So you finally got the dream perm you’ve had pinned all over your Pinterest board – and now what? How do you style your perm so it looks flawless everyday? How can you maintain it so that it lasts a long time?
Perms have been extremely popular over the last several years, allowing you to have natural-looking waves and curls without having to style your hair every single day. In fact, they’re one of the most popular hair services we offer here at PERFECT X HAIR.
Thanks to modern perming techniques, bold ringlets aren’t the only type of perm you can achieve. Perms can be completely customized to give you anything from beachy waves to effortless curls.
One of the best things about perms is that they’re designed to be low maintenance, so you don’t actually need to do any heavy styling. Of course, there are still things you can do to keep your perm looking perfectly styled every single day.
Here are our top styling tips for women’s perms, including how to maintain them and keep them looking fresh and flawless.
What to do immediately after getting a perm
Once you’ve gotten a fresh perm, it’s crucial not to wash your hair or get it wet for the first 48 hours. Aside from showering, this also means you should avoid swimming, exposing your hair to rain or outdoor humidity, and doing heavy workouts that may cause a lot of sweating. Yes, that does mean you have to hit pause on your hot pilates classes for a few days.
The reason why you shouldn’t let your hair get wet during this time is because your perm is still in the process of setting. If you do get your hair wet before the perm has the opportunity to fully set, there’s a risk your curls may loosen and fall sooner.
It’s also important that you avoid using heat styling tools for the first 48 hours, as they can keep your newly-permed hair from fully setting in its new shape and structure. Plus, your hair is more fragile immediately after a perm and at higher risk for heat damage.
You’ve already committed the time and money to getting the perfect perm, so of course you want it to last (and look great) for as long as possible. With proper aftercare and maintenance, your perm can last as long as 6 months (depending on the type of perm), if not even longer.
How to maintain a perm
While perms do offer the benefit of being low maintenance for styling (especially if you get a digital perm), there is some maintenance required in order to keep it looking fresh and long-lasting.
Maintenance ultimately depends on the type of perm you get, as well as the condition of your hair. But there are some general tips you can follow to keep your perm in tip-top shape.
During your appointment, your stylist should also give you personalized tips on how best to take care of your perm, depending on your hair’s health and condition.
Washing your hair
You should try not to wash your hair too often, as it will cause your new curls to relax sooner than you want them to. You’ll also want to avoid using hot water. Instead, wash your hair using warm water every few days, and use dry shampoo in-between to absorb oil.
Skip the hairbrush and use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb when necessary, as brushing out your hair can cause unnecessary frizz and damage. Swapping from a cotton towel to a microfibre towel is also a good idea, as cotton towels are harsher on your hair and cause friction that can lead to breakage and split ends.
After washing your hair, you should use curl cream to help define the curls, and we’ll talk more about the best products to use for your perm later.
Sleeping with a perm
Something many people don’t think about is that the way you sleep can also affect your perm.
It might be worth investing in a satin or silk pillowcase, which will reduce the amount of friction on your hair at night, in turn reducing the amount of frizz you wake up with.
You should also avoid using any hair ties on your hair while sleeping, as it will cause misshapen kinks to form in your already-shaped curls.
Visit the salon for touch-ups
It’s natural for your waves and curls to become looser over time. The longer your hair is, the heavier it gets, which will also cause the curls to fall quicker.
When you’re ready for a refresh, you can stop into the salon for a perm touch-up to keep it looking fresh and sleek again. As well, you’ll want to keep up with regular trims to fight off any split ends that could cause hair breakage and frizz.
How to style your perm
The great thing about getting a perm is that you won’t have to spend so much time in front of the mirror styling your hair anymore. You’ll have naturally wavy or curly hair right from the moment you wake up. Yep, you woke up like this.
Thanks to your new perm, you’ll already have beautifully-shaped curls, so you won’t need to do a crazy amount of styling. The curls are already in place, but you can give them a little enhancing to get that extra oomph factor.
So, how do you style a perm to get it looking perfectly sleek and defined?
Your perm will still look great air-dried, but blow-drying your hair will offer the most consistent results when it comes to styling. Blow-dry using a low heat setting with a diffuser, and gently twirl your hair in sections with your fingers while diffusing to help the curls become more defined.
You should also avoid the use of heat styling tools like curling irons or straighteners, as they could cause further heat damage to your precious locks, as well as cause the curls to loosen more quickly. Let your new, natural-looking curls be free!
Best hair products to use for a perm
Using the right hair products is absolutely essential when it comes to maintaining both your perm and hair health.
The perming process involves reshaping the structure of your hair, giving you new wavy or curly locks. This also means you’ll now need to use hair products specifically made for wavy or curly hair.
Curl cream is an absolute must for maintaining your curls for as long as possible. It helps to enhance curl definition in the strands, as well as keep your hair smooth and hydrated. After washing your hair, apply the curl cream evenly to your strands, then cup the ends of your hair and scrunch upwards.
It’s also a good idea to swap to a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, as sulfates can cause your hair to become more dry, brittle, and frizzy.
The harsh chemicals used in the perming process can make your hair drier and more fragile, so it’s important to use nourishing products to help repair it. Focus on products with clean and natural ingredients, and try to avoid products that can weigh down your hair and make it heavier.
Your stylist can recommend the best products to use according to both your hair type and texture, so you can keep your hair healthy and your perm looking its best.
How long does a perm last?
Of course, you want your perm to last for as long as it possibly can. The longevity of your perm depends on a variety of factors:
- Type of perm
- Hair type and texture
- How quickly your hair grows
- How well you take care of it
Digital perms tend to last longer than traditional cold perms, with the main difference being the use of heated rods or rollers during the digital perming process.
With these factors in mind, your perm can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months, or even longer in some cases. As your hair grows out, the curls will loosen and your roots will grow straight, which is when you might want to book a touch-up at the salon.
Achieve your dream perm at PERFECT X HAIR
Styling a perm isn’t overly-complicated – in fact, they’re designed to be easy to maintain. You just have to make sure you choose the right stylist who knows how to achieve a healthy perm, and follow the maintenance tips they provide.
Visiting a reputable salon that specializes in perms is highly recommended. If a perm isn’t applied correctly, it may result in your perm not holding for as long, or even worse, could result in irreversible damage.
At PERFECT X HAIR, we pride ourselves in being experts in all things perms. Whether you’re looking for the subtle, beachy waves of a digital perm or the tighter and more dramatic curls of a Korean hippie perm, we can help you achieve the perm you’ve always wanted.
Book a consultation at one of our four convenient locations in Toronto to see how you can get your ideal perm.
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