Best Home Perms of 2025

"The perm provided me with the beautiful, shiny, and soft loose curls I desired. However, the scent was so strong it made me feel unwell. Despite feeling nauseous, I managed to complete the perm. After resting for about an hour, I felt better by the next day. I am not looking forward to experiencing that again."

"I have consistently used this home perm on my 80-year-old mother's thin, gray hair for the past three years and it has always delivered. She has received numerous compliments, with many people unable to believe that her hair wasn't professionally done. I am convinced that the conditioners provided before and after the treatment significantly contribute to maintaining the health of her hair, preventing frizz and damaged ends. I can't praise this perm enough, it has definitely given her a look she's happy with."

"Sure, the smell isn't great, but it's only temporary. You only notice it when you're applying the chemicals to your hair. I use this product to perm my hair and it works wonderfully, maintaining the curls for several months. Give it a try!"

"I previously used a different brand for my home perm, but due to a price increase, I decided to try this one. I'm not quite familiar with these solutions but I followed the instructions. My hair turned out slightly wavy, not as curly as I expected. Overall, the smell is manageable and the instructions are clear."

I have very fine and straight hair, this solution may not be suitable for my hair type."

"Yes, it does have a perm-like smell, but it's effective! I was able to achieve a great 30s style perm with this product, despite having issues with aging hair and chemical residues. It worked like a charm!"

"I've tried many home perm products, but Ogilvie Home Perm is the best for my hair. It gives me consistent, beautiful results every time, leaving my hair with the perfect amount of curl and bounce. This is the only perm I recommend to others—it truly works wonders!"

"The product arrived as a set of two, which is great since I need more than one perm for my hair. It came quickly, has a good price, and the instructions were easy to follow. Just a tip, use oil around your head to avoid skin burns!"

"I've used Ogilvie products before, but I was shocked by the strong ammonia fumes from the 'Original' home perm version. Even with a fan, the smell was suffocating. I recommend using it in a well-ventilated area, or you might find it hard to finish the perm!"

"I was a bit nervous about doing a perm at home, but this kit made it so easy. The instructions are clear and straightforward, and the whole process was much simpler than I anticipated. The results are fantastic—my curls came out beautifully defined and bouncy, just like I'd get from a salon."

"I have fine thin hair and have struggled with perms at salons. This second perm turned out great! Even though every strand was caught in the rod, I had body. I didn't have to spend a huge amount of time covering up thin areas to conceal my scalp."

"The Good: This Permanent Wave Set cost next to nothing. It had everything I needed to do the perm, and my hair looks GOOD! The Bad: There are a lot of steps to complete this perm, and it took longer than expected. But in the end, my hair came out really nice."

"I applied it and absolutely loved the results! It left me with amazing curls that exceeded my expectations. Just follow the instructions, and you'll achieve perfect results."

"As a guy with medium-length, semi-wavy hair, I used 20mm rollers for a loose curl look. I learned that I should have bought more rollers—at least 35-40 to avoid running out. Even with this, I got a natural wave that surprised everyone. Honestly, I’m thrilled with the outcome and received lots of compliments."

"I have been a fan of Ogilvie perms for years, and I’m very satisfied with how my latest perm turned out. I always recommend this product to anyone looking for a reliable at-home perm kit."

"I applied it on September 9, 2024, and as of November 10, 2024, my curls are still visible and lively, even after I cut a lot of my hair off two weeks later. My hair isn’t dead; it’s super wavy! I did leave the rollers on too long and used too much solution in the front, so it's curlier there, but I think it looks really cute. Just a heads-up, the perm solution STINKS like FARTS! Oh my gosh, the 'aroma' scent kicks in only after you finish the perm. Sure, it smells 'clean,' but more like chemical clean. The smell lingers for about a week, making it a bit suffocating since I had to cover my face with a towel to avoid the solution. It also stinks up the house for ten minutes, but hey, it’s cool."

"I've tried various home perms, and I must say, this is the best one yet! The curl definition was excellent, with no frizziness or dryness. I only kept the solution on for 12 minutes instead of the recommended 20, and it turned out perfect. I will definitely use this again!"

"I'm really impressed with this perm. It holds the curls longer than any other brand I’ve tried, and the smell is not overpowering. It’s nice to have a product that works well without a strong odor."

"I have naturally fine, curly hair in the back, but the front is more wavy. I was initially going to spend $200 on a salon perm, but I decided to try this product myself. The results were amazing! After some initial frizz, I didn't wash my hair for three days, and when I finally did, the permed curls were soft and frizz-free with the perfect amount of loose curls! I will definitely buy again!"

"I've been using this product for many years because it keeps my poker-straight hair feeling soft with just the right amount of body and curl. The results last a long time and even improve as my hair grows out. I've tried other products, but Ogalvie perms work best for me."

"I was really disappointed when I found my heat activator bottle was completely empty. I reached out to customer service, but it seemed like no one wanted to take responsibility for this issue. They just directed me to contact the store, but it felt like a manufacturer problem. It's frustrating that they expect others to handle their mistakes."

"I was SO THRILLED with this perm! It looks and feels amazing. I had no one to help me roll my hair, but it was worth it. My thin, fine hair now has beautiful curls instead of frizz. I'm simply in love with this product. Follow the instructions, and you'll be happy!"

"At 70, I've been perming my hair for decades. I gave this perm a try, and it turned out pretty good despite not following the directions closely. My fine gray hair has soft curls, and I was worried about dryness but had no issues. I believe this is a good option for fine gray hair!"

"I've used Ogilvie perms for years and love them, but I wanted to try something new. I was disappointed because I followed the instructions, but I ended up with no perm at all. I experienced no damage, but unfortunately, I just didn’t get the results I expected."

"I bought the Zotos Quantum for my mom, who needed a perm. My sister recommended it, and I'm really pleased we tried it. My mom, a former hairstylist, thinks it's excellent and worked perfectly on her hair. The result was stunning, giving her hair a natural look with great body and volume. Plus, it’s affordably priced. I highly recommend it!"

"This product is hands down the best perm! Although the price keeps increasing, it's still unbeatable compared to salon perms. I did my own perm in December 2023, and my hair still has amazing body. I plan to do it again in November 2024—I hope it stays available forever!"

"As a hairstylist with 12 years of experience, I was disappointed with this product. I followed the instructions precisely on virgin hair with 1-inch rods, but at the 19-minute mark, there was absolutely no curl. After rinsing and applying the neutralizer, the hair was almost straighter than before. This was a major waste of time and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone."

"I have been perming my hair every six weeks for about four years, and I’ve tried many different perm kits. I give this 5 stars because it’s the best at delivering exactly what it’s designed to do as an alkaline perm. Just a heads up, it’s a bit harsher due to its higher pH level, so it’s not suitable for thin or previously permed hair, as it might leave it fuzzy and dry."

"I purchased this for my son’s hair, and I found it to be great! While it didn’t include papers like some kits do, that wasn’t a big issue for me."

"I decided to try this brand when my regular one was sold out. It seemed weaker than my usual product and didn’t have that strong perm solution odor, but I might give it another shot if I find an older batch."