Can permed hair go back to normal?

Author: Carter Barrows  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

For most people, perm curls fall out within three to six months, reverting to your normal hair texture.

Can your hair go back to normal after a perm?

Perms permanently change the hair. It will loosen a little with time. The hair will grow as before. You can't revert to what it was before.

Can a hair perm be reversed?

Unfortunately you can't reverse a perm. It has chemically altered your hair. If your try to permanently straighten it with chemicals it will damage it. You just have to let it grow out and the curls will loosen over time.

How do I get my natural hair back after a perm?

Restoring hair after a bad perm involves patience and proper care. Start by trimming damaged ends, then nourish your hair with deep conditioning treatments and avoid heat styling. Consider using products formulated to repair and strengthen hair. Additionally, consult with a professional stylist for personalized advice.

Will hair loss from perm grow back?

Since perming is inherently a drying process, if done so incorrectly can result in damage to the strands of hair making them weak and brittle. This causes the strands to break, leaving thinning or bald patches. The good news is that this type of hair loss is temporary, and new strands will grow back in time.

The Truth About Transitioning From Relaxed to Natural Hair

Is my hair permanently damaged after a perm?

Hair perming involves breaking the cysteine bonds in your hair using this thioglycolic acid. The cysteine bond is what gives your hair its structure. It therefore needs to be undone in order to achieve the new shape. “If the product is left on for too long it can cause these bonds to break permanently.

Does permed hair grow back straight?

Perming hair is a complicated chemical process, and curling hair is permanent and won't be straightened by washing. But the perm will definitely increase the curl, but it's not as if the hair will grow and become straight after a few washes.

What to do if you hate your perm?

If you are unhappy with your perm service, go back to your stylist and discuss the alternatives. If it is too curly, your stylist can relax it. If it is not curly enough, wait at least a week to redo it.

How to turn permed hair back to natural?

How To Transition To Natural Hair
  1. Be patient. ...
  2. Cut when necessary. ...
  3. Deep condition often. ...
  4. Plan out your protective styles. ...
  5. Cut back on heat styling. ...
  6. Don't stress the shedding. ...
  7. Avoid drying ingredients. ...
  8. Focus on scalp health.

Why did my perm go away so fast?

Continuously subjecting a perm to activities like swimming, frequent shampooing or wet weather will damage the longevity of your perm. Getting it wet opens your hair's cuticle, releasing the chemicals used to set the perm.

Does a perm go away naturally?

Perms can last up to six months, O'Connor tells us. However, unlike hair color, a perm won't wash out and can't be chemically reversed. A perm always has to grow out—but, thankfully, they typically grow out as natural-looking waves.

What is a reverse perm called?

Straight perm

This last style is for those who already have curly hair naturally or through a perm and want to reverse the process. The straight perm (or reverse perm) is a Japanese type of hot perm that applies heat (usually with a flat iron) and chemicals to straighten hair.

What neutralizes a perm?

Neutralizer: a neutralising liquid for perms, containing hydrogen peroxide to restructure and strengthen the hair's bonds.

Is there a way to revert a perm?

Frequent micro trims will speed up this process, in addition to using a deep conditioning mask once a week to weigh down curls. If you want a more immediate solution, go back to your salon and ask for a creme perm to be applied over the permed outgrowth (to help “reverse” your perm).

Can your hair become permanently curly after a perm?

Actually no. A perm, or permanent texture, isn't actually permanent. A good perm will last 3-6 months, depending on the length and texture of your hair. So the good news is, if you don't like it, it will grow out, and the curls will loosen over time.

What is a cold perm?

A cold perm, on the other hand, is a perm method that does not involve heated rods. The curls achieved with this technique are tight, defined, and more uniform compared to those from a digital perm. This type of perm also provides a matte or natural finish.

Can my hair recover from a perm?

This chemical treatment will soften or grow out over time. Your perm should last around three to six months, although this depends on your hair type (fine waves or curls may drop out quicker), as well as how well you take care of it after your treatment.

Are perms irreversible?

The perm works on a molecular level, where chemicals react with your hair's proteins and bond to form the curl. Perms work by permanently waving your hair through shape memory. Though the name suggests these waves will last forever, they're temporary. Perms can damage your hair over time.

Can a perm become natural?

Transitioning from permed to natural hair is a gradual process that requires patience and commitment. The two primary methods for transitioning are the "big chop" and the "long-term transition." The Big Chop: The big chop involves cutting off all chemically treated hair, leaving only the natural growth.

How to loosen a perm quickly?

Apply a canola oil treatment.

Using this treatment should loosen the perm to make it more manageable to re style, but you may need to repeat the treatment for a few weeks to really see results if your perm is acting stubborn and will not relax after one treatment.

What destroys a perm?

Don't use products that contain parabens, sulphates, or alcohol as these can ruin your perm.

Will I regret getting a perm?

Perm Results Can Be Unpredictable

You might end up with a different curl pattern than you expected or hair that is too curly or not curly enough. This unpredictability can lead to dissatisfaction with the results and make you regret getting the perm in the first place.

What happens if I don't like the perm?

botched perms can be rectified via a re-perm or relaxer service, only if the hair is not badly damaged.

What is the least damaging perm?

Cold perms, also known as acid perms, are often considered gentler on the hair compared to traditional heat-based methods. The process uses a milder acidic solution, which is less damaging to the hair's structure.

Why has my perm lost its curls?

Giving them proper care and maintenance is the best way to maintain a beautiful, bouncy curly look and make them last for a long time to come. When you wash your hair after getting a perm, if it is done too soon you risk your perm falling out and losing all the money and time put into perming your hair.

Previous article
What color corrects blue?
Next article
Do you put clear or black mascara on first?