permanente
/per.maˈnɛn.te/
In Italian, the word for perm is permanente.
The word permanente is used as a feminine noun to refer to the hair treatment itself. If you want to be explicit about what is being treated, you can use the phrase fare una permanente ai capelli.
Meaning: To treat hair, to give waves, by using heat and chemicals (verb)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the process and the result: while la permanente refers to the chemical treatment, the term capelli ricci is used to describe the curly hair that results from the process.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 4 syllables, with the stress on the 3rd syllable: /per.maˈnɛn.te/.
Did you know?
- In a salon setting, an Italian stylist might use the term ondulazione to describe the specific type of wave produced by a permanente.
- The word permanente is an adjective in Italian that also means 'permanent' or 'lasting' in any context, such as a residenza permanente for a 'permanent residence'.
- Because permanente is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine article la when talking about the treatment, even if the person receiving it is male.
Examples in context
- Ora ho i capelli ricci, perché ho fatto la permanente.Now I have curly hair, because I had a perm.This sentence shows how to explain having curly hair as a result of having had a permanente.Tatoeba #12818760 by Guybrush88, translation #35595 by Dejo
- Non fare la permanente troppo forte, per favore.Don't make the perm too tight, please.This sentence is a way to ask someone not to make a permanente too tight.Tatoeba #1850558 by hitori37, translation #67736 by sundown
- Mi piacerebbe fare una permanente ai miei capelli.I would like to get a perm.
- Ho fatto i ricci.I got a perm.
- Vuoi fare la permanente?Do you want to get a perm?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a hair salon.
- MatteoChiara, vuoi fare la permanente oggi?Chiara, do you want to get a perm today?
- ChiaraSì, vorrei avere i capelli ricci.Yes, I would like to have curly hair.
- MatteoTi farò una permanente molto naturale.I will give you a very natural perm.
- ChiaraGrazie, spero che duri a lungo.Thank you, I hope it lasts a long time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry permanente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
