One of the biggest complaints about perms is the smell—a strong ammonia odor that emanates from the alkaline perm solution formula. The odor often lingers in the salon and in your hair.
Perms change the structure of your hair by a chemical process, and those chemicals can leave a strong smell in your hair that can sometimes last for several days or weeks. Some hair rinses can help lift the smell from your hair and other products can help disguise the scent while the chemical odor fades.
Final answer: The perm product with the least strong odor compared to others is the Acid perm, due to its lower pH and the use of glyceryl monothioglycolate which emits a milder scent.
Unfortunately, while your hair is being relaxed you can't avoid the odor. However, after relaxing hair, shampooing well with a good neutralizing shampoo, like Isoplus Neutralizing Shampoo, will help remove the odor.
Acidic Milk Rinse after a perm service actually masks the harsh smell of the alkaline perm formula. The Milk Rinse is applied after the neutralizer is rinsed from the hair. Not only does it eliminate the odor, it leaves your hair stronger and shinier.
If by 'perm' smell you mean a peroxide or ammonia type stink then it could be the urine of cats or (shock horror) rats/mice that is causing the odour. Look for points of entry and droppings along the skirting at the bottom of the walls.
Wash your hair first with shampoo, add leave-in conditioner, and blow-dry it before straightening it. Is it bad to get a perm every 3 months? Most perms last 3-6 months, so if you need a touch-up at month 3, it may be safe to do so.
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.
But those with damaged, dry, chemically processed, and colored hair should proceed with caution when considering a perm. Otherwise, perms are a hairstyling hack for a range of benefits for your hair. From changing hair's texture to styling and adding volume and body, these are the pros of permed hair.
If it is too curly, your stylist can relax it. If it is not curly enough, wait at least a week to redo it. If your hair is not in good enough condition to re-perm, you may have to trim your hair and wait until your hair is ready to perm again.
A Natural Perm is a modern, healthy way to prevent any hair- and scalp-related problems from occurring. All-Natural Perms are better for you, your hair and the environment, since they are void of toxic and harmful chemicals and toxins.
A down perm is a fantastic hair treatment that makes your hair smooth and easy to manage. Scientifically, it involves using a special serum that changes how the keratin protein bonds in your hair are combined. It's like a magical potion that transforms your hair structure over time.
The chemical reaction of perm solution reduces the bonds from cystine to cysteine. The neutraliser fixes the bonds into new shape and returning them to cystine. Over processed neutraliser will cause the bonds to revert back to cysteine.
You'll have to wait 48 hours after perming your hair before washing it. You can't get your perm wet, put it up or even touch it much while the chemicals reset your strands. Even after getting your perm, washing it everyday will affect the longevity of your curls, so prolong the gap between washes as long as possible.
What does Ammonia Smell Like? The smell of ammonia is reminiscent of fish, cay urine.
The most natural-looking perm is the beach wave perm which creates loose waves throughout the hair.
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.
Keeping your permed hair safe overnight might be the most difficult task yet. Regular cotton pillowcases can cause friction that damages your hair. Sleep on a satin pillowcase instead to give your hair the freedom to move without damage. You could tie your hair up in a loose bun, braids, or do the plop method.
However, heat can be damaging to some, causing split ends, especially to those with fine hair. If you're worried about hair damage or have fine, brittle hair, opt for Japanese airwave or cold perm, as they are the least damaging perm techniques across all types of perm.
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.
It is not always easy to know if a bad smell is dangerous. If it smells like rotten eggs, sewage, or burning, it may be dangerous. However, some dangerous fumes such as carbon monoxide have no odor at all.
Blocked Drains
Any type of blockages, whether they are partial or full, can prevent waste water from properly leaving your home. Over time, this stagnant water sitting in the pipes can build up bacteria and produce pungent odors throughout the night.
An olfactory hallucination, known as phantosmia, makes you detect smells that aren't in your environment. The odors you notice in phantosmia are different from person to person and may be foul or pleasant. You may notice the smells in one or both nostrils.