Perms are one of the hottest hair trends right now, and you might even be considering one yourself. Modern perms are incredibly versatile, and you can completely customize your look to your heart’s desire. Perms give you luscious, voluminous waves or curls without having to spend time styling it every single day. But if you have bleached hair, will a perm actually work on it?
Let’s first break down exactly what a perm is. Using a combination of chemical solutions and rods or rollers, this semi-permanent hair service allows you to achieve natural-looking waves and curls. The chemical solutions break down your hair’s internal disulfide bonds, letting it form new shapes that hold even after washing.
Now, let’s talk about bleaching. In order to lighten your hair, bleaching agents are used to strip it of melanin, which is the pigment that gives it its natural colour. Consequently, these bleaching agents weaken those same disulfide bonds, which affect your hair’s elasticity and structure.
Since both perming and bleaching break down your hair’s natural bonds, can they actually be done together safely? In general, perming bleached hair isn’t recommended due to the high risk of damage. Instead, experienced stylists usually recommend waiting until your bleached hair has grown out before getting a perm.
If you’re wondering whether a perm will work on your bleached hair, here’s everything you should know before you book your next appointment.
A perm may not hold in bleached hair
When it comes to perms, good hair elasticity is absolutely essential for curl formation and retention. Bleached hair has weakened elasticity due to the bond-breaking during the bleaching process, and the addition of a perm puts additional stress on already weakened hair.
With bleached hair, the strands may be too fragile to hold the curls of a perm. Even if the perm seems to work at first, some curls may loosen quicker than others, some may form unevenly and go in different directions, and some may not form at all.
Perms may cause unnecessary damage to bleached hair
Hair health is huge when it comes to perms, even just for perming virgin hair. Bleached hair has more challenges because of its existing damage – your hair is already weakened, and perming can make it even more susceptible to damage.
Bleaching lifts the cuticle of the hair, making it more porous and fragile, and the chemical solutions (and sometimes heat) used in perms can cause it to become even more brittle and prone to breakage.
Just the process of bleaching or perming on their own already compromises the structure of your hair, even when performed by the most experienced stylists. This is why it’s extremely important to visit a trusted salon with expertise in both colouring and perms.
Once your hair has been damaged, it’s very difficult to repair. Fragile hair and split ends are definitely not the goal.
What happens if you perm bleached hair?
Under expert care, bleaching or perming can be safely done on their own, and a highly-skilled stylist can minimize damage to the hair.
However, because both bleaching and perming weaken the hair fibres, combining them can lead to damaging and unpredictable results. This makes it more difficult to achieve a consistent, long-lasting perm.
In addition, over-processing can affect the long-term health of your hair and make it more vulnerable to split ends and breakage. If you perm already-bleached hair, the following results can happen:
Weaker and more fragile
Bleaching your hair requires lifting of the cuticle, which is the outer barrier that protects your strands. This leaves them more prone to breakage and snapping.
Bleached hair is already in a compromised state, and the addition of a perm can cause it to become even more fragile, brittle, and vulnerable to damage.
Increased frizz and lack of control
Lifting the cuticle increases the porosity of your hair, which means it has a difficult time retaining moisture and also gets frizzy more easily.
Both bleaching and perming cause dryness to your strands, and the two processes combined can make your hair appear frizzier and more straw-like. As a result, it also becomes harder for you to manage your hair at home.
Gummy or stretchy texture
The process of bleaching breaks down keratin, which is the protein that gives your hair its strength, structure, and elasticity.
When your hair’s elasticity is weak, the strands can take on a sort of chewing gum-like texture, especially when wet. Instead of snapping back into place when you stretch it, the strands continue to stretch out, which makes them at higher risk of breakage.
Uneven lift and discolouration
The texture and structure of your hair aren’t the only things at risk if you combine both bleaching and perming. A perm can also cause uneven lift and discolouration in your bleached hair, which may require additional toning to correct.
Poor curl retention
Because of the weakened structure of bleached hair, the curls of a perm might not hold well and may actually loosen quicker. Some curls may also come out uneven, or not even appear at all, due to the weaker elasticity of the strands.
How long after bleaching can you perm hair?
Bleached hair doesn’t just go back to being healthy. Whether it’s been a few months since you’ve bleached, or even a year, the structure of your hair has been altered permanently – it doesn’t return to the original state of your natural hair.
As tempting as it may be to get a perm, it’s best to wait until the bleached sections of your hair have completely grown out and been cut off. Your hair is already fragile and vulnerable to breakage, and the last thing you want is for it to be even weaker.
A skilled stylist will assess the condition of your hair to ensure it’s safe to perm it. Book a consultation at PERFECT X HAIR and one of our expert stylists can guide you on the best steps to reach your hair goals.
How can I achieve curls with bleached hair?
A perm isn’t the only way to achieve beautiful, effortless, and natural-looking curls. If you have bleached hair, you can do light heat-styling with curling tools or use no-heat curling methods like velcro rollers.
Even a layered haircut can help you achieve that multi-dimensional look, movement, and volume you might be looking for.
What if I bleach hair after perming?
The same thing goes for bleaching hair after it’s been permed – your hair structure is already weakened from the perming process, and bleaching afterwards can make it even more fragile.
Plus, the bleaching agents may absorb unevenly on different sections of your hair, causing inconsistent colouring and lift.
Combining the two processes can lead your hair to become severely damaged, and once it’s beyond repair, there’s no going back. Your hair’s health matters above all else.
Can coloured hair be permed?
While it’s not recommended to get a perm if your hair has been bleached, it is actually possible to get a perm if your hair has been coloured, but only if your hair is healthy.
The colouring process involves lower lift and is generally not as damaging as the bleaching process, which makes it safer to get a perm.
That said, a cautious approach still needs to be taken, and an experienced stylist will carefully evaluate your hair and take the necessary precautions to ensure your hair stays healthy and happy after the perm.
The ultimate question: can you perm bleached hair?
Undergoing multiple chemical processes is quite risky, and bleached hair is generally not strong enough to perm safely.
Combining these two chemical processes can leave your hair very fragile, weak, and more susceptible to breakage, and prevention is much easier than repair. Ultimately, it’s best to wait until your natural hair has grown out and you’ve cut off the bleached sections before you decide to get a perm.
If your hair doesn’t look or feel healthy, neither the colour nor perm will look its best. It also becomes harder for you to manage it at home, and a big reason for getting a perm at all is for it to make styling your hair easier.
While some salons may give the “okay” to perming bleached hair, there are high risks even when done by professionals. Every stylist has their own approach, but at PERFECT X HAIR, healthy hair always comes first.
Today’s milder formulas and bond-building treatments can reduce some risk, but the chances of damage and curls not holding well are still high. For this reason, it’s crucial to visit an experienced salon that cares about maintaining the integrity of your hair while achieving your desired results.
Book a consultation at PERFECT X HAIR
It’s highly recommended to seek advice from an experienced hair stylist who will assess your hair’s condition and guide you on a personalized plan to reach your hair goals. Sometimes, a fresh haircut is all you really need.
If you’re not sure what the best option is for your hair, book an appointment with one of our expert stylists at PERFECT X HAIR. With four convenient locations in Toronto, we’re here to help turn your dream hair into a reality while keeping it strong, healthy, and thriving.
