For those of us with straight or limp hair, the dream of having bouncy, voluminous curls is all too real. While hot rollers, curling irons, and other heat styling tools can give you temporary curls, they can be damaging to your hair over time. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, consider getting a chemical perm.
What is a chemical perm?
A chemical perm is a hair treatment that uses chemicals to break and re-form the bonds in your hair, creating curls or waves that last for several months. The process involves wrapping sections of your hair around perm rods, applying a chemical solution, and then rinsing and neutralizing your hair to set the curls.
Benefits of chemical perms
Chemical perms offer several key benefits over other methods of curling your hair:
- Long-lasting: Chemical perms can last for several months, so you don’t have to spend time curling your hair every day.
- Low maintenance: Once you have a chemical perm, you can wash and style your hair as usual without having to worry about losing the curl.
- Customizable: Chemical perms can be tailored to your hair type and desired level of curliness, so you can achieve the exact look you want.
Preparing for a chemical perm
Before you get a chemical perm, there are several things you should do to prepare:
- Choose a salon: Look for a reputable salon that has experience with chemical perms and ask for recommendations from friends or online reviews.
- Consult with your stylist: Your stylist will be able to assess your hair type and help you choose the right type of perm for your needs.
- Get a trim: It’s a good idea to get a trim before your perm to ensure that your hair is healthy and free of split ends.
- Avoid coloring your hair: If you want to color your hair, do it before your perm, as coloring after the perm can cause damage and affect the results of the perm.
The chemical perm process
The chemical perm process typically takes several hours and involves the following steps:
- Cleansing: Your hair will be washed and conditioned to prepare it for the perm.
- Rolling: Your stylist will roll sections of your hair onto perm rods of various sizes, depending on the level of curl you want.
- Chemical application: A chemical solution will be applied to your hair to break and re-form the bonds in your hair, creating the curls.
- Rinsing: Your hair will be rinsed to remove the chemical solution.
- Neutralizing: A neutralizer will be applied to your hair to set the curls.
- Drying and styling: Your hair will be dried and styled, and you’ll be ready to show off your new curls!
Caring for your permed hair
After you get a chemical perm, it’s important to take care of your hair to ensure that your curls last as long as possible:
- Avoid washing your hair for at least 24-48 hours: This will give your curls time to set and help them last longer.
- Use a sulfate-free shampoo: Sulfates can strip your hair of its natural oils and cause your curls to frizz and lose definition.
- Avoid heat styling: Heat styling can weaken your hair and cause your curls to fall out more quickly.
- Use a curl-defining product: A curl-defining product can help enhance and define your curls.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a long-lasting, low-maintenance way to add curls to your hair, a chemical perm may be the perfect solution. Just be sure to choose a reputable salon, consult with your stylist, and take good care of your permed hair to ensure that your curls last as long as possible.
