Change is in the air, or should I say in the hair. In the last five years, we have seen straight hair regarded as the envy of most woman. I have seen hair blow dried straight, flat ironed to death, witnessed the rise and fall of the Japanese straighter, and now the escalation in the popularity of the keratin treatment.

The keratin treatment is now one of the hottest selling salon services that I have witnessed in all my years as a salon owner. The keratin treatment is a revolutionary process that softens, shines and makes hair feel healthy. It will relax the curl in your hair, not totally eliminate it, and make it much easier to blow dry. Most clients tell me they spend a fraction of the time finishing their hair after the treatment than before. The reason for keratin's success is its ability to maintain the hair's body and shine while eliminating frizz. Hair dried poker straight is too harsh a look for most women. Fuller hair is softer and more flattering.

A change has begun and we have yet to see where it ends, but I have a strong suspicion we are in the mist of a huge transition in the look of hair. I have a well-founded feeling that girls with curls will soon be the envy of all straight-haired woman. I might be as bold as to say that next spring/summer will bring the return of the permanent wave. Not the old-fashioned frizzy perm, but a soft curly wave that most women can only achieve after hours at the hair salon. I know right now many of you are thinking that I have completely lost it, but let me explain my thinking.

Number one is that all fashion is cyclical. Straight hair styles are old news. They have been around for years now. Slowly we have seen hair styles with waves begin to dominate the Hollywood and model scene. Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Aniston, Hayden Panettiere, Madonna, Julia Roberts and Jessica Alba have all been sporting wavy hair. On the fashion front waves rule supreme. Super models like Giselle Bundchen, Petra Nemcova, and Coco Rocha's new wavy hairdo's have set the trend. Waves can't be ignored and I am sure that curls are just a season away.

The "new" permanent wave will be a combination of soft curls and waves. Most likely it will be done on hair with long layers. The look will be soft, romantic, tousled and carefree. It will work best on mid-length hair. Perms will also influence the look of hair color. Hair must be healthy to have a pretty permanent wave. People with hair that is overly colored or highlighted would not be the best candidate for this procedure. This means we will see many more single-process colors and only the gentlest highlighting procedures.

Women with curls, this is your time to rejoice. In the near future you will be putting your blow dryers and flat irons in storage. Your time is about to come. Soon you will be the envy of all your friends. Be kind to those who have to make appointments for expensive perms. Always remember to be grateful you won't have to blow your hair straight everyday!