are you still having a hard time...?

[me-T]

i know this is a dumb question and all, but just wondering. IRL i use the "layman's term" just so folk will know what i'm talkin about...dont wanna get the face, lol!

 

[straightlovely]

yeah i still say perm and don't care what anyone thinks! i know its a relaxer and I know the difference. I just don't think it's that big of a deal!

 

[tiffers]

Heckie naw. Once I learned the correct term, that's all I use here and IRL. And if someone gives me the bitter beer face, I'll be quick to school em!

 

[me-T]

Heckie naw. Once I learned the correct term, that's all I use here and IRL. And if someone gives me the bitter beer face, I'll be quick to school em!

bitter beer face!!!

 

[Neith]

I call it perm when I'm talking to people in the real world.

I don't have the patience to correct everyone. The numbers are really against me

 

[AsTheCurlzTurns]

In my neck of the woods, while growing up, saying "I need a perm" is the way it runs. Even I was saying the same thing, before ever joining this board. I'm not having a hard time at all, but just try telling them the proper term and you'll get "Well, Chile i ain't no prim n propah heifer, so you knew what I meant".

 

[chebaby]

i know what i get is called a relaxer but i dont know the difference.

so what is the difference between a relaxer and a perm?

 

[Christa438]

I usually say relaxer but when im talking IRL I may use either "relaxer" or "perm." around my family, friends and others; I hear "perm" more. but I thought a perm really had to do with using chemical lotion and perm rods... a person can get a strong/ tight curl or a softer/more wavy curl pattern.

 

[Morenita]

My mom was a cosmetologist (rest in peace) and I asked her this question a long time ago because she used to always say relaxer as well. Her explanation to me was that they are both technically perms: Permanent Wave (rolling the hair on "perm rods" and setting it with a chemical, and Permanent Relaxer (we all know what a relaxer is). If that explanation is true, then I don't see any reason why both aren't appropriate.

I answered that I still say perm on occasion.

 

[danigurl18]

I'm guilty erplexed but than I do a self-correct

 

[Jetblackhair]

I thought a perm meant permanently curly (set on rods) and a relaxer, permanently straight. I always noticed white girls would say perm when they were getting their hair chemically treated to be curly.

Remember that episode of I Love Lucy where she tried to give herself a home permanent and her hair came out looking like Orphan Annie, extremely curly, 'cause she left it in too long?

 

[vestaluv1]

I've never called it a perm erplexed!

 

[cupcakes]

wats the dif?

 

[Lovestyr]

Once I learned the correct term that's what I began too use; but my aunts well they look at me crazy when I say that around them. Some ppl don't like to be corrected, so I kept my mouth closed. I respect my elders....lol

 

[PinkSunshine77]

I went to cosmetology school. I call it perm to the lay people.

 

[SuchaLady]

Either one is fine. The "perm" terminology is letting you know that the process is permanent. It will either be permanently straight (relaxer) or permanently curly (curly/wavy perm)

 

[Theresamonet]

I say relaxer now. To everyone.

 

[Dshsjh4ever]

i think perm is to make the hair curly... and relaxer is to make the hair straight. (relax the curl) but my question is who sell perms and i never see them in the bbs ??

 

[reeko43]

I only really use either term most often on hair boards since I don't use chemicals in real life. However, when typing I use perms (quick) speaking, either one.

I will continue to use whichever rolls off my tongue and perms for typing since in 45+ years I have had no one look at me and pretend like they didn't know what I was talking about. Permanent curl, permanent relaxer are both permanent processes.

Sent from my SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 2

 

[BranwenRosewood]

Ever since my old stylist explained the difference I've been calling it a relaxer.

 

[Channy31]

I've never called it a perm, then again considering where I live if I said either relaxer or perm my friends wouldn't have a clue what i'm on about.

On that note, I saw two black girls with 20 inch blonde awful weaves and was saying to my friend how awful they were and she was like "I had no idea that that wasn't there real hair". White people have no clue hehe.

 

[Baggettcindy]

i think perm is to make the hair curly... and relaxer is to make the hair straight. (relax the curl) but my question is who sell perms and i never see them in the bbs ??

I thought mainly white folx get perms...since their main is mainly straight.....and "we" get relaxers. I guess I use this to tell the difference between the two.

 

[Froreal3]

Where I'm from we call it perm. I still do to ppl not on LHCF. I don't get the diff in terminology since here we go by the understanding that both a curly perm and a straight perm alter the hair...um...permanently.

 

[Mahsiah]

I call it a relaxer but if someone calls it a perm irl, I won't correct them.