faire une permanente
To perm hair in French is faire une permanente.
The phrase is used to describe the chemical process of creating long-lasting curls or waves. In a salon setting, you can simply refer to the service itself by using the noun une permanente.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'to do a permanent', where permanente acts as a noun referring to the chemical treatment.
Which one should you use?
The standard way to express the action is faire une permanente, but you may sometimes hear the verb permanenter used colloquially to mean 'to perm hair'.
Did you know?
- The word faire in this phrase comes from the Latin facere, which is also the root of English words like 'factory' and 'manufacture'.
- French beauty culture distinguishes between une permanente and un brushing, the latter being a blow-dry style that is temporary, contrasting the 'permanence' of the curls.
- The colloquial verb permanenter is an example of a process called 'verbification', where a noun is turned into a verb to simplify speech in casual settings.
Examples in context
- Je voudrais faire une permanente, s'il vous plaît.I would like to get a perm, please.
- Elle veut faire une permanente.She wants to get a perm.
- Je vais faire une permanente demain.I am going to get a perm tomorrow.
- Est-ce trop tard pour faire une permanente ?Is it too late to get a perm?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are talking about a new hairstyle.
- GabrielLéa, tu veux faire une permanente ?Léa, do you want to get a perm?
- LéaOui, je veux des boucles.Yes, I want curls.
- GabrielC'est une bonne idée pour toi.That is a good idea for you.
- LéaJe prends rendez-vous demain.I will make an appointment tomorrow.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faire, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
