Perm or Relaxer

I always read that a Perm makes your hair curly and a relaxer makes your hair straight. However, relaxed girls always say "perm."

What's going on here?

(keep in mind, I never had either so I am clueless)

I guess that is what is confusing. Can you imagine what would happen if an African American woman walked into the wrong salon and asked for a "perm"

A permanent wave, commonly called a perm, is the chemical and/or thermal treatment of hair to produce waves, curls or straight hair. The use of the word 'permanent' is justified insofar as when the wave is permed, it remains so; however, as the hair grows, the new hair that grows has not been waved, while cutting the hair from the end removes that which is waved, giving the impression that the permanent wave gradually disappears. In cosmetology, it is termed a type of curl reformation.

i believe a perm is what those of who have European-ish or otherwise hair use to make their hair curly and a relaxer is what those with Afro hair use to relax/straighten their kinks.

Yeah, most white people refer to perms as making their hair curly...that's why most of them are sooo confused when we say perms make our hair straight!

It may come from the term "permanent relaxer"--so black ladies shorten it to say "perm". (I caught that from watching the "Good Hair" movie). Or it could just be lack of knowledge.

I grew up saying perm as well, until I heard some one get corrected when they said perm several years ago at a salon--the stylist said you mean relaxer--perms are what white women get to curl their hair, relaxers relax the curl pattern to straighten hair.

I haven't said "perm" since.....

Well like Jonezy said is comes from permanent relaxer but it's also in part because the permanent wave came first late (1800's)so most chem treatments were called perms.
Also what would happen if a Black person asked for a perm they would pretty much end up with a Jherri curl, which its self is a permanent wave restructuring technique.

Jonezy wrote:It may come from the term "permanent relaxer"--so black ladies shorten it to say "perm". (I caught that from watching the "Good Hair" movie). Or it could just be lack of knowledge.

I grew up saying perm as well, until I heard some one get corrected when they said perm several years ago at a salon--the stylist said you mean relaxer--perms are what white women get to curl their hair, relaxers relax the curl pattern to straighten hair.

I haven't said "perm" since.....

I agree...
white salons know that if we go in and ask for a perm...they would understand we wanted a relaxer.