Perm, perm, perm…will say it three times make it a more obvious decision? Do not worry, you are not alone. With so many types of perms and complicated terms that make your head spin, you are probably one of the millions of women out there who only thought about getting one and are just, not too sure about it.
If your thing is to ‘be drippin’ so much sauce’ and ‘lookin’ like RAGÚ’ like Lizzo in that juice video and ‘do a hair toss’ or ‘feeling good as hell’ then getting a perm should be fine.
Alright, enough with the Lizzo lyric’s reference. Honestly, a perm, and we don’t mean one of those 80’s bushy perms – is not for everyone and there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to make the best decision for you. An informed move is always the smart route, plus, your hair is not something you want to mess with!
What Is A Perm?
If you are new to perms, then you should start with the basics before reading about different types of perms. If you are seriously thinking about getting one because your best friend looks amazing with hers, or because you admire other women who have done it; we are sorry to tell you that, that is not reason enough.
While changing your hairstyle can make you feel like a million bucks and give you that change you’ve been looking for, a perm may or may not be the right thing to do for you, and that’s ok.
A perm is a process of breaking your hair with disulfide bonds and then rebuild it to create the desired texture, either creating waves or curls in your hair. But is not only about curly hair; if you style it correctly a perm well done can provide a new life to your hair, volume and natural bounce you didn’t know it existed!
The process of perming utilizes chemicals that may not suit your unique way of living. Just imagine if you are into swimming every single day; chlorinated water can ruin a perm. Other things to consider include if you have used dye several times or if your hair care routine includes washing your hair frequently. All these can shorten a successful perm and result in damage to your precious locks.
How Long Does A Perm Last?
When getting a perm, you should be ready to spend at least a few hours in the salon. Your hair care professional can either use rods to wrap your hair before putting perm lotion on to set the curl. After letting the lotion sit, stylists rinse it out, dry hair as much as possible, and use a neutralizer to stop the perming process.
Instead of using rods to curl your locks, stylists might use different materials such as fabric or ceramic rollers.
After you get a perm, how long it lasts depends mainly on how long your hair is and how well you take care of it. Typically, for short hair, a perm can last at least three to four months. For longer hair, it can last from six months to eight months.
However, if you abandon your perm, it may break down into a mess. The curls/waves will generally get looser with time, especially if you have naturally straight hair. So, keeping the strength of your perm is required.
What Are The Two Types Of Perms?
So you’ve decided a perm is a good fit for you and now is all about which type of perm you should go for. There are two main techniques when talking about perms and that is hot or cold ones.
Hot Perms
Hot perms are also known as acid or digital perms. This formula uses a pH between 4.5 to 7.0 in order to break the disulfide bonds in hair to produce the curl. As its name implies, heat is applied to the hair. It is recommended for thin or damaged hair. Since hot perms can’t be done down to the root, hot perms result in less lift and less volume. However, a hot perm tends to create more waves so is often described as requiring less maintenance. The hot perm can develop a number of styles.
Cold Perms
Cold perms are also called ceramic perms or root perm since it can be extended right to the root. It involves using an alkaline perm solution. This solution will break the disulfide bonds while your hair is being wound up around a perm rod. For a cold perm, more styling is required.
Do Perms Ruin Your Hair?
When chemicals are being poured into your hair, the damage is definitely possible. Having said that, a perm should not ruin your hair and it shouldn’t do any harm to your locks. That’s why we advise you to forget about doing it yourself. When done properly and in the hands of a professional, you shouldn’t have to worry about it.
Different Perm Styles 
As previously stated, perms are much more than just curls. Find out different types of perms that can be created mainly through the hot perm technique.
Spiral Perm
This is achieved through the cold perm process and primarily the only style in a cold perm. It gets its name as you end up with small tight spirals in your hair. This is done by twisting your hair, wrapping them in a smaller curler and applying the chemicals.
Partial Perm
In a partial perm, the aim is to leave sections of your hair looking differently; while typically the bottom of the hair is permed, the rest is untouched.
Beach Wave Perm
If what you want is loose waves rather than curls, then a beach wave perm is your ticket. This is not like the traditional perm since it uses sponge-like rollers.
Body Wave Type of Perm
This perm style is one of the most sought after. If you want an effortless, more natural look, a body wave perm is the right choice. This is also perfect for those who have straight hair and are looking for more volume.
Stack Perm
A stack perm is when only the middle and bottom parts of the hair are permed. As a result, the hair stacks or layers nicely providing fullness to your look.
Straight Perm
If you are tired of your curls then a straight perm is what you need. This process will leave you with straight hair for a long time and will remove the curls of your life. It is also called reverse or Japanese perm.
Multi-textured Perm
With a multi-texture perm, your hair will have tighter and looser curls, this can be done by using different sized rolls. This will give the illusion of a natural, sophisticated look perfect for medium-length or longer hair.
Spot Types of Perms
Is also called partial perm. As you may imagine, you are left with perming only a portion of your hair. It is recommended for people who think their curls are not even.
Root Perm
A root perm is done through the cold technique and it’s mainly done when you already permed hair it’s grown out.
Volumizing Perms
In this type of perm, the rod is taken off before applying the neutralizer achieving waves that will only last a few weeks.
Best After Perm Care Tips
All types of perms require special care; check out the following tips.
1. Use products that are formulated specifically for curly or wavy hair. It can be products that promote flexibility, hydration, and elasticity.
2. It is recommended to coat the conditioner and/or hair mask on for 5 to 10 minutes before you rinse it off.
3. Sculpting lotions may be applied to give your curls more strength.
4. Try to avoid creamy formulas as they might increase the weight of your curls and therefore affect the strength of the curls.
5. Use conditioners that protect you against frizz, static and flyaways, and those that help in prolonging your hair curls.
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