A composition suitable for use in the waving of hair comprises one or more compounds having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and a bifunctional compound containing amino, carboxylic acid and/or mercapto groups and having a curing effect on the epoxy compounds, dissolved in water, a water miscible solvent, e.g. isopropyl alcohol, or a mixture of water with a water-miscible solvent.  Suitable epoxy compounds are ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, 1,3 butane diol diglycidyl ether, 1,4 butane diol diglycidyl ether, glycerin-diglycidyl ether, 1-epoxy ethyl-3,4-epoxy cyclohexane, 3,4 epoxy-6-methyl-cyclohexyl methyl-31,41-epoxy-61-me-thyl cyclohexane carboxylate, dicyclo pentadiene diepoxide, butadiene diepoxide and diglycidyl ether and suitable curing agents are ethylene diamine diethylene triamine, dipropylene triamine, 3,4 diamino benzoic acid, lysine, ornithine, arginine, cystine, N,N1 bishydroxyethylethylene diamine, the hydroxyl group containing diamines prepared by reacting the epoxy compounds specified with ammonia, cysteamine, cystein, maleic acid anhydride and adipic acid.  The proportion of epoxy compounds to curing agent is preferably such that one reactive hydrogen atom of the curing agent is available per epoxy group.  The composition may also contain compounds having an accelerating action upon the formation of the resin, e.g. resorcinol, heavy metal salts, e.g. CuSO4. 5H2O, thiosemicarbazide and cation active wetting agents, e.g. cetyl pyridinium chloride.  After treatment with the composition the hair may be wound upon curlers and dried.ALSO:Hair is permanently waved by wetting it with a solution containing one or more compounds having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and with a curing agent solution which contains bifunctional compounds having amino, carboxylic acid and/or mercapto groups having a curing effect on the epoxy compounds, the epoxy compounds and curing agents being dissolved in water, in mixtures of water with water-miscible solvents, e.g., isopropyl alcohol, or in water-miscible solvents, or by wetting it with a mixture of both such solutions, and then winding it upon curlers and drying.  Suitable epoxy compounds are ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, 1,3butane diol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butane diol diglycidyl ether, glycerindi-glycidyl ether, 1-epoxy ethyl-3,4-epoxy cyclo-hexane, 3,4-epoxy-6-methyl-cyclohexyl methyl-31,41-epoxy-61-methyl cyclohexane carboxylate, dicyclopentadiene diepoxide, butadiene diepoxide and diglycidyl ether and suitable curing agents are ethylene diamine, diethylene triamine, dipropylene triamine, 3,4-diamino benzoic acid, lysine, ornithine, arginine, cystine, N,N1bis hydroxyethyl-ethylene diamine, the hydroxyl group containing diamines prepared by reacting the epoxy compounds specified with ammonia, cysteamine, cystein, maleic acid anhydride and adipic acid.  The proportion of epoxy compounds to curing agent is preferably such that are reactive hydrogen atom of the curing agent is available per epoxy group.  The hair may be treated with a dilute solution of the epoxy compound and curing agent which acts while the hair is in curlers and can be reacted under the drier without removal of the surplus or with a concentrated solution which is left to act for a few minutes after which the surplus is removed by rubbing or washing the hair is placed in curlers and dried under the drier.  The solutions may contain compounds having an accelerating action upon the formation of the resin, e.g. resorcinol, heavy water salts, e.g. CuSO4.SH2O, thiosemicarbazide and cation-active wetting agents, e.g. cetyl pyridinium chloride.