Beach waves
The loosest, most modern result — uneven, lived-in waves with visible movement at the mid-shaft and ends. Best for medium-length to long hair. Reads as if you slept on it after a beach day.
Hair Care · West 3rd Street, LA
Modern Perms in Los Angeles
Modern perms at MUA Salon are not the tight, dry curls of decades past. We work in soft beach waves, body wave, and digital perms — customized to your length, density, and lifestyle — using gentler chemistry, larger rod sizes, and a bond-builder finish. The service is $350 for a 1.5-hour appointment at our Beverly Grove studio at 8336 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles.
مرور کلی
Modern perms vs old-school perms
The word "perm" still conjures the tight, uniform curls of the 1980s — and the dryness, frizz, and grow-out lines that came with them. Modern perming is a different practice. The chemistry is gentler, the rod sizes are larger, the curl patterns are customizable, and a bond-builder is added in to limit damage to the hair shaft.
At MUA Salon, the goal is texture, not curl. Most clients book a perm for the look of effortless, lived-in waves — the kind of hair that reads air-dried even when it isn't, that holds shape on day-three without re-styling, and that gives volume to fine hair without daily rod-set effort. We start every perm with a consultation, a strand test, and a clear sketch of the curl pattern we are aiming for.
Types
The three pattern families
Body wave
A soft, structured S-pattern that adds bounce and movement without defined curls. Best for clients who want volume and texture for everyday wear, especially fine or stick-straight hair that does not hold a wand or roller all day.
Digital perm
Heat-activated curls set with digitally controlled rods. The result reads straighter when dry-styled and curlier when wet or humid — meaning your hair has two settings depending on how you style it. Best for medium-density hair.
Who it's for
The right candidate
Healthy, virgin or lightly color-treated medium-to-thick hair takes a modern perm beautifully. Common signals you would benefit:
- You have stick-straight hair that won't hold a curling iron past lunch.
- You want effortless texture and volume without daily styling.
- Your hair is fine and you want body that doesn't fall flat.
- You want low-maintenance second-day and third-day hair.
- You have lightly highlighted but not bleached hair, and your colorist signs off.
Heavily bleached hair, hair that has already had a relaxer or chemical straightening, very fine and porous hair, or scalp conditions may need an alternative recommendation. We always start with a consultation and a strand test before chemistry.
دوام
How long it lasts
A perm is a permanent texture change — the curl does not wash out. What you see in the mirror after the appointment is the texture you will live with for 3 to 6 months. As your hair grows, new growth comes in straight at the root and the perm pattern stays in the existing length. Most clients re-perm every 4 to 6 months for a consistent overall pattern, or grow it out gradually with regular cuts.
Damage از heat styling and chemical exposure shortens the visible life of the curl. مراقبت پس از خدمت matters: sulfate-free shampoo, regular deep conditioning, and air-drying or diffusing on low heat will keep the pattern fresh longer.
مراقبت پس از خدمت
مراقبت پس از خدمت with Davines LOVE Curl
- Wait 48 hours before the first wash. The disulfide bonds need time to fully reset.
- Use a sulfate-free, curl-friendly shampoo and conditioner. We recommend Davines LOVE Curl shampoo and conditioner — designed for wavy and curly textures.
- Use a curl cream daily. Davines LOVE Curl Enhancing Cream defines the new pattern without weighing it down.
- Mask weekly. A hydrating mask once a week keeps moisture balanced.
- Air-dry or diffuse on low heat. Skip flat irons and high-heat round-brush blowouts for the first two weeks.
- Avoid tight ponytails or top knots for the first 48 hours so kinks don't set into the new pattern.
- Avoid chlorine and salt water for two weeks.
Pick up the LOVE Curl routine at the Davines shop on your way out, or browse online and we will have it ready when you arrive.
The appointment
What perm day looks like
- Consultation & strand test (15 min). Hair density, porosity, and color history are evaluated. A small section is tested with the proposed formula to confirm process time.
- Cleanse (10 min). A clarifying shampoo strips product residue. We do not condition before perming — conditioner blocks pigment uptake and chemistry.
- Sectioning & rod-set (25-30 min). Hair is parted into precise sections and wound onto rods sized for the desired curl pattern. Larger rods produce looser waves; smaller rods produce tighter curls.
- روند کار (20-30 min). The perming solution is applied and the hair sits while the chemistry breaks the disulfide bonds. We monitor process time carefully — under-processing leaves a weak curl, over-processing damages hair.
- Neutralize (10 min). A neutralizing solution is applied while the rods are still in to lock the new bond pattern. Rods come out and a final neutralizing rinse follows.
- Bond-builder & finish (15 min). A bond-builder treatment is applied to seal the cuticle. Hair is air-dried or diffused on low heat. Final styling demo and aftercare walkthrough.
Plan for about 1.5 to 2 hours start to finish, depending on hair length and density. Come with hair that has not been washed within 12 hours.
Consultation
What to expect at consultation
Every perm starts with a 15-minute consultation. Your stylist evaluates hair density, porosity, color history, scalp health, and the inspiration photos you bring. We do a strand test on a small section to confirm the formula and process time before committing the full head.
We will also walk through what your hair will look like at hour zero (immediately after the perm) versus week one (after the first wash and full settling) — they are different. Hour zero usually reads slightly tighter and slightly drier than the final result.
قیمتگذاری
Perm pricing
- Modern Perm — $350, ~1.5 hours. رزرو کنید Perm.
- مراقبت پس از خدمت — Davines LOVE Curl routine از the Davines shop.
- Color services after perm — wait at least two weeks. Quoted at consultation.
Cancellations require 24 hours' notice. See policies for full details and the سوالات متداول for general booking questions.
سوالات متداول
Perms, asked & answered
How much does a perm cost?
$350 for a 1.5-hour appointment at MUA Salon.
Are modern perms different از old-school perms?
Yes. Larger rod sizes, gentler chemistry, customizable curl patterns, and bond-builder finishes produce soft, lived-in texture instead of tight uniform curls.
What is a digital perm?
A perm using digitally controlled heated rods to create soft, beachy waves that read straighter when dry-styled and curlier when wet or humid.
How long does a perm last?
3 to 6 months in the existing length. New growth comes in straight at the root. Most clients re-perm every 4 to 6 months.
Who is a good candidate?
Healthy, virgin or lightly color-treated medium-to-thick hair. Heavily bleached hair, fine and porous hair, or already chemically straightened hair needs a strand test or alternative.
Will a perm damage my hair?
Any chemical service stresses the hair, but modern perm chemistry is gentler. We add a bond-builder and finish with a deep conditioning treatment.
Can I color after a perm?
Yes — wait at least two weeks. We will plan the timeline at consultation.
What is the aftercare?
Wait 48 hours before washing. Use sulfate-free curl-friendly products like Davines LOVE Curl. Air-dry or diffuse on low heat. Avoid heat tools and chlorine for two weeks.
Related
Pair the perm with
Hair botox
Repair treatment that softens damage از chemistry — a perfect post-perm companion.
Hair botox →بالایاژ
Dimensional, hand-painted color — book separately از your perm by at least two weeks.
بالایاژ →Davines LOVE Curl
The curl-care routine we use in studio and sell on site.
Shop Davines →Ready for soft waves?
رزرو کنید online, call, یا ایمیل به. Open seven days a week.