Learning how to maintain a Korean perm isn’t just a great way to ensure your new look lasts as long as possible. The right maintenance strategy is also crucial to keeping your hair healthy, and repairing any damage that might have been caused by exposing your hair to chemicals.
The good news? Maintaining a Korean perm is pretty straightforward. In fact, many types of Korean perms, such as the popular digital perm, require a lot less maintenance than a traditional cold perm. Plus, because Korean perms are customized to your specific needs, you’re less likely to have to take additional steps to repair any damage, or preserve the right look.
Korean perms are also naturally long lasting. Although exactly how long your perm lasts depends on the type of perm you get, most full Korean perms can give you beautiful curls, or stunning straight hair, for six months or more.
Here, we’ll share our top tips (taken straight from our expert hairstylists), to help you make the most of your new look, and minimize the need for regular touch-up appointments.
Why Some Korean Perms Don’t Last
Korean perms are extremely popular for several reasons. They can preserve your hair health better than some traditional perm treatments, and they’re extremely versatile. The right stylist can use Korean perming techniques to give you bouncy curls, natural waves, boosted root volume, or even ultra-smooth pin-straight hair.
Still, one of the main reasons people choose Korean perms over other perming treatments, is they’re known for being long-lasting, and low maintenance. A digital perm, for instance, can last up to 12 months. However, there are various factors that can reduce the lifespan of a Korean perm, such as:
- Poor preparation: For a perm to “take”, your hair needs to be properly prepared. If a stylist doesn’t soften the bonds in your hair enough before applying curlers to customize the shape, there’s a chance that you’ll end up with undefined curls that straighten themselves over time.
- Low quality perming products: There are a lot of different perming solutions available to salons, and some are more effective than others. The right stylist should choose the best solution for your hair, based on your desired hair goals, and your hair’s health.
- Hair health: Damaged, or extremely fine hair is less likely to “hold” a perm for a long period of time. In general, your stylist should make sure your hair is healthy enough to accommodate a perm before they offer this treatment. Be wary of any stylist that doesn’t consider the health of your hair carefully before they apply a perm.
- Problematic hair care: Your stylist should give you instructions on how to look after your perm, as well as tips on which products to use, and avoid. Failing to follow these instructions could mean that your perm deteriorates a lot faster.
How to Maintain a Korean Perm: Our Top Tips
So, how do you maintain a Korean perm? Ultimately, the exact strategy you choose will depend on the type of perm you get, and your hair’s condition (before and after the treatment). Still, there are some tips you can follow that should boost the chances of any Korean perm lasting as long as possible. Here are the best practices our stylists recommend.
Choose the Right Salon and Stylist
The best way to make sure your Korean perm lasts, is to choose the right salon and stylist for your treatment. Avoid home perming products if you want an incredible result – they can cause unnecessary damage to your hair, and often fail to deliver long-lasting curls or waves.
Instead, invest in a service from a professional stylists with years of experience using state-of-the-art Korean perming techniques. Choosing the right stylist will ensure you get a perm treatment tailored to your specific needs. Plus, a professional stylist will be able to give you customized tips on how to care for your hair after a perm, based on your hair’s condition and goals.
Some salons, like PERFECT X HAIR can even suggest additional treatments that can help prepare your hair for the perming process, such as the Olaplex hair repair treatment.
Follow Initial Care Instructions Carefully
When you get a Korean perm, whether it’s a cold perm, a digital perm, or a straightening perm, your stylist will always tell you to avoid getting your hair wet for at least 48 hours after the treatment. You need to follow this golden rule carefully to maintain a Korean perm.
Exposing your hair to moisture of any kind – even rain or humidity outdoors, can stop your perm from setting fully. That’s why it’s important to not only avoid washing your hair for the first couple of days, but also to protect your hair from unintentional exposure to water.
Aside from steering clear of water, make sure you’re not using any heated styling products on your hair for at least 48 hours. Curling irons and straightening tools can also prevent your hair from setting fully into its new structure and shape.
Use the Right Hair Products
Just as you can use specialist shampoos and conditioners to make your hair colour last longer, there are products that are specially designed for “permed” hair too. These products are usually free from any sulphates or harsh chemicals that can dry out your hair, or strip it of its natural oils.
They usually feature extra nourishing ingredients that help to care for your hair after the perming process, reducing the risk of frizziness and split ends. In general, it’s a good idea to focus on products with natural ingredients, and minimal “creamy” substances that might weigh down your hair.
If you’re not sure which products are best for your new hair style, speak to your stylist. They should be able to advise you on which shampoos and conditioners to use, as well as any other serums, balms, or masks you can consider to boost the appearance of your new perm.
Forget the Cotton Towel
Cotton towels aren’t actually great for drying your hair – no matter how convenient and absorbent they might seem. The better option, particularly if you want to maintain your Korean perm and keep it looking fantastic, is a microfiber towel, or an old t-shirt.
Microfiber towels and shirts are easier on your hair than cotton alternatives, and they’re less likely to cause hair breakage, frizziness, and split ends. Once you’ve used a microfiber towel or a shirt to soak up the extra moisture after you wash your hair, skip the brush and the hairdryer.
Allow your hair to dry naturally, and if you need to remove tangles, use your fingers, or a wide-tooth comb. This will help to stop you from “tugging” your new curls out of their ideal shape.
Update your Washing and Sleeping Routines
You don’t really need to wash your hair every day. In fact, doing so means you rob your hair and scalp of the natural oils they need to stay healthy. After you get a perm, it’s even more important to ensure you’re not washing it too often. Try to stick to shampooing and conditioning once every 3 days, and use dry shampoos to get rid of extra oiliness.
Another routine to update, aside from your hair washing schedule, is your sleeping strategy. Don’t keep your hair tied up with ribbons and elastic bands when you’re sleeping, as this will cause kinks to form that disrupt the shape of your new curls.
Consider using a satin or silk pillowcase too. This will reduce the friction your hair is exposed to when you’re moving around at night.
Rethink Your Styling Strategy
After you get a Korean perm, you should be able to invest a lot less time into actually “styling” your hair. After all, you’ll have naturally gorgeous curls or straight hair from the moment you wake up. If you do want to adapt your style, avoid using any hot tools, even after your perm sets.
Curling irons and straighteners will damage your hair, and break down the strands, causing your look to diminish a lot faster. If you need to use a hair dryer, to create the ideal “blow-out” look at home, stick to low heat settings, and use a diffuser to help define your curls.
On a day-to-day basis, avoid any tight hair styles that will put strain on your scalp and your curls, and try to stop yourself from touching your hair too much. Dirt on your fingertips can clog your pores, and damage your hair’s health over time.
Keep Up with Your Salon Appointments
Finally, although using the tips above will help you to maintain your Korean perm, and should reduce the need for regular touch-ups, you shouldn’t just ignore your salon after you get your perm. You still need to see your stylist for regular trims to keep your hair in excellent condition.
Remember, as your hair grows, it becomes heavier, and your curls might start to lose their bounce over time. Regular trims will help remove excess weight from your hair, and should help you to fight back against “split ends” that cause hair breakage and frizz.
How to Maintain a Korean Perm: The Right Way
Ultimately, learning how to maintain a Korean perm isn’t really complicated. All you have to do is choose the right stylist to begin with, follow the instructions they give you, and make sure you’re using the right products and routines when caring for your new look.
If you’re ready to transform your look with a Korean perm, contact the PERFECT X HAIR team today. We’ll walk you through the process of choosing the right perm treatment, and give you all the guidance you need to ensure your perm lasts as long as possible.
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