Curls refer to the wavy or spiral-shaped hair strands that are created through a perm, which is a hair treatment method to permanently or semi-permanently alter the texture of the hair, making it curlier or wavier. In this context, "curls" specifically represents the outcome or the result of a perm.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: Result of a perm. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.