The jheri curl, also spelled "Jerry" curl by many, is a hairstyle that was created in the early 1980's by a professional hairstylist named Jheri Redding. The Jheri curl quickly became a popular hairstyle amongst African Americans, including celebrities like Michael Jackson, Rick James, and Eddie Murphy. The style does not require a lot of maintenance. All you have to do is keep the curls moisturized and get a "touch up" every two months. You can purchase a Jheri curl kit from most local beauty supply stores.

Use a rat-tail comb to part your hair into four sections. To do this, make a part down the center of your hair from front to back. Make another part in the center that extends from ear to ear.

Apply the softening creme from the Jheri curl kit onto the four sections of hair. Allow the creme to sit on your hair for the specified amount of time that is indicated on the product label. Because most Jheri curl kits contain "Lye", it is very important that you don't leave the creme on your hair past the recommended time. Doing so can result in severe hair loss or breakage.

Rinse the creme from your hair with lukewarm water. Wash and shampoo your hair with the neutralizing shampoo that came with the creme. Towel dry your hair.

Start rolling your hair with the perm rods, beginning at the nape of your neck and working your way to the front. Only put a small amount of hair on each rod. Be sure to cover each hair rod with rod paper.

Squirt the kit's permanent wave solution onto your hair that has been rodded. Spray enough of the solution to ensure that all of the rodded hair is drenched.

Cover your rodded hair with a plastic shower cap. Sit with your hair covered for the amount of time specified on the packaging. Generally, this will be 15 to 30 minutes.

Rinse the permanent wave solution out of your hair with lukewarm water. This is done while the rods are still in your hair.

Squirt the kit's neutralizing solution over your rodded hair. Allow the solution to sit for 5 minutes. Rinse the neutralizer from your hair with lukewarm water.

Use a towel to blot the excess water from your rodded hair. Remove the perm rods from your hair.

Apply a quarter sized drop of Jheri curl activator into your hands. Place the activator onto your hair. Be sure to rub it in so that it saturates the curls. Spray your curls with Jheri curl moisturizer to give it moisture.

Use a wide tooth rake comb or pic to style your Jheri curl.