I have always had straight hair for the record, though sadly now losing it!! Over the years I have had the Twink perms (two on one occasion because one wouldn't take!). That turned into a sort of wiggly frizz.
I also had a persistent hairdresser once who permed just the front bit to get the Princess Diana flick. It took almost two hours and when he brushed it out it just flopped down! (He didn't charge me!!) Then there was the Afro perm when I had to dip my head in water in the morning and let it drip dry because if I touched it the curls would disappear. It usually turned into a floppy wiggly mess by the afternoon anyway.
I still use sticky rollers on wet hair, drying for several hours, for a bit of body if I go somewhere special. This usually lasts for about an hour.
I can't understand why anyone would want to straighten their hair to make it hang like string. It doesn't suit most people anyway, especially when they are older! Hey ho, I suppose most of us want what we can't have!!