Spiral Perm in Amsterdam: Soft, Medium or Hard Curls
BY PARIS NGUYENWhat is a spiral perm
A spiral perm starts with the rods standing up. A classic perm winds hair around rods laid flat across the head. For a spiral perm, we wind each section along a rod that hangs vertically, from root toward tip. That one change in direction is what makes the curl different. You don't get a bouncy wave that sits in rows. You get long, corkscrew-shaped spirals that drop down the length of the hair and move on their own.
The result looks most natural on hair with some length, because a spiral needs room to turn. The more length there is, the more the curl can unwind into the loose, layered movement many people picture when they think of naturally curly hair.
Our menu has three spiral perms: Soft, Medium and Hard. The names describe the character of the curl, from a gentler, looser spiral to a firmer, more defined one. Which one suits you depends on your hair and the look you want, so we decide that together before any rod goes in.
Why now
Anyone who lives in Amsterdam knows what the weather does to a curling-iron set. Rain off the canals, damp air and a bike ride across the Grachtengordel can flatten heat-styled curls before lunch. A perm is different because the shape is set into the hair, not pressed on top for the day. So the curl you leave with is a base you can work with, whatever the weather.
There's also the ease of it. If you've been wrapping, twisting or ironing your hair every morning to get movement, a spiral perm gives you a starting shape that's already there. You can still style it, but you're no longer building curl from nothing each day.
The process
Every spiral perm starts with a conversation. We look at your hair's length, thickness and history, including any colour or earlier perms. We ask how you wear your hair now and how you'd like to wear it. That's when we choose between Soft, Medium and Hard, and when we pick the rod size that will give the spiral you're after.
Then we section the hair and wind it vertically onto the rods, one panel at a time. This is the careful part. How even the winding is decides how evenly the spirals fall once the rods come out. Once your hair is wound, we apply the perm solution to reshape it. We rinse it and then neutralise it so the new shape holds. When the rods come out, we look at the curl together and talk through how to look after it at home. That includes when your first wash should be, because the answer depends on the hair we've just worked on.
If you're also planning a cut or colour, tell us at the consultation. The order of services matters with perms, and we'd rather plan it with you than guess.
What to book
These are the spiral perm prices on our Amsterdam menu:
Spiral Perm (Soft): EUR 150. Spiral Perm (Medium): EUR 200. Spiral Perm (Hard): EUR 250.
Perms do not include a shampoo and blow-dry. Longer or thicker hair has an extra fee on top of the menu price: EUR +10 for shoulder to armpit, EUR +20 for armpit to mid-back, and EUR +30 for mid-back and longer. Because spiral perms suit length, it's worth checking which of these applies to you before your visit.
If you're not sure a spiral perm is right for you, book a Consultation (EUR 30). We waive that fee when you book a service. We may also suggest a different perm. A Cold Wave Perm (EUR 120) and a Digital Perm (EUR 180) are both on our menu and give a different kind of movement. A digital perm, for example, is often chosen for softer, rounder curls toward the ends, such as a C-curl. We'll tell you honestly which one fits your hair best.
Make it yours
ASSORT comes from the word assortment, a mix of many kinds. Behind it is an idea we hold close: 十人十色, ten people, ten colours. Ten clients means ten different hair designs. That's why we don't have one house spiral that everyone leaves with.
Your spiral perm can be shaped around you. Tighter around the face or looser through the ends. Spirals that start close to the root, or ones that begin lower and leave the top smoother. It can be paired with a cut that gives the curls somewhere to sit, or left long and full. Bring photos of curls you love, and of curls you don't. Both help us understand what you're picturing.
Visit us
We're on Kerkstraat in the canal belt, open every day from 10:00 to 19:00. If you've been thinking about spiral curls, we'd be glad to talk through Soft, Medium and Hard with you and find the one that fits your hair.
ASSORT AMSTERDAM, Kerkstraat 99A, 1017 GD Amsterdam, Netherlands.
