If you’re excited about showcasing your new volume, texture, and curls after a perm, you’re not alone. Many seek the luscious curls and bouncy waves that perms provide, transforming their hair with this popular chemical treatment.
However, embracing this beauty transformation requires special care and attention to keep your hair healthy and the curls intact. As a professional stylist with years of experience, I’ve guided numerous clients and aspiring beauty professionals through the delicate phase of post-perm hair care.
To maintain your hair’s health and the look you adore, it’s crucial to understand the fragility of ringlets twisted around your fingers. Perms, while beautiful, can make your hair more fragile due to the chemical process involved. Thus, using specific types of products designed for permed hair is essential.
These products help to care for a perm, ensuring lasting results and helping you maintain results. Remember, the right tips and methods are key to taking care of your perm, ensuring that each twirl and twist continues to dazzle.
What are Perms?
A perm is a chemical treatment that makes your hair permanently curly or wavy for a certain period of time. Typically, this effect lasts up to six months, depending on how fast your hair grows and how well you treat it. Permed hair needs to be treated and cared for differently than non-permed hair to make a perm last.
To care for your permed hair, wait to wash your hair until your perm set for at least two days. Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair healthy. Avoid heat styling and don’t comb your hair for the first 24 hours. Also, avoid dying your hair for two weeks before and after getting a perm. It’s essential to moisturize your hair regularly and avoid putting it in a ponytail before washing your hair.
What are the Essential Points of After Perm Hair Care? The Answer
Taking care of your hair after a perm is crucial. Immediately after, your hair needs time to set, so avoid washing for 3 days and don’t style. Finger-comb your curls gently. Use a wide-tooth comb with conditioner if needed. Wait 48 hours before washing your hair and avoid tying it back. Use gentle shampoo, nourishing conditioner, and sulfate-free products. Moisturize with a deep conditioner. Avoid heat styling to prevent damage. Be gentle, use the right products, and get regular trims. Set a night-time routine with a silk scarf or pillowcase to reduce friction. Avoid swimming pools and hot tubs for 7 days to prevent chemical damage.How It Works?
When you visit a hair stylist for a perm, they use curlers and a chemical that breaks down the keratin in your hair. Keratin is the protein that gives your hair its strength and shape. After breaking down the keratin, a neutralizer, often hydrogen peroxide, is applied to help the keratin rebuild around the curlers, leaving your hair curled and permanently curled.
Unlike hair dyes that wash out, permed hair remains curly even after being washed and dried. You can still straighten, curl, and style your permed hair just like before the treatment. There are various ways to style permed hair and enjoy different hairstyles with your curly hair.
Remember, getting a perm is a service that takes a few hours, depending on the length of your hair. Bring pictures to show your stylist so you can decide how tight you want your curls. This helps ensure you leave the salon excited with your new do.
How Long Does A Perm Last?
The lifespan of a perm can vary based on several factors. The type of perm solution used, the condition of your hair, and how well you take care of it all play a role. In general, a perm can last anywhere from three to six months.
Taking proper care of your hair ensures that your curls stay beautiful for as long as possible. Regular moisturizing, gentle handling, and avoiding harsh treatments can extend the life of your perm, allowing you to enjoy your new look for months.
How to Maintain Your Post-Perm Hair Regime
To keep your curls looking their best, maintain your new look by following these steps. Avoid frizz and tangles to help your perm last as long as possible.
Immediately After Your Perm
Taking care of your hair after getting a perm is crucial to maintaining your curls. Right after the perm, your hair enters an adjustment phase. It’s essential to wait at least 3 days before getting your hair wet to allow the perming chemicals to form new bonds properly. During this time, avoid any styling and limit yourself to gently scrunching your curls with your fingers to help them set.
Instead of using a hairbrush, opt to finger-comb your curls or, if absolutely necessary, use a wide-tooth comb in the shower with plenty of conditioner. This will help prevent disrupting the curl structure, which could lead to your perm breaking or being set in an unexpected shape. Giving your hair this care ensures your curls remain beautiful and well-defined.
Wait Before Washing Your Hair
After getting a perm, it’s crucial to give your hair time to set. You need to wait at least 48 hours before washing or shampooing your hair. During this period, avoid getting your hair wet and resist tying it back in a ponytail or bun, as this can disrupt the curl pattern and cause your perm to fall out.
One major faux pas is washing your permed locks too soon after the treatment. Always follow your hairdresser’s advice to ensure your perm lasts longer.
Use A Gentle Shampoo And Conditioner
After a perm, your hair may feel a bit damaged and frizzy. It’s important to use a gentle shampoo and a nourishing conditioner to keep your curls hydrated. Always apply a conditioner every time you shampoo to maintain moisture in your locks.
For extra care, consider a deep-conditioning treatment with Moroccan oil as a leave-in conditioner to add extra shine and moisture. Look for products specifically made for permed hair to prevent damage and frizz. Avoid products with alcohol, as they can make your hair dry.
Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils, which are essential after a perm. To keep your hair healthy and hydrated, you should wash it less often. This helps to retain moisture and keep your hair moisturized and looking best. When wash day comes, use a natural, moisturizing, and sulfate-free shampoo. It has a high concentration of surfactant in it which cause hair brittle and life-less.
Nourish + Moisturize Your Hair
Even though Modern Perms are healthier than perms of the past, they are still a chemical process that can leave your hair more vulnerable than its virgin state. It’s crucial to use nourishing and hydrating products to restore and rejuvenate your hair.
After a perm, your hair tends to be drier. A good Deep Conditioner is essential. Twisty Treasure suggests deep conditioning at least twice a week for the first few weeks to help your hair while it’s recovering, and then continue once a week thereafter.
Avoid Heat Styling
To keep your curls looking gorgeous after a perm, it’s best to avoid heat styling. Straightening and blow drying can cause frizz and damage and may loosen your curls. If you need to blow dry your hair, use a diffuser to help disperse the heat evenly and keep your curls intact.
Try to air dry your hair as much as possible, but if you must use heat, choose low heat settings. Always apply a heat protectant to minimize damage. Avoid straightening tools like flat irons, as they can lead to split ends more quickly than if your hair was un-permed.
Don’t Brush Your Hair When It’s Wet
After washing your hair, be gentle while combing it. Avoid using a brush on wet hair as this can cause breakage and damage. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to carefully detangle your hair. Start at the ends and work your way up to the roots, being careful not to tug or pull on your hair. This method helps to keep your hair healthy and maintains your curls’ integrity.
Get Regular Trims
As your permed hair grows, it’s important to get regular trims to keep it healthy and prevent split ends. Trim your hair every six to eight weeks to maintain your style and keep it looking fresh, avoiding breakage.
By following these tips, you can ensure your perm stays beautiful. Be gentle with your hair, use the right products, and give it proper care and attention. Removing damaged ends will help keep your hair healthy. Even if you want your hair to grow long, we recommend getting trims every month and a half to two months, depending on how fast your hair grows.
Maintaining the health of your curly hair can be hard, but regular trims help prevent dreaded split ends and maintain a defined curl pattern. Resist the urge to re-perm at the sight of new growth; give your hair a break and let it breathe.
Set Your Night-Time Hair Routine
Permed hair care can be tricky, especially when sleeping with curls. Try tying your hair in a silk scarf or a silk pillowcase to avoid waking up with messy or tangled tresses. This reduces friction on the cuticle and helps prevent unwanted texture and frizz. This simple tip will keep your curls looking great and make your mornings easier.
Avoid Swimming
After getting a perm, it’s crucial to avoid the swimming pool or a hot tub for at least 7 days. The chemicals found in these pools and hot tubs can change the chemical structure of your hair.
Even if you don’t plan on getting your hair wet, the heated water can still cause issues. As the water evaporates, the condensation contains chemicals that can be absorbed into the hair shaft, leading to damage.
Conclusion
We’ve covered a lot in this guide, and I hope it becomes your go-to source for post-perm hair care. Remember, caring for your curls can be a labour of love, but the joy of twirling those fabulous locks is absolutely worth it! Be sure to grab a pic of the results if you try out any of these tips, and don’t forget to tag us.
FAQs
What should you not do after a perm?
Wait for 48-72 hours before shampooing your hair, and do not stand under a shower head for 48 hours. Avoid swimming in a pool or hot tub for 7 days. Do not brush or pull hair for 24-48 hours. Refrain from using a flat iron, curling iron, or blow dryer for 48 hours and avoid coloring your hair for 3 to 7 days.
Can I oil my hair after a perm?
Yes, you can oil your permed hair at least twice a week before shampooing to help stop hair fall, retain moisture and softness, and ensure good hair growth.
How do you heal your hair after a perm?
Immediately after your perm, your hair will need time to set fully. Nourish and moisturize your hair, shampoo less, and get the right products. Dry your hair correctly, get regular trims, and avoid heat styling.
Should I moisturize my hair after a perm?
Start with a gentle cleansing shampoo as your newly permed hair needs extra TLC. Instead, use a moisturizing and nourishing conditioner to keep your curls happy and hydrated.
Dive into the world of curls with Farah, a celebrated curly hair expert whose passion and expertise have transformed her into a beacon for those seeking to embrace their natural hair texture. With a vibrant career spanning over a decade, Farah has dedicated herself to the science and art of curly hair, making her an authoritative voice in this niche. Her deep understanding of curly hair’s unique needs and challenges allows her to craft personalized care routines and styles that not only enhance the natural beauty of curls but also promote hair health.