| There are some things you should consider before | | | | band when you reach the scalp being careful not to |
| doing your own perm at home. If your hair is color | | | | let the band cut into the hair If the band is too tight |
| treated, fine and fragile, damaged, doesn't have good | | | | or causing too much stress on the hair it can cause |
| elasticity, or if you've tried perming your hair before | | | | breakage when the perming solution is applied. There |
| and it didn't take well, I would strongly suggest that | | | | are other ways you can roll your hair around the |
| you go to your professional stylist to get your perm | | | | perming rod depending on what type of curl you'd |
| and not do it at home. If you try to do it at home, it | | | | like, but I would suggest sticking to this common |
| could cause severe fading of your color and/or hair | | | | procedure, at least for now. Continue this process |
| breakage if you use the wrong perm or time it | | | | until your entire head is rolled (or the section you |
| incorrectly. | | | | want permed if you're not doing all of your hair to |
| Once you've decided that your hair is healthy and | | | | suit your hairstyle), starting at the top of each |
| you can perm your own hair at home, you'll need to | | | | section and working your way to the bottom. |
| decide what kind of a perm you'd like. Are you going | | | | 5. Now you're ready to apply the perming solution. |
| for a completely new style? Do you just want to | | | | There are basically two types of perms you can buy. |
| add a little texture to the style you have? Do you | | | | One is an alkaline perm, and the other is an acid |
| want something super curly? A perm is great if you | | | | perm. An alkaline perm is for harder to perm hair such |
| have naturally straight hair and you want to be able | | | | as gray or resistant hair that isn't colored or |
| to do more styles with it. A perm makes hard to curl | | | | damaged. An acid perm is a gentler perm and is |
| hair more versatile and easier to manage. You'll still be | | | | recommended for easy to curl or color treated hair |
| able to wear it straight if you'd like, but if you like to | | | | Follow the directions in your perming kit as to how to |
| shake things up a little sometimes and go curly, the | | | | mix and apply the perming solution. This process |
| perm will make your hair more pliable and will help it | | | | basically breaks the disulphide bonds in your hair that |
| to hold whatever style you can dream up. It also | | | | give it it's shape. Be sure and completely saturate all |
| works well if your hair is too curly. Perming your hair | | | | of the rods with the perming solution evenly and |
| using a larger rod will reshape your curls into | | | | completely or you'll end up with an uneven perm. You |
| something more manageable. | | | | may need to get two perming kits if you have a lot |
| Now that you've decided how you want your hair to | | | | of hair. |
| look, you'll need supplies! The things you'll need to do | | | | 6. If directed, cover your hair with a plastic cap and |
| a perm at home are perming rods, wrapping papers, | | | | set your timer for the duration indicated in the |
| a plastic tail comb, plastic hair clips, old towels, a | | | | instructions. If you're not sure how long to leave the |
| perming kit, and a good friend! Wrapping a perm can | | | | perming solution on, you can do the "S-Test". To do |
| be challenging by yourself. The type of perming rods | | | | this, partially unwrap one section of hair from the |
| you'll need depend on what shape curl you want. It's | | | | perming rod. Gently push the hair towards the scalp |
| mostly common sense: A skinnier rod will give you | | | | until it bends. If you can see a prevalent "S" shape in |
| tighter curls whereas a larger rod will give you bigger | | | | the hair then your done. Once the perming solution |
| curls. If you're not sure what size to get, you can do | | | | has processed, you're going to need to gently rinse |
| some experimenting to get an idea. Pick up some | | | | your hair thoroughly. DO NOT REMOVE THE |
| perming rods in the size you think you'll like, and after | | | | PERMING RODS. |
| shampooing your hair add some styling product and | | | | 7. After your hair is thoroughly rinsed with water, |
| wrap up a section or two of your hair Let it dry and | | | | gently blot your hair in the rods until it's only damp. |
| then remove the rod. The size curl you see will be a | | | | Paper towels work well for this step to soak up the |
| good indication of what your perm will look like. You | | | | excess moisture. Now it's time for the neutralizer. |
| can also do a test curl if you want to pick up an | | | | The neutralizer will reform the broken bonds of your |
| extra perming kit. Instead of doing your entire head, | | | | hair into the new shape indicated by the perming |
| just do one rod and see how it turns out. You can | | | | rods. Following the directions in your perm kit, |
| adjust the size of the rod your going to use from | | | | saturate the hair with the neutralizing solution. Save |
| there. | | | | some of the neutralizer, you're going to need it in a |
| Ok! So you've decided on a style, you've got your | | | | bit. Normally this stays on for five minutes. |
| supplies (and your friend), now where to start? Here | | | | 8. Once you're all neutralized, you can start gently |
| is How to Perm Your Hair 101: | | | | unwrapping your hair When your hair is completely |
| 1. Start with freshly shampooed hair Do not use a | | | | unwrapped, apply the remaining neutralizer to your |
| heavy conditioner on your hair before perming! This | | | | hair making sure every strand is saturated. Rinse your |
| can keep the perming solution from absorbing into | | | | hair with cool water, and you're done! |
| your hair Section your wet hair into 4 sections by | | | | Some things to remember after perming: |
| doing a part right down the middle of your head (like | | | | Do not shampoo your hair for 24-48 hours after |
| you're going to do pigtails), and then doing another | | | | perming! All of your hard work may be for naught if |
| part from about halfway back down the side of your | | | | you forget and your perm falls out. If you have |
| head to the back of your ear. Clip up these sections | | | | problems with frizziness, it's ok to apply a little gel or |
| with your plastic hair clips. | | | | something to tame it down. Rinsing your hair with |
| 2. Starting at the top of one of the back sections, | | | | just water is also ok. |
| take a section of hair to wrap. Remember to never | | | | Once you start shampooing your hair again, be sure |
| take a section that's larger then the length or the | | | | and use a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner |
| circumference of the perming rod. Doing so will cause | | | | to replenish what was lost after perming. |
| your hair to overdirect and/or pull which can cause | | | | Try to avoid wrapping your wet hair up turban style |
| breakage. It's always better to take a smaller section | | | | in a towel and instead blot your hair dry. This will |
| than one that is too wide. | | | | avoid stress and breakage on your new curls. |
| 3. Comb the section of hair out straight and cover | | | | You CAN wear your hair straight after perming if |
| the ends of your hair with the wrapping paper by | | | | you'd like. Although letting your hair dry naturally is |
| folding it in half around your hair If you're having a | | | | best, it won't hurt your perm to blow your hair out |
| hard time with this part, keep a water bottle handy. | | | | straight and/or using a straightening iron. Just make |
| Spraying some water on the ends of your hair will | | | | sure and use styling products for dry hair that will |
| help the protective wrapping papers "stick" where | | | | protect it from the heat of styling aids. |
| you want them. The most important thing to | | | | Never color your hair before perming! Always perm |
| remember during this process is to make sure your | | | | first if you're going to do both. The perm will fade |
| ends are completely covered with the paper to | | | | out your color. Also, it's best to wait 2 weeks |
| protect them and keep them from splitting during the | | | | between each procedure. |
| perming process. | | | | Your new perm should last you between three and |
| 4. Starting at the end of each protectively wrapped | | | | five months before you'll have to touch it up. I hope |
| section, roll each section of hair around the perming | | | | this has been helpful! Remember, if you're not |
| rod. The most common way of doing this is to roll | | | | confident in perming your own hair at home by |
| the hair under around the rod and secure it with the | | | | yourself, you can always go see your local stylist! |
