Don't expose your hair to too much heat. Avoid using curling irons, hair straighteners, and other heat styling tools as much as possible, as they can damage your perm. If you must use heat styling, be sure to use a heat protectant spray first. Don't wash your hair too often.
Once you've made it through the first 2 days, you should steer clear of chlorine, heat styling, and products with alcohol in them to make your perm last longer. Humidity can cause frizz, ruining your new perm.
Avoid washing your hair for at least 48 hours after getting a perm to allow the curls to set properly. Choose a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to prevent stripping moisture from your hair. Look for products specifically designed for curly or permed hair. Use a moisturizing conditioner every time you wash your hair.
Hair Condition: If your hair is damaged or overly processed from previous treatments (like coloring or straightening), it may not perm effectively. Timing: If the perm solution is not left on for the correct amount of time, it may not properly penetrate the hair shaft, leading to weak or nonexistent curls.
The ammonium thioglycolate solution combined with heat cause your hair to be more fragile, more prone to breaking and might even cause a burning, itchy and peeling scalp. The hair might after long term perming cause your hair to loose it's natural elasticity. And that will cause a permanent damage!
Overnight Care For Permed Hair
Before going to bed, braid or loosely twist your hair to avoid tangling and preserve the contour of the curls. Next, wear a silk or satin hat or scarf to shield your hair from rubbing and reduce frizz.
After shampooing, it is very important that you condition your hair. It is a myth that conditioner will relax and ruin your 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.
Wait before washing your hair
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.
Frizziness is a common issue with permed hair, especially if it's not properly moisturized. To combat frizz, make sure you're using a sulfate-free, moisturizing shampoo and a rich conditioner. Apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream specifically designed for curly or permed hair.
It's highly recommended that you wait three days before washing your hair. And try not to get caught in the rain! Not washing your hair will keep water from deactivating the perm and making the curls fall apart. Remember if you go swimming to always wear a cap.
On average, you can expect your perm to last anywhere from three to six months. However, this timeframe isn't set in stone. Various factors play a role in determining the longevity of your curls. Hair Type and Texture Your natural hair type significantly influences how long your perm will last.
If the chemical overstays, then the hair becomes over processed. If the chemical is left for less time than intended, then the hair becomes under processed and comes out looking frizzled. The chemical solution needs to be completely rinsed off from the hair, otherwise the hair will get damaged and start breaking off.
Three: Don't Brush It!
You do not want to brush out your curls with a normal brush. This can cause damage, breakage, increase frizziness in the hair and ruin the shape of the curls. Instead, after you've showered, use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently detangle your 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.
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). Bear in mind that this is an additional chemical process that might be stressful for your hair and could lead to breakage.
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.
Neutralizer: a neutralising liquid for perms, containing hydrogen peroxide to restructure and strengthen the hair's bonds.
Don't comb thru your hair during the first 48 hours. Leave it alone as much as possible. Don't use any products in your hair especially leave ins and conditioners. You want to try to keep your hair on the same ph level until the waiting period is up.
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.
After you get a perm, avoid shampooing or conditioning your hair for the first 48 to 72 hours. As Foster explains, the best way to maintain the look of a perm is “to avoid water.” Water can deactivate your perm and make the curls fall apart.
Because the hairdresser did not appropriately soften your hair, some perms frequently fall out. If the initial phase is done correctly, your hair can absorb the new curls, leaving you with lifeless, undefined curls that quickly straighten.
Avoid using curling irons, hair straighteners, and other heat styling tools as much as possible, as they can damage your perm. If you must use heat styling, be sure to use a heat protectant spray first. Don't wash your hair too often.