What Is a Perm?

Key Takeaways

• A perm chemically alters your hair to create curls or waves.
• There are a variety of perm styles available, from beach wave perms to spiral perms.
• While a perm can add beautiful curls or waves to your hair, they can also be very damaging. Use the right haircare products to help manage the damage a perm may cause.

Jump to

• How Long Does Perming Last?
• Hair Perming Methods
• Pros and Cons of Getting a Perm
• Types of Perms
• How Much Does a Perm Cost?
• How to Take Care of a Perm

What Is a Perm?

Do you love adding waves or curls to your hair? Then a perm may be right for you. A perm is a semi-permanent chemical treatment that makes your hair wavy or curly. If you’re interested in getting a perm, you’ll want to take a trip to the salon. A professional can perm your hair to perfection and get the curls exactly how you want them.

Hair Perming Methods

There are two ways your stylist may perm your hair: a hot (digital) perm or a cold perm.

What Is a Cold Perm?

Cold perms tend to produce tighter curls. During a cold perm, your hairstylist will wrap your hair around plastic rods or rollers. Next, they’ll apply a chemical perm solution to alter the bonds in your hair. Then, your stylist will rinse out the perm solution from your hair, dry it, and apply a neutralizer to lock the curls in place.

What Is a Hot Perm?

Hot perms result in loose, soft curls. A hot perm is a more modern way to perm hair. The process is similar to a cold perm, but instead of using plastic rods, heated rods or a heat dryer help form the curl.

Once you get a perm, you’ll need to wait at least 48 hours to wash your hair. Keeping your hair dry gives your new curls time to set.

How Long Does Perming Last?

Even though “perm” is short for “permanent,” perms only last for three to six months. The lifespan of your perm may vary depending on your hair texture, hair length, the type of perm you get, and how well you take care of your perm. Your perm also may last more or less time depending on how quickly your hair grows and how different your perm is from your natural hair type. When your hair grows, your original hair texture will be visible at your roots.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Perm

Getting a perm is an appealing choice for those who love curls or waves, but don’t want to spend time styling their hair every morning. Another perk of getting a perm is that curls or waves can create the illusion of volume in your hair. Finally, perms are long-lasting, so their upkeep is relatively low.

A downside of getting a perm is that they can severely damage your hair. This is because the chemicals used to create a perm break hair’s bonds. A perm can also dry out your hair, so if your hair is already dry or frizzy, you may want to reconsider getting one. To mitigate possible damage using OLAPLEX Bond Building TechnologyTM, book your perm with a hair stylist at an OLAPLEX salon who can also help guide you on your post-perm routine for healthy hair.

Types of Perms

Before you take a trip to the salon, explore the different types of perms that can transform your hair, and then talk to your hairstylist about what’s right for you.

Beach-Wave Perm

If you want to look like you just stepped off a beach, then a beach-wave perm could be a good choice. This perm style will produce loose, tousled waves.

Pin-Curl Perm

A pin-curl perm will give you soft and loose waves. These waves will look more defined than a beach-wave perm. To create this effect, hairstylists will use hair pins instead of rollers or rods.

Multi-Textured Perm

A multi-textured perm will create waves or curls that vary in size for a natural look. To create a multi-textured perm, your hairstylist will use different rod sizes throughout your hair.

Spiral Perm

If you want springy curls, then a spiral perm is right for you. To create a spiral perm, your hairstylist will wrap your hair vertically around rods. You can choose the size of your ringlets by choosing the size of the perm rods.

Stack Perm

A stack perm uses curls to create the illusion of a layered haircut. Your hairstylist will stack the perm rods on top of each other in the middle and lower half of your hair to create this look.

Volumizing Perm

A volumizing perm does exactly what it sounds like: it adds extra volume to your hair. Your hairstylist will create waves and curls in your hair and add more volume near your roots.

Partial Perm

A partial perm, also known as a spot perm, will curl only a section of your hair. Partial perms are usually done on the top of the head.

Root Perm

A root perm adds volume to your roots. Your hairstylist will use small rods near your roots to create this look.

How to Take Care of a Perm

You’ll need to give your perm a little love to keep your curls or waves looking luscious. Remember, once you get a perm, you can’t wash your hair for at least 48 hours—but after that, you’ll want to use the right post-perm shampoo and conditioner that can help manage the damage caused by the perm process. Reach for OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo to hydrate, strengthen, and repair your hair. Pair it with No.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner to moisturize, hydrate, and detangle your locks. Both No.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo and No.5 Bond Maintenance® conditioner can help repair and maintain healthy-looking hair.

Explore more ways you can care for your curls or take our Hair Quiz to get a personalized OLAPLEX routine.

Sources

1. https://www.instyle.com/types-of-perms-7975092
2. https://www.byrdie.com/so-you-think-you-want-a-perm-3517780
3. https://www.byrdie.com/types-of-perm-5115743

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