If you've got limp hair that would rather hang against your head than hold a style - even after you've tried all kinds of bodybuilding haircuts, experimented with styling products, and backcombed it repeatedly - a body wave might be for you. Think of a body wave as a kind of support measure that encourages hair to behave when you blow-dry it under, stays when you comb it back, or goes along with whatever you like doing to it. Because oversize rods are used for the service, you won't get curls with a body wave; you may or may not get large, very loose waves.

Root perm

For people with flat, stick-to-the-head hair, a root perm can add lift without curl. Large rods are placed at the hair's roots - and just the roots. This gives volume and height to perpetually lank locks. Think of it as a body wave for your hair's roots.

If hair doesn't look curly after a perm service, it's said that the hair " didn't take." Culprits could include styling buildup on the hair, a medication you are taking, or imbalanced hormones, such as those caused by pregnancy. To prevent damage, don't re-perm hair immediately- wait 1 to 3 months. And if you're pregnant, wait until you've delivered the baby and are no longer nursing!

Spiral waves

You know those gorgeous, coiled ringlets you see on some naturally curly heads? That's what a spiral perm aims to duplicate. The curls are created by perm rods that are rolled vertically instead of horizontally. There is a downside to spiral perms: The vertical rod placement doesn't create the same firm, tight curls as the more traditional horizontal placement, which means your ringlets may be looser than you'd like.

Reverse perm

In a way, a reverse perm is a kind of curl-softening service. The treatment takes tightly or moderately curled locks and sets them on oversized rods. The result is softer, looser waves.

Touch-up perm

It's not healthy to re-perm strands that have been previously treated. The best way to keep damage at bay is to simply perm the new, untreated growth. This treatment is known as a touch-up perm, a re-touch perm, or sometimes a root perm.

Heat styling is downright dangerous on degraded, fragile permed hair. If you can't live without your styling appliances, limit yourself to occasional heat styling and always protect strands with a leave-in conditioner before you begin.