Disclosed is a method for achieving a recallable hair deformation. A composition is applied onto hair, comprising at least one first active principle or active complex, which, alone or in combination with further compounds, is able, after application to the hair and after carrying out the treatment of hair in accordance with the present invention, to provide a shape memory effect. The composition comprises at least one second active principle, which is a cationic agent. The hair is brought into a defined (permanent) shape and the permanent shape is subsequently fixed by means of inducing a chemical or physical change of the applied agents, wherein after a desired or undesired deformation, the memory shape of the initial memory shape may be recovered by means of a physical stimulation. In addition to the permanent hairdo, a second (temporary) shape can be impressed. Furthermore, disclosed is a method for the recovery of a once programmed permanent hairdo, which has been brought into a temporary shape or which has been deformed in any other way.