SOMEBODY PLEASE RESPOND THIS TIME!!!!

> Lisa:> Several years ago I had hair your length; mine is> almost totally straight, and what wave it had, that's> all it wanted. My hair was rather resistant to any> perm, and I knew that.> I found a woman who had done many perms, but never on> very long hair. We talked 4 or 5 times, going over> what my hair was like, and what I wanted, etc. She> asked lots of questions, so respond as completely as> you can to a stylist. Don't let anyone near your hair> that doesn't seem interested in the possibility of> screwing it up and how bad it would be. This woman was> very concerned about that.> Eventually, we worked out a compromise. I allowed 4> inches to come off my total length, increasing her> comfort zone about perming very long hair, and she did> a great job in putting in the body perm. She used the> piggy-back method to get it all permed, and I paid> somewhat extra because of my extra length.> This didn't apparently damage my hair, but the hair> that would have been most adversely affected, the> stuff at the bottom, had been cut off.> It did take several years to grow out without> sacrificing much length, but I was very happy with the> perm for about 2-3 years. It did gradually relax,> which was good, and bugs seemed to like me much more> in the years following my perm that before or since. I> think they may have gotten caught in the lighter,> fluffier body, than they did in the straight,> hang-down hair I had.> Be careful. No amount of extra research on your part> is too much. You have a lot to lose there, with your> hair.> RunningWildTo RunningWild Re: your response to Lisa;first I would like to thank you for contributing your advice, there is many people who can benifit from words such as these and are " more believing" than spoken by a strange stylist over the phone from your local beauty salon. I have been doing long hair perms for over 13 years and I always try to thoroughly educate my clients about the pros and cons of any change they want to make whether it is a perm color etc. Probably 90% of the time after I have explained things to them they will make the correct choice. My hat is off to you and your stylist that you spoke of for taking the right approach by very thoroughly discussing your needs and desires. Most stylists DO NOT have the patience and caring to REALLY CARE about long haired clients and many try to take the easy way out and almost always "cut too much" and do the perm the "way that they want to". TOO BAD!! If they would just take the time they will be rewarded with the most loyal clients in town! No matter what the length of their style. I am a devoted fan of long hair but that does not mean that I am blind to other styles. My greatest reward is not the money but the smile of a lifetime of a client who looks in the mirror for the first time after a perm or cut and you can just see the happiness in their faces, THAT's what makes it all worth the extra effort! william

> I was thinking about getting a body wave perm. Can> anyone tell me how this is going to look for bottom> length straight hair. How bad will this damage my> hair. All I want is volume on my hair so I figured I> would try to get this body wave. Does anyone have any> suggestions? Also does anybody know where there is a> good picture of a women with a body wave perm (for> long hair)? PLEASE HELP SOON!!!!To Lisa: Hi I am William and I specialize in doing long hair. Maybe I can guide you in your endeavor to get the right perm for your hair. First a little info is needed to help you make the right selection. #1 is your hair down to your bottom as in waist length or longer? #2 what is the texture of it? is it thick or thin? is it fine or coarse in nature or in between? #3 has it ever had any type color done on it and if so, describe as best you can what type of color and what condition it is in now. Have you ever done any henna processes on it? Have you ever permed it previously, and if the answer is yes, is their any remains of an old perm or color in it now? and lastly what do you expect a perm to do for your hair? Try to describe the type of curl or wave or the amount of curl or wave that you want in your hair. I ask these questions of every client of mine and more to be able to be sure that I give them everything that they want and I will try to thoroughly "educate them" to the required care that they will need to do to take care of their new look. If you will answer these questions, I think that I can answer all of your questions for you. you can email me direct if you want.william