Getting a Men's Perm in Toronto for the First Time? Here's What You Should Actually Expect
- n15salon
- Aug 15
- 5 min read
Written by N15 Salon with Mei Senior Stylist , N15 Hair Salon - Dundas & Bay
If you're Googling this, you've probably already decided you want more texture, more volume, or hair that does something on its own in the morning. What you actually want to know is what happens once you sit down.
A men's perm at N15 starts with a consultation, not a bowl and rods. Your stylist looks at your hair length, thickness, and how it currently behaves before deciding on a perm type, a rod size, and a realistic outcome. Nobody applies a solution and hopes for the best.
That part matters more for men's perms than people expect, because most of the online information about perms is written for long hair. Short and medium-length men's hair behaves differently under a perm, and using the wrong approach is exactly how people end up with the frizzy, uneven results in the reviews they were trying to avoid.
Watch: What Mei Looks For in a Men's Perm
Prefer to hear it straight from a stylist? We sat down with Mei, one of our stylists at Dundas & Bay, while she worked on a real first-time client, and asked her the same things covered in this post, what she checks for, regular vs digital, how long it takes, what happens after, in her own words.
What Actually Happens During a Men's Perm
The appointment starts with a consultation. Your stylist looks at your hair's current condition, whether it's been coloured or chemically treated before, and what you're picturing for the outcome, whether that's loose texture for styling or tighter curl for volume. From there, rods are chosen based on your hair length and the curl pattern you want. A perm solution is applied to reshape the hair's internal bonds, processed, then neutralized to lock the new pattern in. Cut and perm together take about 2 hours.
N15 recommends a free consultation before booking. It's not an upsell. It's the difference between a perm that suits your actual hair and one that doesn't.
Regular Perm vs. Digital Perm for Men
A regular perm uses cold rods and a chemical solution alone. The curl shows strongest while your hair is wet, which means styling is simple: wet it, add product, and the curl does the rest.
Digital perm works differently. It's built to show its curl once your hair is dry, so you're styling with a blow-dryer rather than water. It's closer to a curl-iron wave than a wash-and-go curl, and it's built for longer hair. It's rarely done on men however.
For nearly all men, regular perm is the service you'll actually be booking. Your stylist confirms that during your consultation, based on your hair's length and texture, that's not a sales pitch, it's the same consultation-first approach N15 uses for every chemical service.
Soft, textured movement with a natural finish after a men’s perm at N15. The perm process in progress, with rod placement customized to the client’s hair and desired curl pa
How Much Does a Men's Perm Cost in Toronto?
At N15, Perm starts at $108 and Digital Perm starts at $150, with the final price depending on your stylist's level and your hair's length and density. That's the same pricing structure N15 uses across services, tiered by stylist experience rather than by gender. If you're comparing prices around Toronto, know that a lower quoted price elsewhere often means a shorter consultation, or none at all.
Prep and Aftercare for a First Perm
After your perm, avoid shampooing for at least 24 hours. Once you do wash it, follow up with a treatment or hair milk, since permed hair dries out more easily than it did before. Until the curl fully sets, avoid pulling your hair tightly or combing it with a fine-tooth comb, either one can loosen the pattern before it locks in.
Men’s perm at N15 Salon Toronto, creating soft texture, natural movement, and easy-to-style volume.
Toronto & N15
N15 has three hair locations in Toronto: College & Bay, Dundas & Bay, and Sheppard & Yonge. Founded in November 2015 by Hiroki Sugita, who trained as a master stylist for 20 years in Tokyo, Japan. Every bleach service at N15 includes a toner and an Olaplex treatment, and colour products are largely sourced directly from Japan through the Milbon line.
Who This Is Best For
This is for the guy who's tired of hair that falls flat by noon, no matter what product he throws at it. It's for thick, straight hair that won't hold any kind of shape, for anyone bored with their current look and ready for a change, and for anyone who's always wanted texture but assumed a perm was a women's-only service.
It's also for anyone nervous about walking into a salon and getting talked into something without being asked what they actually want.
N15's approach is the opposite of that. You'll get an honest answer about what your hair can hold, and if a perm isn't the right fit, your stylist will tell you that too. If you're not sure what would even suit you, that's fine, your stylist will propose a design based on what actually works for your hair.
FAQ
How much does a men's perm cost in Toronto?
At N15 Hair Salon, Perm starts at $108 and Digital Perm starts at $150, with final pricing based on stylist level and hair length.
Do men get perms too, or is it mostly a women's service?
Perms work on any hair type and gender. At N15, the service and pricing structure are the same regardless of gender, the main factors are your hair's texture and what result you want.
What's the difference between a regular perm and a digital perm?
A regular perm uses cold rods and chemical solution, and its curl appears when your hair is wet, so styling is just wetting it and adding product.
A digital perm uses heat and its curl appears once hair is dry, more like a curling-iron wave built for longer hair. It's rarely done on men, so if you're booking a men's perm, you're almost always looking at a regular perm.
Will a perm damage my hair?
Any chemical service carries some risk if it's not matched to your hair correctly. N15 does a consultation before every perm specifically to avoid that, and will tell you if your hair isn't a good candidate right now.
Can I get a perm on short hair?
Yes. Shorter hair typically uses smaller rods to create texture and volume rather than long, loose curls. Your stylist will choose rod size based on your length and desired look.
How long does a men's perm take?
About 2 hours total for a cut and perm together.
How often do I need to get it redone?
It depends a lot on your hair type. On the frequent end, about every 2 months. On the low end, you can go as long as 6 months between perms
Do I need a consultation before booking?
If you are unsure, we do recommend a consultation before booking. However, N15 does a consultation before every chemical service, including perms, so your stylist can confirm the right approach for your hair before we proceed with the application
Where can I book a men's perm in Toronto with N15?
N15 has three hair locations in Toronto: College & Bay, Dundas & Bay, and Sheppard & Yonge. You can book online at n15salon.com/book-now.
Curious whether a perm would actually work for your hair? Book a consultation at n15salon.com/book-now and your stylist will give you a straight answer before anything else happens.
About the Author
Mei has over 10 years experience as a senior stylist in Japan. She is a specialist in regular perms and digital perms for both men and women. In her spare time, she lives hip hop dancing in Toronto's vibrant dance community.
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