Perms alter the structure of your hair by using heat and chemicals to break the bonds that determine your natural hair texture (like straight or wavy).
Perming your hair changes it's entire texture, so as a fine hair person you need to be prepared for your hair to feel drier and for it to be much more prone to frizz. Curly hair is fantastic but it's an entire routine change, so you have to be prepared for that. Don't perm your hair if you're looking for convenience.
the mechanism of a perm is breaking disulfide bonds in the hair shaft and reforming them in the shape of a curl or wave; that process is always going to weaken the structure of the hair somewhat, because it's easier to break those bonds than to reform them in specific ways (entropy and stuff).
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.
Perm weakens the hair dramatically, and makes the effects of other harmful elements such as dye and heat 10x greater. The weakening of the hair follicles then leads to split ends. Perm also destroys the volume of your hair, making it thin. Perming your hair over time causes your hair to fall out.
However, when performed by an experienced professional, your perm shouldn't cause hair loss or damage your hair in any way. Unfortunately, when not performed correctly, the harsh chemicals used for a perm can damage your hair and possibly lead to thinning hair or hair loss.
Tip 1 - Bleached/Pre Lightened hair cannot be permed
Thus before each color, always be sure to ask your stylist what goes into your hair. Inform your stylist that you intend to perm your hair in the near future, thus your hair cannot be bleached or pre lightened.
For most people, perm curls fall out within three to six months, reverting to your normal hair texture.
Do perms damage your hair? Contrary to popular belief, Bates says, a perm won't completely fry your mane—that is, as long as it's done the right way! “Any chemical services performed improperly can cause hair damage, but we now have pre and post-treatments to help strengthen and protect the hair,” Bates says.
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.
Colored Hair
Although not as dangerous as perming overly bleached and highlighted hair, if your hair is colored, you may want to give more thought to a perm. It will be in your best interest to allow two to three weeks before and after your perm to color your hair.
What Is A Perm? The process of perming your hair involves chemicals that change the structure of your hair's texture. This means it could change your hair from straight to curly, or vice versa. Besides just curling and straightening, perms can bring volume and bounce into your hair, too.
Avoid Over-Styling
Just like with naturally curly hair, over-styling is your enemy. After your curls dry, they're essentially stuck in that curl pattern until the next time you wash and condition it. When you mess too much with that curl pattern, your hair is going to look frizzy and out of control.
A perm is a styling process that changes the structure and texture of your hair permanently, whether it's by making your hair wavy or curly, or by adding volume and straightening your hair.
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.
While perms can add texture and create the illusion of thicker hair, it's crucial to note that the process involves chemicals that can make the hair more porous. This increased porosity can lead to moisture loss, causing the hair to become drier and potentially exacerbating the appearance of thinness.
Though the name suggests these waves will last forever, they're temporary. Perms can damage your hair over time. If you don't take care of your scalp health, you could get hair loss. Scalp health is important because once a hair follicle gets damaged, you can't grow new hair from that follicle.
The most natural-looking perm is the beach wave perm which creates loose waves throughout the hair.
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.
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.
Permed Curlies have been warned, "When hair undergoes a perming process, its natural structure gets altered. Adding heat to the equation can further destabilise it." The direct impact of heat on the hair shaft, especially on already processed hair, can lead to severe damage.
Ongoing Perm Maintenance
Don't use products that contain parabens, sulphates, or alcohol as these can ruin your perm.
Spiral perm
Creates tight, corkscrew curls using long vertical rods. The hair is wound around the rods from scalp to tip, creating a spiral pattern. This style usually takes 2-3 hours to complete and can last 4-6 months. Spiral perms work best on longer hair and create a dramatic, voluminous look.