Long straight hair gets boring, but a lot of people hold off on a perm because they're afraid of tight, old-fashioned curls. When curls are too uniform and springy, long hair can look heavy and older.
At A PEAK HAIR near Sungshin Women's University, we give long hair a water wave perm that deliberately breaks up the curl pattern. Even if you just scrunch it dry with your hands, it falls into natural waves, so the mood changes without looking overdone. The two clients below are different people, and both kept their length with a water wave perm.
[Quick answer] A water wave perm on long hair uses irregular curls to create natural waves that don't look heavy. A water wave perm is a perm that forms soft, loose, rippling waves instead of uniform S-curls.
① Consultation — Face Shape & Hair Analysis with the APEAK App
Before the perm, we take a photo with the APEAK 8 Hair Mood diagnosis app to measure bone structure, facial features, and the upper/middle/lower face proportions. The photo never leaves the device, so your privacy is protected. Waves add volume beside the face, so where the curl starts depends on face shape.
The first client has a soft, slightly round cheek line, and the app read a strong lovely, innocent mood. If curls puff out right beside the cheeks, the face looks wider, so we kept the innocent feel with see-through bangs (enhance) and started the waves below the cheekbones. The second client has a slim, longer face, and the app read a mature, elegant mood. On a face like this, waves that spread sideways make the face look shorter, so we let the waves start right at the sides of the face (soften).
② Service — Long-Hair Water Wave Perm
A water wave perm mixes rod sizes and winding directions on purpose, so the curls don't line up in one direction. Instead of clumping together, they layer into soft ripples. Long hair is heavy, so the top curls tend to drop; when the hair already has layers, the waves come out much lighter.
For the first client, see-through bangs sit lightly on the forehead, with smaller curls around the face that widen toward the ends. The second client wears a center part that shows the forehead, with waves flowing from the sides of the face to naturally break up the long face line.
A quick tip on water wave perm vs. volume wave perm: the difference is how regular the curl is. A volume wave perm uses thick, even curls to build volume; a water wave perm uses soft, irregular curls to create natural movement. If thin hair and lack of volume are your concern, go with a volume wave perm. If you want an effortless mood on long hair, a water wave perm fits better.
③ Result — Two Water Wave Perms
On the first client, the see-through bangs and soft waves come together in an innocent, dreamy look. The waves spread from below the cheekbones, so her face looks smaller, and the curl holds all the way to the ends. On the second client, the center part and side waves soften the long face line for a calm, mature impression.
With a water wave perm, half the result is how you dry it. After washing, press the water out with a towel, apply curl cream or serum mostly to the ends, and dry while scrunching the waves in your hand. Brushing it out or blow-drying it straight with hot air loosens the waves, so finish with cool air or let it air-dry.
🎁 First-Visit Offer · 50% Off
A PEAK HAIR Sungshin Women's Univ. offers a first-visit offer of 50% off your service. If a perm on long hair has felt like too much, we can start by deciding where the curl should begin for your face shape.
❓ FAQ
Q. Is a water wave perm the same as a hippie perm?
They're related, but a hippie perm has tighter curls, while a water wave perm has looser, wider waves.
Q. Will a water wave perm make long hair look puffy?
Not if the hair has layers and the curl starts at the right point for your face shape. It stays light.
Q. Do I have to blow-dry a water wave perm?
No. Apply serum and scrunch it dry by hand, or let it air-dry, and the waves come back.
Q. Can I get a water wave perm with a round face?
Yes. Starting the waves below the cheekbones and adding see-through bangs keeps a round face from looking wider.
📍 Salon Info
A PEAK HAIR Sungshin Women's Univ. · 5-minute walk from Sungshin Women's Univ. Station, Exit 1
Open daily 10:00–20:00 (no holidays) · Parking available
Written by: Senior stylist, A PEAK HAIR Sungshin Women's Univ. · Last updated 2026.10.05
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Related: Sungshin Women's Univ. Fine-Hair Volume Perm · Root Volume with a Wave Perm