Perm maintenance doesn't have to be a pain! When you opt into having gorgeous curly locks, it takes a little extra work to keep them maintained.
When you chemically alter your hair to add more curl and volume, you risk damaging it and causing unwanted frizz. That's why it's so important to know how to maintain a perm.
Keep reading to learn how to style a perm, how to sleep with a perm, and everything in between!
Don't Wash Your Hair Right Away
After you get your perm, let your hairstylist work their magic. Be prepared to sit with that style for a day or two, because you shouldn't wash curled hair for at least 48 hours after your treatment.
Chat with your stylist about their recommendations. They know the treatment best and will give you the best advice on how to take care of your perm for the first 48 hours. You run the risk of deactivating the curling chemicals when you wash your hair too soon after a perm.
Use the Right Hair Products
The perming process strips your hair of the cuticle layer and makes your hair more porous. Your hair will probably start to feel dry and brittle unless you use the right hair products. Use products that will nourish and protect your hair from root to tip.
Use formulas that are designed to restore your hair after a chemical treatment. Many brands have repair and protect formulas that will repair and cleanse, leaving your hair looking moisturized and healthy.
Treat permed hair the same way that you would treat curly hair. Get products that are designed to nourish and lift curly hair for lots of natural shine and bounce.
Develop a Style Routine
The style routine for a head full of curly hair can take a lot of time to develop. Many folks who have had curly hair their whole lives are still trying to find the perfect routine. But styling curly hair starts from the second you get it wet.
Once you use your protecting and nourishing shampoo and conditioner, use a leave-in conditioner and comb your hair out with a wide-toothed comb while it's wet. Then you can do the t-shirt dry and plop method to set your curls without heat, which adds extra damage to your hair.
If you don't have time to air dry, use a diffuser to dry it out to avoid making your hair too frizzy.
Post-Perm Conditioning
The best conditioners for curly hair are the ones that have a light formula. If your curls are tight and kinky after your perm, go with a cream conditioner.
You could also do oil treatments, hair masks, and anything else that is designed to hydrate and nourish curly hair.
When moisturizing, apply the product to the ends of your hair. The closer to your scalp that you get, the more natural oils are in your hair. The ends of your hair hold the most damage and require the most treatment.
Leave the conditioner in for at least five minutes. The longer, the better. When it's time to rinse, rinse with cool water.
Drying Your Hair
Do you dry your hair by rubbing it right after the shower with a terrycloth towel? Curly hair requires a much different approach.
The best material to dry your hair with is actually microfiber or the soft weave of a t-shirt. The excess friction caused by the terrycloth will dry and damage your hair.
Don't rub it, either. Collect the ends of your hair in the towel and squeeze, essentially scrunching it up in your hands a little at a time.
You can do the plop-it method to let it air dry overnight or you can let it hang and air dry during the day. Avoid drying with heat and use a diffuser if you have to blow-dry it.
How to Sleep With a Perm
Keeping your permed hair safe overnight might be the most difficult task yet. Regular cotton pillowcases can cause friction that damages your hair. Sleep on a satin pillowcase instead to give your hair the freedom to move without damage.
You could tie your hair up in a loose bun, braids, or do the plop method.
To plop your hair, use a conditioner and wrap your hair up in a microfiber cloth. Then, plop the excess right on top of your head and secure it there!
Coloring While Permed
When you color or perm your hair, you run the risk of damaging it. When you try to color right after perming your hair, you can over-process, over-lighten, or even damage it beyond repair.
It's a good idea to wait at least two weeks after perming your hair to try to color it. Always work with your stylist before trying any chemical process on your permed hair.
Avoid Over-Styling
Just like with naturally curly hair, over-styling is your enemy. After your curls dry, they're essentially stuck in that curl pattern until the next time you wash and condition it. When you mess too much with that curl pattern, your hair is going to look frizzy and out of control.
Never brush through your dry hair with a hairbrush. This will displace your entire head of curls and leave you looking more like a poodle than a curly-haired goddess!
Use a gel or glaze instead of a mousse to style your hair to avoid the alcohol in the mousse that will dry it out.
Perm Maintenance Made Easier
Taking care of your permed hair is a little more complicated than taking care of naturally straight hair. Curls require a whole host of new products and techniques that can get a little overwhelming if you're not sure where to start. But when you follow these steps in your perm maintenance routine, you'll have healthy, gorgeous curls!
If you're looking for the best tools to dry your hair fast and keep it healthy for life, browse our products today!