Back in the 80's and even through the 90's (ahem) and right into the noughties I actually had a real eighties perm. Got stuck in a real style time warp somewhere. My mam used to put them in with a home perm kit and rollers. They looked brilliant at the time, but would be completely out of date now and indeed were by the time I eventually decided to hang up my legwarmers.
My mam had a bit of a knack for putting the perm in, so it used to work really well. If your hair is thin to begin with, I would not recommend putting one in at all as they can break and damage your hair really badly. Usually if your hair is lifeless they wont stay in and you will end up with frizz.
When I eventually got mine cut(it was waist length, my other half said he was embarressed being seen with an 80's reject ), all of the hairdressers were fighting over who was going to get to cut it! I actually have a phobia of hairdressers and had not been for 15 years. Still am not great at going.
You could buy a home perm kit in a chemist(not sure if they are still available) but I think a better recommendation would be to go to a good hairdresser and get them to recommend a product to help with your lifeless hair.
I have no ill effects from the dodgy perm apart from a few photos that are best kept away from prying eyes. I am coming over all nostalgic now and can even smell the perming lotion!