Historical information

A permanent hairstyle, commonly called a perm or "permanent" is a hairstyle consisting of styles set into the hair lasting a number of months using thermal or chemical means. In the latter method, chemicals are applied to the hair, which is then wrapped around forms / rods to produce hairstyles with varying degrees of wave or curls. Usually this styling is performed by Hairdressers, in Beauty Salons, however, manufacturers appealing to the 'thriftiness' of the post world war 2 women produced products that could be used at home. It became very popular for women in the new estates to gather with their neighbours to give each other this new 'Home perm' with some success and failure. Gladys Reed used this type of Home perm while a resident of City of Moorabbin c 1950

Significance

Typical Home Hair Perming equipment used to style their own hair by women in City of Moorabbin c1950

Physical description

A cardboard box containing solution, equipment and instruction booklet for home treatment of hair to produce permanent waves.