The jerry curl, a hair look many remember from the past, is truly making a big return right now. This particular way of wearing hair, often spelled as "jheri curl" or even "jeri curl," was a very common sight, especially among African American communities, during the years of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. It was, in some respects, the signature hair choice of a whole generation, a style that has come to stand for some truly memorable moments in the history of beauty trends. You know, it was just everywhere for a good long while.
This summer, we have actually seen the jerry curl, which some might have thought an unlikely hair trend from the '80s, start to appear again in popular culture, and people are, in fact, quite fond of it. It’s not too surprising, you know, to see it still being worn today, even though its peak was a good while back. This style, which is a lasting way to get curls, was a huge part of how people presented themselves then, and it seems to be finding its way back into our present day, which is rather interesting to observe.
It's almost as if this well-known jerry curl hair style is coming back into favor, much like a good many other fashion statements from the nineties. So, it really does seem like a good moment for you and everyone else to learn a bit more about how to get this particular look. We're talking about a hair style that was once the "it" choice from the 1970s right up until the start of the '90s. Now, that appearance is back, and it's, well, better than it was before, or so some say. We'll explore how you can achieve it for yourself.
Table of Contents
- Who Gave Us the Jerry Curl?
- A Look at the Jerry Curl's Origins
- What Made the Jerry Curl So Popular?
- The Jerry Curl's Distinctive Style
- Is the New Jerry Curl Different?
- Getting Your Own Jerry Curl Look
- Why is the Jerry Curl Back Now?
- The Jerry Curl - A Summary of Its Lasting Appeal
Who Gave Us the Jerry Curl?
The jerry curl, as we know it, was brought into being by a hairdresser named Jheri. That is, basically, the extent of what is widely known about the person who first created this lasting curly hair treatment. There isn't a lot of readily available public information about Jheri beyond the fact that they were the individual who developed this particular permanent wave technique. It's a bit like, you know, a lot of things from the past, where the product becomes so much bigger than the person who first thought it up. So, while the name "Jheri" is linked to the style, specific personal details about the inventor are not something that is commonly shared or known. It’s a very interesting point, actually, how a single name can become so tied to a cultural phenomenon without much else being revealed about the individual themselves.
A Look at the Jerry Curl's Origins
The jerry curl came about as a type of lasting curl hair treatment. It was created by the hairdresser Jheri, whose name became the most common way to spell the style itself. This particular way of getting hair to stay curly involved a special process. The goal was to give hair a look that seemed naturally curly but was, in fact, the result of a salon visit. It was a way for people to have a consistent, styled look without needing to do a lot of daily work to achieve it. This was, in a way, quite revolutionary for its time, offering a new kind of freedom in hair styling. The idea was to make curls that looked soft and had a nice sheen, which was something many people wanted for their hair. It really was a significant development in hair fashion for the period.
What Made the Jerry Curl So Popular?
The jerry curl gained a lot of favor and became a very common sight because it offered a particular kind of look that was both stylish and, in some respects, easy to maintain once it was done. This hair style, which was characterized by curls that felt gentle to the touch, had a nice gleam, and seemed a bit damp, gave people a very distinct appearance. It was a visual statement, you know, that really stood out. For many, it represented a sense of style and confidence. The way it looked, with those soft, flowing curls, was quite appealing and helped it spread quickly among people looking for a new hair choice. It was, basically, a look that conveyed a certain kind of cool, which is why it caught on so much.
The Jerry Curl's Distinctive Style
The particular appearance of the jerry curl was what truly made it stand out and become a favorite. This hair style was known for its curls that were gentle to the touch, had a lovely shine, and felt somewhat moist. These qualities gave the hair a very specific and recognizable look. It was a style that, you know, seemed to have a certain bounce and a fluid movement to it. The curls were not stiff or dry; instead, they had a sort of healthy, well-cared-for appearance. This distinct set of features made the jerry curl a very desirable way to wear one's hair, especially for those who wanted a prominent and fashionable curly look. It was, in a way, a style that spoke for itself, creating an impression of sleekness and natural-looking bounce.
Is the New Jerry Curl Different?
When we talk about the jerry curl coming back, it’s worth asking if it’s the exact same thing as before or if there are some changes. The original jerry curl used a chemical product, a kind of special liquid, to change the hair's natural curl pattern in a lasting way. This meant that once you had it, the curls were pretty much set for a good long while, until your hair grew out or you decided to change it. However, the current way of getting a jerry curl look, which some call the "new natural jerry curl," is actually not a lasting style in the same sense. It's a bit different, you know, in how it's achieved and how long it stays. This means people can try the look without committing to a permanent change.
Getting Your Own Jerry Curl Look
Achieving the jerry curl look today often involves a different approach than what was used back in the 1980s. The traditional method for the jerry curl involved using a chemical softener. This special liquid would permanently change the way the hair naturally forms spirals, creating the lasting curl effect. However, the way people are getting the jerry curl appearance now, which is sometimes referred to as a "natural jerry curl," is not a lasting hair style. Instead, it makes use of a curl cream, which is a type of product for getting hair ready. This cream helps to shape and define the curls, giving a similar look to the classic jerry curl but without the lasting chemical treatment. So, you know, it’s more about styling than a permanent alteration to your hair's natural state, which could be a good thing for many who want to experiment with their appearance.
Why is the Jerry Curl Back Now?
The return of the jerry curl is, in some ways, part of a larger trend where styles from earlier decades are finding new life. We often see fashion and beauty looks from the past cycle back into popularity, and the jerry curl is a really good example of this. It’s not just a random occurrence; there’s a sense that people are looking back to periods that feel, you know, perhaps a bit simpler or just have a strong sense of identity. The 1980s and early 1990s, the time when the jerry curl was at its peak, are periods that hold a special place in memory for many, and their influence on culture remains strong. So, when other fashion statements from those decades start to show up again, it makes sense that this iconic hair style would also make its way back into the public eye. It's almost as if we're revisiting a time that felt, in a way, quite bold and expressive.
The appeal of the jerry curl might also be connected to a desire for hair styles that offer a distinct texture and a feeling of volume. The look it provides, with its soft, shiny, and somewhat damp curls, is very different from many of the straighter or more tightly coiled styles that have been common more recently. People are always looking for new ways to express themselves through their hair, and sometimes, that means reaching back to what worked well before. The fact that a newer, less permanent way to achieve the jerry curl look exists probably also helps its current popularity, as it makes the style more accessible to a wider group of people who might not want to commit to a lasting chemical treatment. It’s a very interesting thing, how something from the past can feel so fresh again, isn't it?
The Jerry Curl - A Summary of Its Lasting Appeal
The jerry curl, also known as the jheri curl, is a hair style that was quite common and well-liked, particularly within the African American community, especially during the 1980s and the start of the 1990s. It was a lasting wave hair style, first created by a hairdresser named Jheri. This style was truly the "it" hair choice from the 1970s until the early '90s. It's a look that has come to stand for some truly memorable moments in beauty history. Characterized by curls that felt gentle to the touch, had a nice gleam, and seemed a bit damp, this style was quite distinctive. While the original method involved a chemical softener to change the hair's curl pattern in a lasting way, a newer, more natural jerry curl uses a curl cream, which is a kind of product for getting hair ready, and is not a lasting style. This iconic jerry curl hair style is now making its way back, much like many other fashion statements from the nineties, and it seems people are really taking to it.
