Abstract: This invention provides a method for altering hairs by bringing the hairs into contact with an elastic body vibrating ultrasonically. At first, alternate vibrations are generated on a rod portion (i.e. a cylindrical elastic body). The cylindrical shaped elastic body does not rotate at that time. However, when an object is in contact with the surface of the cylindrical shaped elastic body, the object is rotated. Further when the object is kept stationary, the object is squeezed by spiral vibrations. Upon the hairs being in contact with the circumferential surface of the cylindrical shaped elastic body, the contacting part of the hairs are squeezed in a circumferential direction by the vibrations of the cylindrical shaped elastic body. As a result, the cross-section of each hair is deformed and remains so deformed such that perming of the hair is completed.