PERMS
Perms have come a long way since the 80s when I sported
the very fake-y, 'crimped' perm. 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).
9 Rules to Live by
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? The following are 9 rules to live by when it comes to perms in this day & age:
- 1. Who should get them? Perms work best on hair that
has not been colored. 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 in the last couple years. One way you
can find out if your hair is damaged and 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 and is soaking up
moisture. If the strands float, this means your hair is
healthy. You may want to keep it that way and avoid the
perm....
Oh and one other tip: The thicker your hair, the better the perm will take. - 2. How Long does a perm take? One to two hours,
depending on how long your hair is and how fast your stylist
is. Your stylist will apply a single 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. Give it some time before you get too worried
about the end result.
- 3. How long does a perm last? Generally about two to
six months.
- 4. Where do I find a great stylist? First call ahead
to your salon (or try several salons) and ask if they have
someone who specializes in perms. Since perms aren't as
popular as they were in their heyday (the 80s) you'll want
someone who knows what she (or he's) doing. You may have to
call around a bit to find a specialist. Even in New York City,
most salons I've consulted don't have a perm specialist.
- 5. 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 leaves you
in jeopardy of getting super-dooper tight ringlets. Stylists
can control the amount of wave they give you as well as the
the part of the hair they want to perm. Yours will need to
choose the right-sized rods.
- 6. A sit down consultation beforehand is a must. So
many stylists will whisk you off to wet your hair without
sitting down face-to-face for a good talk. 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).
- 7. The tightness of the curl depends on the size of the
rod. If you re worried you’ll end up with too-tight
curls, ask your stylist to show you the types of rods she is
using. Keep in mind that tightness of curls can vary on the
size of the rod and how long the solution stays in.
- 8. Some hair is trickier to curl than others. If you
are African- or Asian-American, then you will want someone who
specializes in curling your type of hair.
- 9. You can prep your hair. 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.