Hair perming has been a popular hairstyling method since 1872. Tongs were utilized to alter the hair structure before. Over time, perming methods have improved, and so have the tips to take care of your permed hair. This is because perming involves the use of strong chemicals that can cause hair damage. We will go over the complete perming procedure in this post to help you understand how it works, its drawbacks, and more. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Permed Hair?

Perming chemically alters your hair structure to form different types of curls or waves. The technique to straighten hair is called hair relaxation. It breaks down the disulfide bonds in your hair and gives it a new structure. There are many techniques to perm your hair:

1. Spiral Perm: This is characterized by tight, well-defined curls with volume. The curl coil is determined by the size of the rod use. The rod is placed vertically into the hair to achieve a corkscrew curl.
2. Pin-Curl Perm: This involves a chemical solution applied to the lengths of your hair. Then, pin curls are styled and set in place.
3. Root Perm: If you have thin and fine hair, the root perm will give you volume and thickness.
4. Stack Perm: Curls and layers are added to medium or long hair to build volume.
5. Spot Perm: Perm rods are placed at a particular area to give you curls in that region. It is hairstyle specific.
6. Body Wave Perm: This process uses long curling rods to give your hair tousled, beachy waves.
7. Multi-Textured Perm: This process mixes different types of curls to give you a unique hairstyle.

How Perming Works

The disulfide bonds in the hair are broken using reducing agents like thioglycolates and bisulfites (1). These reducing agents permeate through the cuticle and outer layers of the cortex to break the disulfide bonds. Alkaline agents are used to lift the cuticle scales so that the reducing agents can enter the cortex (1). The hair fibers are set in curlers or rods to give the hair the desired curl or wave pattern. Once the pattern sets in, the perming process in the hair fibers is neutralized using an oxidizing agent like hydrogen peroxide.

The traditional style of perming was wrapping hair in rods. After that, the perming solution would be applied so the hair would set in curls or waves. Once the hair is set, the solution is rinsed off, and a neutralizer is used to stop the perming process. Over time, new formulas and techniques using different objects to give you a particular type of curl or wave. Let’s look at the different perming techniques.

Different Perming Techniques

1. Digital (Hot) Perm

With digital or hot perms, the hair is first processed with a relaxing treatment, which helps break the bonds in your hair. Then, your hair is shaped with heated curling rods. The thickness of the rods depends on how loose or tight you want your curls to be. Your hair is finally put in hot rollers that are attached to a device that helps regulate their temperature. This process can take up to four hours or more, depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

With the digital perming method, you can get curls of varying lengths, which helps give you a very natural look. Your hair is usually straight while it is wet and curls up as it dries. This method was specifically designed for East Asian hair and only works for people with thick hair. The process is expensive. However, it is less damaging to the hair than other methods.

2. Cold Perm

Cold perms are the traditional way to perm your hair. In this process, your hair is first soaked with an alkaline solution. It is then tightly wound into small curls using rollers. The tight curls help shape your hair into tight ringlets, which are not possible to achieve with the digital perming method.

These tight ringlets do not look natural at first, but over time, they will relax and look more natural. The process can take from 2 to 2.5 hours. The curls you achieve with this method remain curly even when wet or when you use a product. The process is more affordable than the digital method and works on almost all hair types.

With the right care, a perm can last up to six months. Here are a few tips to help.

How To Care For Permed Hair

1. Do not wash your hair for 48 hours after you perm your hair.
2. Do not touch your hair for 48 hours. Allow your hair to set with any disturbances.
3. Keep your hair loose. Don’t style it with ponytails or tight hairstyles.
4. Protect your hair from the sun. You can use a light scarf or hat or a zinc-based leave-in conditioner to protect your hair from UV rays.
5. It is better to use products that are made for chemically treated hair. Check with your hairstylist about the shampoo and conditioner once you have permed your hair.
6. Condition your hair. Perming uses chemicals that can strip your hair of its nutrients and natural moisture. Condition your hair at least twice a week to rebuild your hair. Conditioners use concentrated amounts of chemicals that help build your hair. If you don’t want to use chemicals, opt for an organic leave-in conditioner that uses natural ingredients.
7. Get regular touch-ups. Although perms are called permanent hairstyles, they only last for months. You will need regular touch-ups at least once every 12 weeks to maintain your perm.
8. Keep away from coloring treatments for a few weeks after you get your perms. Coloring treatments use chemicals that can affect your perm and hair condition.
9. Is your hair dry or oily, brittle or volumeless? Have a hair care regimen with products that are specific to your hair type.
10. It is better to avoid brushing your hair for a week or so to keep the hair set without disturbance. After that, use wide-toothed combs to brush your hair gently.
11. Use other styling tools like irons, curlers, and blow dryers sparingly.

The next question that might occur to you is, how do perms damage your hair? Scroll down to the next section to find out.

Do Perms Damage Hair?

• Perms can leave your hair damaged, lifeless, and overprocessed. The cell membrane complex and endocuticle are the most vulnerable to chemical treatments (2). This happens if the perm is not done right. Hence, it is recommended to get perms professionally done.
• Perming induces hair reduction, which causes hair to swell and leads to damage. Not rinsing the perming solution may cause dandruff (3). Chemicals like hydrogen peroxide are known to cause hair damage.
• Perming solutions for colored hair may be stronger than virgin hair. Be careful while choosing perming solutions when trying it at home. Most stylists will only let you get a perm done if your hair coloring requires one coloring process instead of multiple ones.
• If you have dry or brittle hair, it is better not to get a perm done. Perms use chemicals that can make your dry hair more prone to damage. They might also strip your hair of its natural moisture. It breaks your hair structure, which would damage dry hair.
• Perming short hair may be a little tricky. Picking the right wave or curl can make short hair look brilliant or too short.
• Perming solutions for oily hair can strip your hair of its natural oils.

How Long Does A Perm Last?

Getting a perm done can take at least three hours. For short hair, perms last for at least three months. For long hair, they may last longer, going up to five to six months.

Just like every other hair chemical treatment, there are pros and cons to perming. Remember, if you do decide to perm your hair, maintenance can go a long way in keeping your hair healthy. Follow the tips mentioned above to take care of permed hair.