During the perm process, skin irritation, hair breakage, oral toxicity, and scarring alopecia can occur if the chemicals are not used correctly. Perms are not recommended for younger people. Studies have shown that children between 10 and 13 years old using chemical perms have a higher risk of breast cancer.
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.
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.
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.
You'll likely have to start calling around to ask. Many modern salons won't do perms at all (perms have not really been in style for a couple of decades, so most salons don't carry the chemicals needed to do them -- especially salons that cater to younger people).
As we step into 2025, the world of hairstyling is witnessing a resurgence of perms, with modern twists that cater to diverse hair types and personal styles. At Charles Ifergan Salons, our expert stylists are embracing this trend, offering a variety of perm styles designed to enhance texture, volume, and individuality.
The most natural-looking perm is the beach wave perm which creates loose waves throughout the hair.
People who already have curly, wavy or otherwise naturally textured hair are not going to be good candidates for perms. Exchanging once permanent curl for another, unfortunately, isn't what perms were designed for. They also probably aren't right for a perm if they have already had one or have had their hair relaxed.
From foam rollers and rag rollers to braids, buns, and pin curling, there are plenty of no-heat methods for creating curls. To enhance curls and ensure the style lasts longer, gently work in a curl-defining gel, spray, or mousse before rolling or pinning small sections of your hair into coils, buns, rags, or rollers.
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.
Yes, your hair can still return to its normal state after a perm. Over time, as your hair grows out, the permed hair will wear down. There are salon services for curl removal such as the Brush Straightening service.
Are perms good or bad for your hair? Perms are a great way to style your hair, but if you do them often and don't take care of your hair with a perm, it can be bad for your hair health.
In most cases, hair loss from a perm is not permanent. With proper care and treatment, the hair can regrow and regain its strength over time. Post-chemical treatments, the hair loss is usually due to breakages in mid shaft, as cuticle is weakened.
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.
Luckily, there are ways to get bouncy curls, soft waves, or gorgeous waves without causing any harm. If you've been wanting a head full of gorgeous curls without the damage, using rag curlers, foam curlers, a curling iron, or scrunching your hair could be the perfect options for you.
The Negatives of a Hair Perm
For one, hair perms require incredibly strong chemicals to alter the hair's natural shape and texture, and these chemicals can cause long-lasting damage to the hair strand that can progressively weaken and degrade the hair strand with frequent treatments.
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.
Your face shape will also come into play when selecting a perm style – oval faces look great with body waves while heart-shaped faces suit loose curls best.
When done correctly and by a professional, with your specific hair type in mind, perms are relatively safe for the health of your hair. But those with damaged, dry, chemically processed, and colored hair should proceed with caution when considering a perm.
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.
Use professional treatments like a deep conditioner to decrease frizziness or a waving lotion to straighten your hair out. Many home remedies also help with bad perms, like applying a canola oil treatment or coconut oil mask. Alternatively, talk to your stylist about getting a different haircut or re-perming your hair.
All-Natural Perms are better for you, your hair and the environment, since they are void of toxic and harmful chemicals and toxins. Caring for the environment while caring for your hair will leave you feeling great and looking just as stunning with your Natural Perm look.
How do I know if a perm will look good on me? You can consult a stylist to get an idea of what kind of perm will work best for your hair type and face shape. Always take along a photo of the kind of curl you most like. Photos speak a thousand words!
Perms for short hair can cost $30 to $150, medium-length hair can cost $60 to $200, and perms for long hair can cost $80 to $400. Short hair is the least expensive since it uses the least amount of product and the least amount of time to prep and install the perm rods.