When you have amodern perm, all you'll have to do to get gorgeous body and texture is basically roll out of bed. A perm (short for "hair permanent") can essentially replace your daily 20-minute morning meeting with a curling wand."One of the best bits about perming hair is that you don't have to agonize about styling daily. The look is a major statement in itself," says stylist Sascha Breuer.
But to get the most out of your perm, following the correct haircare routine is key. To find out more, we spoke to Breuer and stylist Cheryl Bergamy to get their best perm aftercare and maintenance advice. So for those of you looking to add a little—or a lot—of curl and volume to your locks, let these expert-approved tips help guide you.
Meet the expert
- Sascha Breueris a celebrity hairstylist. His clients include Hilary Swank, Sandra Oh, and Elizabeth Olsen, among others.
- Cheryl Bergamyis a New York City-based hairstylist and the founder ofContents Haircare. Her celebrity clients include Halle Bailey, Laverne Cox, and Queen Latifah.
Keep scrolling for how to properly take care of a perm, according to celebrity stylists.
Delay Washing
After perming your hair, you'll need to wait three days before getting it wet, Breuer tells us. "I only recommend washing sooner if you want to break up the curls to achieve a softer, semi-permanent beachy waves look," he added.See AlsoSilq Pro Multistyler 4-in-1Get €30 off Ghd's top styler for volume and waves while you canA Guide to Using Hair Styling Tools Effectively - ThoseGraces.com
Hold Off on Styling
Also, steer clear of any styling—other than simply scrunching the hair with your fingers to set the curls in place—for a week following your perm. "Even the most basic hairstyles or hair accessories can potentially cause your perm to break or set in an unwanted shape," says Breuer. That also includes not brushing your hair with a hairbrush. At most, you can finger-comb your curls, or if you have to, use awide-toothed combin the shower after applying conditioner.
To protect your perm when you go to bed, wrap your hair in asilk scarf or bonnet. This will help to reduce physical damage (read: no frizz here) and also work to keep your style in place.
Avoid Other Chemical Treatments
To minimize damage and prevent any potential disruption to your perm, do not combine it with any other chemical hair treatments for at least a month, notes Breuer. Perms use chemicals to alter the texture of your hair, so you'll want to allow time for your strands to recuperate. Not only will this aid in the health of your hair, but it will also ensure the best results.
Wash Your Hair Less
Now that you have some flouncy curls, your washing regimen is most likely going to look a little different. According to Bergamy, you should only be washing your permed hair once a week. She also notes that a sulfate-free conditioning shampoo and moisturizing conditioner are must-have products on your wash day. According to Bergamy, never use a brush on your wet hair and reach for a comb instead to maintain the curls and their shape.
Also, once a month, Bergamy suggests washing with a clarifying shampoo to completely cleanse your hair and scalp. She also recommends staying away from shampoos and conditioners containing silicone, alcohol, or sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS). Her pick? Restore Shampoo by Living Proof because the color-safe and safe for chemically treated hair product restores moisture and protects against future damage.
Skip Heat Styling
"On the whole, it's best to avoid heat styling as much as possible," advises Breuer.That means you'll have to swap out regular blow drying for air drying, and if youhaveto use a blow dryer, be sure to attach the diffuser and coat your hair with aheat protectantfirst.
"Straightening tools should also be avoided because permed hair tends to frizz out more than natural hair, and heat styling causes split ends to appear much faster in perms, all of which means that your curls break up sooner than you'd want," he says.
Another healthy yet effective alternative to heat? Try rollers. There are so many different kinds of rollers that can take your hair from beach waves to spirals without applying any hot tools.
Don't Forget to Trim
The same principles of everyday haircare apply in this realm, but now they're even more important. To keep your hair healthy and your ends fresh, Bergamy suggestsgetting your hair trimmedevery three to four weeks."Perms require upkeep to sustain the shape and structure of the curls," she tells us. "Trim the ends when needed [to] keep the hair healthy."
Invest in the Right Products
For your shampoo and conditioner, go for moisturizing curl-enhancing formulas, but be sure they're not ultra-creamy, which could weigh down your perm and disrupt the shape of your curls."You want to give your curls extra nourishment and protection against the elements and artificial stressors like heat styling tools, so look for products that are protein-rich," adds Breuer.
Also, avoid hair products that are made with alcohol and silicones. "Alcohol will dry out your hair fast, leaving it brittle and frizzy and ruining the perm," notes Breuer. "Silicones wear heavy, making hair greasy and weighed-down. If you can't avoid these ingredients, at the very least, you've got to look for products that carry these in a minimal concentration."
Bergamy also recommends using a leave-in conditioner, like the Contents Style & Go Leave-In, which "prevents unwanted frizz and protects against free radicals and UV ray damage." A product like this will lock in moisture on each curl to help you achieve moisture retention, which is especially important for textured hair, she says.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a perm last?
A typical perm can last anywhere from three to six months. Depending on the texture of your hair and how well you care for it—along with the products you use—the life of a perm can be extended beyond that.
How much does a perm cost?
While prices on hair services vary by salon and city (and sometimes the length of your hair), you can expect to pay anywhere between $60 to $300 for a perm.
Will perms work on textured hair?
Yes, it's called Curl Reformation, and it involves a different application method, said Bergamy. The hair must berelaxedbefore adding any additional curls or waves. Curl reformation typically comes with a set of recommended salon and at-home products to maintain the perm because moisture retention is a must, stresses Bergamy.