Digital perms have been all the rage in Asia in recent years, and if you didn’t know, you can actually get them done right here in Toronto. If you love the look of voluminous waves, but don’t love having to put in the effort of curling your hair every single morning, women’s digital perms might just be the perfect choice for you.
With a digital perm, you can enjoy fabulous, natural-looking waves every single day, without having to spend hours styling. It’s the perfect high maintenance treatment that lets you be low maintenance (if you know, you know).
Gone are the days of only being able to achieve tight, spirally ringlets with perms. Thanks to modern digital perm technology, it’s now possible to get beautiful, beachy waves that look chic, natural, and effortless. If you love the look of effortlessly-styled waves donned by Korean celebrities, then a digital perm might just be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Originating from Japan and Korea, digital perms are a semi-permanent hair treatment that has become increasingly popular for women’s hair. The process involves a combination of restructuring chemicals and heated curling rods, which work together to completely reset the shape and structure of your hair. The result? Beautiful, defined, and natural-looking curls that actually hold their shape.
At PERFECT X HAIR, digital perms are one of the most popular hair treatments we offer, and our stylists customize every perm to achieve your desired look.
Here’s everything you should know about women’s digital perms before you book your next appointment.
1. Digital perms are gentler than traditional perms
Traditional perms, also known as cold perms, rely completely on chemicals without heat. Digital perms, on the other hand, use a combination of both chemicals and carefully-controlled heat to shape your hair and achieve your perfect look.
Digital perms are typically done with milder perming solutions that don’t dry your hair out as much. This also means they’re gentler on your hair, especially when performed by an experienced stylist. This makes digital perms an especially great option if you have finer or thinner hair, as they tend to cause less damage than traditional perms.
Worried about hair damage? This is where technique and experience really matters. A skilled stylist can minimize any damage by carefully adjusting the heat of the curling instruments, as well as the concentration of the solutions used, according to the condition of your hair.
And once your hair has been perfectly shaped into its new curl pattern, a neutralizing solution is applied to restore your hair’s pH balance and lock the curls into place. The result is fab, effortless waves that are still healthy and happy.
Our stylists at PERFECT X HAIR are highly trained in digital perm techniques and take extra care to protect the integrity of your hair, so your locks stay luscious and look amazing.
2. Digital perms are highly customizable
One of the biggest perks of digital perms is how customizable and versatile they are. Your stylist can tailor your perm to your exact vision, whether you’re looking for loose, hippie-like waves all around or curls only in certain places.
The digital perm can be applied to your full head, or even just to specific sections like your roots, mid-length, or even bangs.
Our stylists at PERFECT X HAIR work closely with you to create a personalized digital perm that perfectly complements your face shape and hair type, as well as your overall look and style.
3. Digital perms are ideal for soft, natural waves
If your goal is natural-looking results, then a digital perm is the way to go. While tighter curls are possible, digital perms are best known for creating subtler, looser, and more natural-looking waves. Think effortless, mermaid-like curls – just slightly more polished.
Digital perms add style, body, and volume to your hair, especially if it’s naturally straight. They’re very popular for Asian hair, which doesn’t always hold up curls easily with traditional heat styling.
All in all, digital perms are a great way to refresh your look without having to commit to too dramatic of a transformation.
4. Digital perms can be done on coloured hair (with conditions)
If your hair has been coloured before, most stylists will advise against doing any type of perming treatments until your hair has fully recovered. That said, it is possible to do a digital perm on coloured hair, as long as your hair is in healthy condition. However, if your hair has been bleached, it isn’t suitable for perming.
Because digital perms are generally gentler on your hair than traditional perms, they’re also the preferred method if you do choose to get a perm on previously-coloured hair.
If you’re concerned about whether a digital perm is suitable for your hair, booking a consultation at PERFECT X HAIR is the best place to start.
5. Your hair health matters
The most important thing to know about women’s digital perms: your hair needs to be healthy.
If your hair is thinning or extremely damaged by chemicals, colour, or bleach, then it’s possible that a digital perm may not hold well. In addition, it could actually result in further stress to your hair.
Healthy hair means better curl retention, smoother results, and longer-lasting waves.
6. Longer, thinner hair is the best candidate
One of the great things about women’s digital perms is that they’re suitable for a wide variety of hair types.
There’s a common misconception that digital perms can only be done on straight hair. However, they can actually work beautifully on wavy or curly hair textures as well.
Digital perms reset and change the pattern of your hair, so your curls look sleeker and more uniform. Plus, they become much easier to manage. This way, you can spend less time styling and more time enjoying your natural curls – just slightly more refined.
That said, digital perms are most recommended on those with longer and thinner hair. Most stylists will need your hair to be at least four to five inches long for the best results. So, it’s not really recommended if you have shorter hair.
7. The process can take longer than other perm techniques
Expect to spend a little more time in the salon chair than you think, and maybe bring a book or download a few episodes of your favourite show.
Digital perms typically take several hours to complete, as your stylist has to carefully monitor each curling rod to ensure even, consistent results. If you have longer hair, then it will also take a bit more time.
The extra time is worth it to make sure your curls are shaped to perfection and last as long as possible.
8. You can spend less time styling
Of course, one of the main reasons to get a digital perm is to simplify your hair styling routine. Thankfully, you will spend a lot less time on your hair than if you curl it everyday. No more having to deal with your curls not holding or your hair falling flat throughout the day.
With your new digital perm, the curls are already in place, so you just have to enhance them. Your hair will still look fantastic air-dried, but for the best results, you’ll want to gently twirl your hair in sections using your fingers, and diffuse using a blow-dryer. The results are soft, effortless waves with minimal effort.
9. Regular maintenance is required
To keep your new curly locks looking fresh and fabulous, you will have to take care of your digital perm at home. While it does shed time off from having to sit in front of the mirror to curl your hair, you will still need to give it some TLC. So, it does require a little bit of a commitment to maintain.
The digital perm process breaks the natural bonds of your hair, so invest in gentler haircare products to keep your hair healthy. Switch to a gentle shampoo and conditioner, and use curl lotion or cream to keep your new curls looking sleek, defined, and frizz-free. Your stylist will walk you through aftercare and recommend products tailored to your hair.
10. Digital perms can last from six months to a year
How long your digital perm lasts largely depends on two factors: how quickly your hair grows, and how well you take care of it. Most people don’t need a touch-up treatment for at least three months, and some digital perms can last six months or even more.
Digital perms also tend to be more durable than traditional perms, which means the curls usually hold up better over time as well.
Over time, as your hair grows out, the curls will gradually loosen, giving your hair beautiful, natural waves that still look intentional.
Get your perfect digital perm at PERFECT X HAIR
If you’re craving a refresh but don’t want to go all-out with a drastic hair transformation, then definitely consider a digital perm. You get beautiful, mermaid-like waves, without having to actually put in the effort of styling them every single day. Minimum effort, maximum style.
It’s also important to note that not every stylist will know how to perform digital perm techniques correctly. This is why choosing the right salon is so important.
At PERFECT X HAIR, our expert stylists have years of experience in digital perm techniques, and customize every treatment to suit your hair and desired look.
Book an appointment today at one of our four convenient locations in Toronto to achieve your perfect digital perm and wake up with effortless waves.
