Perms

A perm requires a bit of extra hair care. Keeping hair well-conditioned and moisturized is crucial, so if you live in a desert-like climate, anticipate extra 'spritzing' and moistening of hair to maintain curls.

Very fine hair types or thin hair type must be permed with extreme care to prevent hair damage.

Very straight hair types and coarse hair types are often resistant to perms—stubborn about taking a curl and likely to need frequent perming to maintain hair's new texture and curl.

Using the proper shampoo and conditioner will help maintain your perm and give your hair that natural, healthy look.  Ask your Trendz stylist which hair products will work best for you.

Perms have come a long way since the 80s when everyone was addicted to the very fake-y, 'crimped' perms.

These days perms can be fine-tuned to give you exactly the kind of wave you want. You can get perms that just add body to fine, limp hair, you can get loose, sexy waves or you can go for the corkscrew curls that many straight-haired girls covet (and some curly-all-their-lives girls are sick of).

But who’s the best candidate for perms? How long do they last & most importantly, how do you avoid getting the perm YOU DON’T WANT?

Who should get perm? Perms work best on hair that has not been colored. This means highlights are ok, full color too. The chemicals are too harsh for double-processed or heavily highlighted hair. Not sure if your hair is a good candidate for a perm? Ask your stylist. You’ll want to tell him or her every chemical process your hair has been through. One way you can find out if your hair is damaged & can't withstand more chemical processing is to do the old float trick. Take a few strands of hair and put them in a glass of water, if they sink, this means your hair is damaged & is soaking up moisture. If the strands float, this means your hair is healthy.

The thicker your hair, the better the perm will take.

How long does a perm take?

1-2 hours, depending on how long your hair is. Your stylist will apply a one chemical solution to break the structural bonds in your hair, and another called a ‘neutralizer.’ Also keep in mind, a perm takes 28 hours to settle, so give it some time before you get too worried about the end result.

How long does a perm last?

Generally about 2 to 6 months.

Don’t leave home without your picture.

You need to take a picture or pictures with you of the type of wave you want. Just telling your stylist what kind of curl you want puts you at risk of getting too much or too little curl. Stylists can control the amount of wave they give you as well as the part of the hair they want to perm.  They just need to understand exactly what you want.

Be sure & tell your stylist not only what you want (show the pictures) but what you don't want (i.e. the crimp-like curls of the 80s).

The tightness of curls can vary depending on the size of the rod & how long the solution stays in.

To prepare your hair for a perm, you'll want to use a moisturizing conditioner after you shampoo. Avoid deep conditioning your hair for at least 24 hours before the perm; otherwise the perm may not take.