade
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Having a taper fade is also another way to highlight any perm hair. A taper fade keeps a portion of long hair on top and tapered at the back and sides. Hair becomes shorter until it blends with the skin. Adding a perm to this cut gives the look a cool contrasting style. There’s no minimum hair length for perm for a guy choosing this look and styling options are endless.
12. Permed Hair Men with Disconnected Undercut
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A perm with a disconnected cut is a trendy variation of perm hair for men. The hair at the side is either shaved or styled with a fade. Then, a disconnecting shaved line is placed at the sides until the back. This distinguishes between the curly hair on top and the cut below. It’s a great style if you’re aiming for an appealing hairstyle.
13. Curly Hair with Pompadour
Photo by happpyjay on Instagram
If you like turning up your hair volume, pair those curls with a pompadour style. This updated 1950s look creates a dramatic tousled appearance. The volume and height from the textured curls can be achieved by applying pomade and sweeping the curls upward to form the classic pomp shape.
14. Spiral Perm Hair in Medium Length
Photo by joyouscurlss On Instagram
A more subtle style that men can try is the spiral perm. Curls in equal length hang loose in all directions while having just the right bulk at the top. The small coiled curls with this length give a relaxed look that’s great for a casual or formal event.
15. Slicked Curls
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A relaxed and loose wavy perm works best for those who prefer full medium-length hair. You can try this style by applying a pomade and brushing it up to polish the curls upward. The slicked curl style is also a good choice for men who don’t want their hair on their face but want to flaunt their perms.
16. Permed Loose Curls
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A loose perm for guys is an excellent style option for those who want more of a relaxed feel to their hair. You can use hair products to keep the curls in shape and maintain their body. You can also style it in different ways; either go for a messy look or twist the curls for a more refined look.
17. Wavy Perm
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The wavy perm is ultra stylish for medium and long hair lengths. This kind of perm hair for men is made by loosening and stretching curls, resulting in a textured wave. The length may take some time to achieve before you can have the perm, but it’s worth the effort if you’re determined to get this look. Use a light hold hair product to keep your hair bouncy. You can also apply cream or mousse to enhance volume and thickness. Messy or combed to one side, this look spells cool and sexy.
18. Wavy Slick Back Perm
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For guys looking for a way to style a wavy perm, especially on formal occasions, a simple slick back style can do the trick. Apply the right amount of hair gel or mousse and comb hair right in the middle or towards the back, depending on the type of curls you have. Keep hair flat on the scalp and let the edgy curls stand a bit to don a sexy sophisticated look.
19. Light Perm
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Light perms are for men who opt for soft, loose waves than textured curls. This style is great for men with long straight locks. The effect of light perm depends on your hair’s thickness, texture, and the kind of perming treatment formula that will be applied to your hair. The light perm is a current trend in men’s hairstyles.
20. Fringe with Perm
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The curly fringe is a recommended style for guys with big foreheads. This look is achieved with either a faded haircut or just keeping a short length of hair at the sides. Style your loose perm by bringing chunks of curly hair forward like a bangs. You can apply mousse or pomade to enhance your curls for this look.
21. Long Fringe with Perm
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You can opt for a perm in longer fringe to further highlight your curls. Unlike the short fringe, this style creates more volume and proportion to the overall style. Long curly fringe also makes hair look thicker and fuller. Going asymmetrical on this look can hide a broad forehead.
22. Comb Over with Perm
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For an interestingly unique look, the permed comb over is sure to make heads turn. This cool hairstyle is easy to do and maintain. Apply a strong-hold wax or pomade and make an asymmetric cut by parting hair to one side. The comb over highlights medium to long hair and is just perfect for guys who want plenty of volume and a trendy style to go with it.
23. Middle Part with Perm
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Also known as the curtain haircut, the middle part with a perm has always been a choice for a cool stylish hairstyle for men. A good alternative to the side part, this popular 90s look shows both your facial features and hair texture. Hair is cut shorter in the back area with just enough length at the sides and front. You can make this look by creating two equal sections from the top with a rattail comb. Apply a hair product to keep curls in place.
24. Mohawk Perm
Photo by fadesbysami on Instagram
The perm mohawk look is only for the bold and edgy. It’s perfect for men who want to stand out in the crowd with a tough look. Have your barber do a fade, full shave, or undercut on the sides. Then style the thick line of curly hair in the middle of your head. Use hair styling products and blow dry your curly locks to get the full effect.
25. Permed Mullet
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Another daring style, the permed mullet always rocks in flair. Like the mohawk, a mullet is a definite head turner and only the bold guys can pull off. Applying a texturizing product can further highlight your look.
26. Body Wave Perm
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The body wave is a wavy perm that men can go for if they want a more loose type of curl. This hairstyle gives you a fresh beach look that doesn’t require much effort to achieve. Guys with medium to long hair can opt for this type of textured perm.
27. Bowl Cut Perm
Photo by dylanhasselbaink on Instagram
A bowl cut can have an edgier look by combining it with a perm. The look presents a range of thick and thin curls freely covering the entire head. One tip to keep this style in shape is to keep the edges neat. Apply a good amount of styling products like gel or mousse to your curls. Style by fixing your perm towards the front of your forehead up to your eyebrow area.
28. Long Curl with Man Bun
Photo by matt_schepampe on Instagram
One of the great ways to style long perm hair is tying a man bun. Create a bun by using an elastic or rubber band. You can either do a half bun or a full man bun. Go for a messy look by having some hair strands on the side. Or you can go for a more professional look by neatly combing through the back and making a tight knot, then applying hair products like wax for a smooth finish.
29. Volume Perm for Men
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A volume perm can create an attractively sexy look for men with long locks. This type of style forms a natural wavy curl instead of the coiled texture from a traditional perm. A volume perm can give your hair a thicker and fuller texture if you have thin hair. Opting for a long hair perm for men takes a bit of an effort but is equally important to maintain healthy locks. Using a diffuser while blow drying adds to your hair’s depth and body. Use a light mousse or a sea salt spray to hold your curls in place as you blow dry your hair.
30. Bleached Perm Hair for Men
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A perm combined with a blonde color gives a classic summer look. Because getting a perm and bleaching both use chemicals on hair, have enough time between the two procedures to prevent dryness and damage to hair. Go for color with a perm, and get a level up on your locks.
Style a Perm Hair for Men
The different perm hair men can style offers endless possibilities. If you’re in for a hairstyle change, a perm can give you a new trendy look, whether bold or soft. Try some curly hairstyles for men and see what can suit your personality and style.
