Two words: ROOT PERM.
Body waves
If you've got limp hair that would rather hang against your head than hold a style - even after you've tried all kinds of bodybuilding haircuts, experimented with styling products, and backcombed it repeatedly - a body wave might be for you. Think of a body wave as a kind of support measure that encourages hair to behave when you blow-dry it under, stays when you comb it back, or goes along with whatever you like doing to it. Because oversize rods are used for the service, you won't get curls with a body wave; you may or may not get large, very loose waves.
Root perm
For people with flat, stick-to-the-head hair, a root perm can add lift without curl. Large rods are placed at the hair's roots - and just the roots. This gives volume and height to perpetually lank locks. Think of it as a body wave for your hair's roots.
My mom has fine/thin/straight/lank hair...she used to get body waves. Even with the huge rollers they'd use, she looked like a tightly wound poodle afterwards. The root perms were better for her...but she finally gave up and went with pixie cuts. Wise choice for her, lol!
