The Ultimate Guide to Taking Care of Permed Hair

So, you just got a perm or are thinking about getting one—and we don’t blame you! Curly and wavy hair is super cute and stylish. But perms can be a pretty big deal. They require a bit of maintenance and extra care. After all, you’re chemically treating your hair. To ease your worries and make the process that much easier, we compiled the best advice on maintaining and caring for a perm. We even talked to licensed cosmetologist Courtney Foster to know when you can wash and condition your hair. Read on to learn what she (and other stylists) recommend.

Taking Care of Permed Hair

Avoid getting your hair wet for 48 to 72 hours.
Touch your hair as little as possible.
Condition your hair regularly.
Avoid brushing your hair.
Stay away from heat tools when you can.

Section 1 of 6:

Maintaining & Caring for Your Perm

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1
Avoid washing your hair for the first 48 to 72 hours. After you get a perm, avoid shampooing or conditioning your hair for the first 48 to 72 hours. As Foster explains, the best way to maintain the look of a perm is “to avoid water.”^{[1]
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Courtney Foster
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.} Water can deactivate your perm and make the curls fall apart.^{[2]
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- Make sure to keep your hair as dry as possible, especially if it’s raining or snowing outside.
- Ask your stylist how long you should wait until washing your hair. The length of time may depend on your hair and type of perm.
- If you absolutely can’t wait to wash your hair, call your stylist to find out the best way to handle the situation. They may suggest using dry shampoo or another product.
- With this, also avoid swimming for 72 hours and getting your hair wet in a pool or hot tub for 7 days, as the chemicals can loosen your new curls.^{[3]
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Touch your hair sparingly during the first 48 hours. After you get a perm, playing with your new curls or waves may be tempting. But do your best to avoid touching your hair. It can take 24 to 48 hours for the curls to lock in place, and touching your hair could loosen them. Leaving your hair be for a couple of days can help ensure that your hair maintains its shape for longer.^{[4]
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- Also, your hair is incredibly fragile after getting a perm. Not touching or playing with your hair can also help prevent unnecessary breakage.
- Use your fingers to style your hair only as necessary during this time, and avoid brushing or combing your hair.
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Wear your hair loose and avoid clip-in accessories for the first 48 hours. Even after you leave the salon, your hair and perm will still be settling. Because of this, it’s important to wear your hair down or in loose hairstyles to prevent the curls from misshaping. Avoid ponytails, braids, and clips for a few days after your perm.^{[5]
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- Use a silk scarf to gently pull back your hair if necessary. Make sure to tie it as loosely as possible to keep your hair back without leaving a mark.^{[6]
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Stay away from color treatments during the first week. Keep in mind that permed hair can be fragile and needs a lot of love, especially in the first week after a perm. Avoid getting color treatments on your hair for 3 to 7 days after your perm. This way, you can avoid causing further stress or damage and prevent your hair from breaking off.^{[7]
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- Talk to your stylist about scheduling a color treatment within a safe time frame from your perm.
- Consider using a hair tint, colored powder, or color shampoo instead of color treatments, as they’re much safer on your hair.
- Remember that even if you wait at least a week to color your hair, you may still experience breakage.
5
Use products formulated for permed or fragile hair moving forward. No matter what, permed hair needs special and gentle aftercare. Getting specially formulated products can restore luster to stressed and fragile permed hair. In addition, they can help maintain your curls for a longer period of time.
- Look for product labels with ingredients such as biotin, eucalyptus oil, and soy and are labeled as “for permed hair” or “for chemically treated hair.”
- Foster also recommends avoiding products that contain parabens and sulfates to help your perm last.^{[8]
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  Courtney Foster
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.}
- When in doubt, ask your stylist for product suggestions!
6
Shampoo your hair weekly after getting your perm. Cleaning your hair can keep your curls fresh and bouncy. But washing it too often can strip your already delicate hair of essential oils and make your perm relax faster. Treat your permed hair like silk or another delicate fabric: washing it once a week is enough to keep it clean and help maintain its beauty.^{[9]
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- Wash your hair with warm water, as hot water can dry out your curls.^{[10]
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- Always use a sulfate-free shampoo to help minimize frizz and strengthen your hair.^{[11]
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- Make sure to thoroughly rinse with warm or cool water, as lingering residue can weigh your curls down.^{[12]
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- Try using dry shampoo on your roots in between washes to keep your hair looking fresh.^{[13]
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- Consider using a hair mask after shampooing to give your hair an added boost of moisture.
7
Condition your hair after washing once the perm has settled. Even the gentlest perm can strip hair of moisture, making it look dull and frizzy. Foster describes that some say conditioner relaxes a perm, but that’s not the case. Conditioner formulated for permed hair restores moisture and helps your perm last longer.^{[14]
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Courtney Foster
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.} So, never skip conditioner after shampooing to help detangle and keep your curls looking fresh.
- Apply conditioner to your ends first, and then work up to the base of your neck.
- Try combing your wet hair using a wide-tooth comb while the conditioner is still in it to help disperse the product and minimize hair breakage.^{[15]
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- Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water to ensure all the product is washed off.^{[16]
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- Consider using leave-in conditioning treatments if your hair is very dry or stressed.
Nurture stressed hair gently. "Debating between natural and chemically-treated hair has me worried about damage. But this article helped me learn how to gently care for permed hair. The tips on avoiding heat tools, using sulfate-free products, and lightly scrunching empower me to nurture my delicate strands after perming. Now, I feel ready to take the plunge!" - Sami M.

Remember proper care techniques. "I hadn't permed my hair in over 20 years, so I forgot how to care for it properly. This guide reminded me of gentle basics like using a wide-tooth comb, air drying, and waiting to wash. My curls are fluffy now, but these tips will help revive their shape and shine going forward." - Trena S.

Prepare for salon appointments wisely. "I'm getting a perm for the first time soon. I know I'll need reminders for care beyond what the salon says. This article explains everything from post-perm washing to protecting hair from weather. I can take notes at my appointment and refer back here for complete care instructions." - Hazel J.

Revive limp curls with patience. "I worried my new perm looked too flat and limp. But this article said waiting 3 days before washing and styling will let the curls settle and tighten. Now, I can be patient as my hair stabilizes and use these tips to gently bring back bounce and shape." - Kathy M.

We want to hear from you! Advice from our readers makes our articles better. If you have a story you’d like to share, tell us here.
8
Use a wide-toothed comb over a brush moving forward. Detangle your hair carefully with a wide-toothed comb after you’ve finished washing and rinsing your hair. Avoid brushing your hair altogether, and only comb your hair when necessary, as brushing and excessive combing can cause breakage and frizziness. Instead, simply comb until tangles are removed, or separate tangles with your fingers.^{[17]
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- Make sure the teeth of your comb are spaced widely apart so that your curls are not split into little pieces that may frizz.
9
Sleep on a silk pillowcase to protect your hair at night. Believe it or not, your standard cotton pillowcase isn’t the best for your new curly hair. Cotton absorbs moisture, and the friction it creates with your hair at night can cause breakage and frizziness. To avoid this, switch to a silk pillowcase, as the silk material doesn’t absorb moisture and is gentler on your curls.^{[18]
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- Try wrapping your hair up in a silk hair wrap at night for even more protection against frizz and damage.
10
Trim your hair regularly. Your hair will continue to grow, and the extra weight can weigh down your curls. Foster recommends getting regular trims to help keep your curls bouncy and your hair healthy.^{[19]
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Courtney Foster
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 9 December 2019.} See your stylist every 4-6 weeks for a trim.
- Ask your stylist to trim the bare minimum if you’re concerned about losing length. Your stylist may even tell you you can wait longer between trims.

Section 2 of 6:

Styling Advice

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1
Scrunch your hair daily. The best way to keep your curls bouncy and looking fresh is to scrunch them with your fingers. Simply use your hands and fingers to gently lift and scrunch up individual sections of your hair. Mist your hair with water and hold for a few seconds to better define your curls. This beauty basic can enhance your new style and create soft, sultry waves.^{[20]
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- You can also define individual curls by wrapping them around one or two fingers and holding them for a few seconds.
2
Dry your hair naturally or with a diffuser. A hairdryer can sap moisture from any person’s hair. But if you have permed hair, it can damage already stressed hair and make it frizzy. Either allow your hair to air dry or put a diffuser on your blow dryer to help define and protect your curls.
- Set your hair dryer on the coolest setting possible for the least damage.
3
Use heat tools sparingly. Curling and flat irons can damage your hair and cause it to break. After your perm, your hair is fragile and is more prone to breakage, so avoid heat tools whenever possible.
- Instead, try using steam to your benefit. Wrap your hair in a few rollers and put on a shower cap. Then, get in the shower and let the steam from the warm water reactivate your curls.
Jen Atkin, Celebrity Hairstylist

Find an effective multi-purpose hairspray. "For gorgeous hair, you want to avoid drying it out with too many products. That’s why it’s important to have one multi-tasking spray in your kit. Once it’s activated by the heat of your blow-dryer or flatiron, it protects against damage, adds shine, and locks in your style all day long without being sticky."

Section 3 of 6:

What is a perm?

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A perm is a chemical hair treatment that alters your hair’s texture to be curlier. There are two kinds of perms: cold and digital perms. A cold perm is when a stylist wraps the hair in rollers or rods and applies a chemical solution. A digital perm is when the stylist wraps the hair in warm rollers before applying the solution. No matter what perm you get, the hair will come out curlier or wavy, chemically altering your hair’s natural texture.^{[21]
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- The size and thickness of the rollers or rods determine the overall size of the curls.
- Depending on the thickness of the hair, a perm can take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
- Perms can be done on all hair types! However, it’s the healthiest for those with hair that’s never been dyed or chemically treated.

Section 4 of 6:

How long does a perm last?

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Perms can last for anywhere from 6 weeks to 8 months. Caring for your perm will maintain it longer; however, once your curls start to fall apart and you have a lot of visible roots, you’ll likely need to get another perm.^{[22]
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- Consider only getting your roots re-permed so your other hair doesn’t get too damaged. Talk to your stylist about your best options.
- If you decide you want to grow out your perm, you can do it without much headache. Caring for your hair with special products and little heat can keep it looking good during in-between stages.

Section 5 of 6:

Can you condition your hair after a perm?

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Yes, you can condition your hair 48 to 72 hours after getting it. When you first get your perm, avoid water and washing at all costs to allow the chemicals to settle in your hair. After at least 48 hours, you can wash and condition your hair as normal. Curly hair tends to be drier than other hair types, so experts recommend conditioning regularly to maintain your curls and minimize frizz.^{[23]
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- Consider using a leave-in conditioner on top of conditioning your hair in the shower to help combat frizz and keep your curls soft.

Section 6 of 6:

What challenges can you face with a perm?

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While perms can look super cute, they can come with their fair share of challenges—as with any hairstyle or cut. But don’t worry! These challenges can easily be avoided and remedied with a bit of practice and knowledge. Here are the most common issues you may face after getting your first perm:
- Uneven curls: Some sections may look uneven compared to others, especially when you’re just learning to style your curls. Style your hair with a diffuser in small sections, using a curl product, like mousse or gel, to keep your curls bouncy.^{[24]
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- Frizziness: Curly hair (especially chemically treated curly hair) is prone to frizz. Avoid brushing your hair and touching it too much. You can also use frizz-reducing hair products to help tame your curls.
- Scalp irritation: Your head may be a bit sore after getting your perm due to the chemicals. Do your best to avoid scratching your scalp, and apply unscented aloe vera or an ice pack to the irritated area.^{[25]
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- If you ever have any concerns about your perm or hair, reach out to your stylist for personalized advice!

Expert Q&A

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Question

Do perms damage your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Getting perms regularly can damage hair, especially if it is long because the chemicals are applied to the entire strand every time. Your hair is much less likely to become damaged if you avoid other chemical services like highlighting or permanent color.

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Question

How long do you have to wait to wet your hair after a perm?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

It's best if you can wait at least 48 hours. This allows the cuticles to close and re-harden and the hair's pH to return to normal which will mean a longer-lasting result.

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Question

What products should you use on permed hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

For permed hair, you want to use hydrating products that help your hair retain moisture. Mousse and curl-enhancing creams are great choices.

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Tips

Protect your perm from bad weather with an umbrella or hood.

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Warnings

Never attempt to do a perm at home if you are inexperienced.

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Avoid getting your hair permed too often, as excessive contact with chemicals can damage your hair.

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