What is Perm (hairstyle)?
A '''permanent wave''', commonly called a '''perm''', is the [[chemical]] treatment of [[hair]] to produce [[wikt:curl|curls]]. The first chemical treatment for curling hair that was suitable for use on people was invented in the year 1906 by the [[Germany|German]] hairdresser Karl Nessler (1872-1951). He used a mixture of [[cow]] [[urine]] and water. The first public demonstration took place on October 8, 1906, but Nessler had been working on the idea since 1896. Previously, [[wig]]s had been set with [[Caustic (substance)|caustic]] chemicals to form curls, but these recipes were too harsh to use on human [[skin]]. ==References== * {{cite web| title = Karl L. Nessler| url = http://www.nessler-todtnau.de/index.php| accessdate = 2006-07-24}} * {{cite book| title = Salon Fundamentals: A resource for your cosmetology career| publisher = Pivot Point International| date = 2004| location = Evanston, IL| isbn = 0-615-11288-9}} ==Other websites== *[http://www.nessler-todtnau.de/index.php?site=herstellung&menu=erfindung Pictures of Nessler's permanent curling machine] *[http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/568hairwave.html Disulphide bonds in hair] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208002804/http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/568hairwave.html |date=2006-02-08 }} *[http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/may98/892764277.Ch.r.html The chemistry of a permanent wave] *[http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1940's/Which%20Twin%20Had%20The%20Toni.htm Old advertisement for Toni brand perm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216100209/http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1940%27s/Which%20Twin%20Had%20The%20Toni.htm |date=2007-12-16 }} *[http://images4.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/m0399&CISOPTR=57 Getting a perm in 1950 (demonstration)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024204626/http://images4.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%2Fm0399&CISOPTR=57 |date=2007-10-24 }} [[Category:Hair]]