Short perms are back and better than ever! These styles are an instant switch-up for straight, lifeless hair, bringing brand-new volume and texture, and creating a completely different look to introduce you to the wonderful world of curls!
But these aren’t your grandma’s kind of perm or the one-size-fits-all perms of the 80s. These days, perms for short hair are personalized to suit your hair type, haircut, and the look you’re going for, whether that’s beachy waves, ringlets, or retro waves.
Check out these 23 modernized perms for short hair that redefine the trend and create a whole new you!
#1. Voluminous Curly Perm on a Chic Bob
If you want to switch up your look with something fun and refined, you need to go for a voluminous curly perm on a chic bob. The bob’s trendy and tidy lines and full body set the ultimate scene for the bouncy, voluminous curls to revive lifeless hair and give it a cheeky twist. Even better, styling is easy. Just blow dry using a diffuser to get that classic bob body and even more volume.
#2. Retro-Inspired Tight Curly Perm
Get that 70’s disco fever flavor with a retro-inspired tight curly perm. This perm gives thick hair maximum volume, with big, bold, bouncy tight curls for exuberant texture and all those groovy glam vibes. Plus, it looks great in almost any hair color and face shape!
#3. Modern Bob with Permed Messy Curls
Want a tasteful way to get that perfectly undone look? You need a modern bob with permed messy curls! The modern bob has a softer shape for a lower-key look to fit any face shape while also creating a super fab background for messy curls and keeps styling super simple These loose wave curls are that finishing touch, giving any hair density a soft and sophisticated texture with that subtle bedhead style.
#4. Elegant S-Curl Wave Perm
Go for gilded-age vibes and a side of natural glam with an elegant S-curl wave perm. These S-Curl waves are classy, captivating, and oh-so vintage, bringing natural volume, body and low-maintence pin-curl-inspired waves. Amp up this retro look by getting this perm on a layered bob.
#5. Soft Beach Wave Perm
Looking for a way to get that beachy-chic look without having to use a curling iron every day? You need a soft beach wave perm! This perm provides that seaside texture with full-bodied soft waves and effortless beachy texture, which you can intensify with sea salt spray. You can also step this coastal style up by going for a sandy brown color or getting sun-kissed highlights.
#6. Classic Pin Curl Perm
Calling all pinup girlies! Get those perfect retro curls with a classic pin curl perm! This short perm gives any hair type the perfect 40s pinup curls without all the actual curling. Plus, pin curls are incredibly flattering, especially on a vintage cheekbone-length French bob cut. You can also style them in a deep side part for that extra touch of old-school glam.
#7. Voluminous Perm on a Short Layered Bob
Bring your look all those girl-next-door vibes with a voluminous perm on a short layered bob. This look is a cute and classy upgrade of the “scrunched” look we were all obsessed with in the 2000s. Bouncy, voluminous curls bring thin, flat hair serious movement, enhanced by the bob’s layers and creating a fuller, bubbly shape.
#8. Avant-Garde Kinky-Coiled Perm
Give yourself a chic and contemporary aesthetic, and go for an avant-garde kinky-coiled perm. This distinctive perm features tight coils for a kinky texture, perfect for giving a short haircut a daring and artistic edge.
#9. Sleek Body Wave Perm on a Pixie Cut
Sleek body waves and a pixie cut are the quintessential blend of bold and timeless. This style is great for giving thick hair a retro kick, with the perfect amount of movement from the sleek old Hollywood glam-inspired waves and a chic and confident pixie cut keeping your styling routine super-simple.
#10. Short Asymmetrical Curly Perm With Side Bangs
Nothing blends cute and contemporary like a short, asymmetrical, curly perm with side bangs. This perm features radiant ringlet curls and gets its perfect imbalance from either a deep-side-parted perm pattern or by working with an asymmetrical cut and intensified by the side bangs.
#11. Vintage Finger Wave Perm
Go full-on gilded-era goddess with a vintage finger wave perm. These stunning soft waves bring sleek and elegant movement that looks just like those century-loved classic finger waves, but the perm means they don’t take as long to style.
#12. Short Curly Perm with a Playful Fringe
Are you all about those cute, spunky styles? You’ve got to try a short, curly perm with a playful fringe! This perm features radiant ringlets with all those fun and youthful vibes, especially on a short cut like a bubble bob or modern mushroom cut. Then, the playful fringe adds that finishing touch, magnifying your eyes and bringing that girly-chic vibe.
#13. Edgy Perm on a Short Stacked Bob
Put some spunk back in your style with an edgy perm on a stacked bob. The stacked bob’s shape is perfect for bold volume and body, with shorter layers to boost the volume in the back and longer layers on top, showcasing the perm’s behead waves for that perfectly undone texture with all those edgy vibes.
#14. Short Textured Perm with Defined Curls
If you’re all about dynamic and versatile style, try a textured perm with defined curls. A textured perm features curls that can become looser as they dry. But with these defined curls, you don’t have to worry about losing any of that beautiful bounce and vibrant style.
#15. Contemporary Loose Curl Perm
The loose curl perm is a classy and contemporary take on the old-fashioned perm. It creates soft, natural-looking loose curls with full-bodied volume and flowing movement for an unbeatably elegant curly style. Pairing this perm with a bob or angled cut gives it that extra modern edge.
#16. Textured Perm on a Short Afro
Get a transitional style to celebrate your natural coils with the textured perm on a short afro. The textured perm can be tightly coiled or a little loose, depending on how you style it, making it wonderful for girls who love to change things up all the time. The short afro also makes this perm low-maintenance!
#17. Holywood Glam Wave Perm on a Bob
Give yourself a timeless style that lasts more than one night with a Hollywood glam wave perm on a bob. This red-carpet-ready look features elegant old-school waves with all those luxurious vibes on a chic and stylish bob for that extra vintage element. Style this look in a side part for that extra retro glam look.
#18. Whimsical Spiral-Curl Perm on an Undercut
Put some playful pizzazz and punchy flair into your look with a whimsical spiral-curl perm on an undercut! This style is the perfect example of opposites attract, with the undercut’s edgy texture and visual contrast to long, full layers with whimsical spiral curls.
#19. Effortless Soft Curl Perm with a Side Part
Soft, sophisticated, and oh-so-chic—that’s how we describe an effortless soft curl perm with a side part. These effortless soft curls pack any hair density with a relaxed, carefree texture for a gentle bedhead-chic look you can style in seconds. The side part is that flawlessly elegant finishing touch.
#20. Short Crop and Bold Z-Pattern Perm
Get a fun and flashy look with a short crop and bold Z-pattern! The short crop haircut gives fine hair vibrant volume and body, creating the perfect shape for those playful spiral curls. Plus, the perm’s Z-pattern gives these curls even more movement and an avant-garde charm.
#21. Dynamic Multi-Textured Perm
The dynamic multi-textured perm is the perfect look for all of you ladies who love versatility. This perm uses different patterns and curl sizes to pack a massive punch, giving any hair density a lively twist, especially on a chic bubble bob or cropped cut.
#22. Subtle Wave Perm on Sleek Short Hair
If you’re all about that soft and simple aesthetic, the subtle wave perm has you covered! Paired with a short haircut, like a jaw-length bob, these gentle waves are the perfect light lift for thick hair that needs some help in the movement department but keeps things sleek and elegant.
#23. Volumizing Root Perm on a Pixie Cut
If you’re looking to give your fine hair some natural life and some much-needed height, you need a volumizing root perm and a pixie cut. The root perm gives hair maximum volume and curly texture, making it look fuller and thicker, so your pixie cut can really pack a punch!
