a series of waves in the hair made by applying heat and chemicals
"She decided to get permanent after trying different hairstyles for years without any lasting change."
A chemical hair treatment imparting or removing curliness, whose effects typically last for a period of weeks; a perm.
"She decided to get her permanent because she wanted tight curls that would stay in place all summer long."
In plain English: A permanent is something that stays forever and never goes away.
"The permanent in his office was a large, comfortable chair where he spent most of his day."
Usage: In casual conversation, "permanent" refers to a specific chemical hair treatment that alters the texture of your curls or waves. Use this noun when discussing salon services, as it is simply a shortened form of "permanent wave."
To perm (the hair).
"She decided to get her hair permanently styled after years of straightening it every day."
In plain English: To make something permanent is to fix it so it stays that way forever and cannot be changed back.
"He decided to permanently move away from the city."
Usage: As a verb, permanent means to treat hair with a chemical solution that permanently changes its wave or curl pattern. This term is almost exclusively used in beauty contexts and should not be confused with the adjective meaning lasting forever.
not capable of being reversed or returned to the original condition
"permanent brain damage"
Without end, eternal.
"In his final testament, the king declared that his love for his people was permanent, promising to watch over them even after death."
In plain English: Something permanent lasts forever and never goes away.
"The ink on the check is permanent, so it will not fade over time."
Usage: Use permanent to describe something intended to last indefinitely or without change, such as a dye job that won't wash out or an appointment scheduled forever. Avoid using it for temporary situations where the state will eventually end.
The word permanent comes from the Latin permaneo, meaning "to stay through," and entered English via Middle French in the 15th century. Its original sense of enduring over time is exactly what it means today.