Let’s face it, in the world of beauty and fashion, everything old becomes new again. (Hello, low-rise jeans and butterfly clips!)

The latest revival taking the scene by storm? Perms. Yes, you heard me right—the very hairstyle that defined the 1970s and 1980s is back and bouncier than ever.

But before you picture your mom’s crunchy curls set in a fog of Aqua Net, know that today’s perm renaissance has undergone a serious glow-up, courtesy of Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Back in the 70s and 80s, perms weren’t just a hairstyle; they were a lifestyle. Rocked by men and women alike, these curls could mean anything from disco fever to boardroom ambition. The perm was a rite of passage, a social equalizer that allowed everyone from high schoolers to Wall Street brokers to get in on the wave.

It was loud, unapologetic, and totally iconic—and like all things that make a splash, it eventually fizzled out, making way for the poker-straight hair of the 90s and early 2000s. But, as any fashion historian will tell you, trends have a funny way of crawling back when you least expect it.

Enter: Gen Z and Gen Alpha. These generations have a knack for remixing the past’s greatest hits, and this time, they’re putting their spin on the infamous perm. Unlike the frizzy ringlets that haunted yearbooks past, today’s perms are softer, more natural-looking, and surprisingly effortless. You have influencers and celebrities to thank for that. Take Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles, for instance. Their tousled, just-rolled-out-of-bed curls are sending boys everywhere running to their nearest salons. And with TikTok and Instagram serving as trend accelerators, it’s never been easier to spark a hairstyle revolution.

Scroll through your feed, and you’ll find transformation videos that would make even the most cynical Gen Xer stop mid-scroll. This perm journey is especially prevalent among the tween crowd, with many TikTok transformation videos showing young boys with stick-straight hair walking into a salon only to emerge with artfully disheveled, enviable curls and an expert fade. It’s a style that’s taking over middle and high schools left and right!

It’s not just the boys either—women are getting in on the game with a specific twist: the Korean perm. This variation promises perfectly coiffed waves that lets you roll out of bed every morning looking perfectly styled. (Yes, even on days when your alarm didn’t go off.)

The allure of the modern perm isn’t just in the aesthetics. There’s a certain nostalgia factor that appeals to a generation obsessed with reboots, retro fashion, and the analog vibes of pre-digital eras. It’s as if Gen Z and Gen Alpha looked at their parents’ old photos, had a good laugh, and then decided, “Wait, this could actually work.” And unlike the spiral-perm fiascos of yesteryear, advancements in hair technology mean less damage and longer-lasting styles. Perm solutions today are kinder, gentler, and a lot more customizable.

But here’s the million-dollar question: Is this trend here to stay, or will it disappear faster than bad chunky highlights? If history has taught us anything, it’s that hair trends are as fickle as a weather app on a rainy day. While today’s perms are enjoying their moment in the limelight, only time will tell if they’ll achieve the staying power of their 70s and 80s predecessors or if we’ll be rolling our eyes at our perm phase in a few years.

Either way, the next time you see a TikTok showcasing the miraculous transformation of stick-straight hair into fluffy, movie-star curls, know that the perm has officially reclaimed its crown. Now, all that’s left to do is sit back and see if it curls up to stay.

Till next time, be wickedly wonderful.