Perming your Hair

Being creative with the hair is something we all like to do and hair perming would be the most suggestible hairstyle that any hair expert would ever give. Perm hairstyle helps to create a big impact, and is presently, considered as a hair fashion statement. The advantages of hair perming are numerous. The finished perm offers the wearer adaptability and versatility. The hair benefits from the support of a professional body wave, both aesthetically and functionally. Permed hair with its curls adds body to the hair and gives the hair a bounce. Perming helps to
Increase the fullness of soft and fine hair. Add curls to straight hair. Give a new appearance.
Discuss the style with a hairstylist before the perm procedure. The perm hairstyle must be chosen to suit one’s face shape. One can choose from a variety of size curls: from small rollers to large rollers. For a person with a long face, the perm must be worked to ensure volume on the side and not on the top. The choice of perm rod depends on the kind of perm that is sought. Straight or cylindrical perm rods are popularly used for wrapping hair that has to be wave permed. A smaller perm rod ensures a tighter hair perm. You can achieve a body wave look with a larger perm rod. Using very large perm rods however, can create weak curls.

Hair perming can be of many types which are broadly classified into permanent perming and temporary perming. One’s hairstyle also plays a role in determining the kind of hair perm needed. Some perms work well with hair in one length while others are designed to work with layered hairstyles. Spiral perm is one of the popular perming method and suits people with natural straight hair. Spot perm involves only one area of the hair. A stack perm is ideal for those who want curls only at the end of long hair.
The choice of perm rod depends on the kind of perm that is sought. Straight or cylindrical perm rods are popularly used for wrapping hair that has to be wave permed. A smaller perm rod ensures a tighter hair perm. One can achieve a body wave look with a larger perm rod. Using very large perm rods however can create weak curls. There is no reason why anyone cannot have a perm. However, one needs to discuss with the hairstylist if he/she has a sensitive skin before proceeding with the treatment.

Process of perming Hair perming involves the use of chemicals to break and reform the disulfide bonds of the hair. The hair is washed and wrapped on a perm rod and waving lotion is applied with a base. Hair perms can be done with acid or alkaline perming solutions. Alkaline base is suitable for normal and resistant hair whereas acid perm solutions are milder and are ideal for fragile, damaged or colored hair. The base solution reacts with the Keratin of the cortex, breaking some of the disulfide cross-links within and between the protein chains and makes the hair to swell and soften. While the solution is important, it is actually the perm rod that will determine the type of curl one will have. The hair then molds around the shape of the perm rod. After a specified period of time, the hair is rinsed and a neutralizer is applied. It is the neutralizing solution that reforms the disulfide bonds of the hair and sets the new curls.

Perming of hair typically takes about 2 h. It takes about another 24 hfor the perm to fully settle and its impact to be completely felt. A hair perm usually lasts about 3–5 months.
Taking care of permed hair Permed hair style should be treated with care. Colored hair must not be permed. Ideally coloring is done after a perm. Subjecting your hair to two processes may damage it. Avoid aggressive shampooing. Use shampoos and conditioners for permed hair. After washing, carefully blot your hair with a towel. Avoid tangles as it can damage the hair perm. Use a diffuser when blow-drying hair perms.
Perming on your own Some women try out spiral curls with curling irons at home. For this, you need to be equipped with spiral curlers or rods and hair perm lotions. It is advisable to do permanent perming in a salon as perm lotions contain chemicals that damage hair when used by inexperienced users and frequently result in under processing that is little or no wave.

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