Why You Should Think Twice Before Getting A Perm
If you love curling your hair, you've probably considered perming it. As Rob Peetoom stylist Mariel Falla explained to Byrdie, a perm "allows a person to wear their hair with waves or curls more often without having to use a wand daily." She continued, "A perm can also enhance the look of having body and texture on flat, pin-straight hair." But as good as it sounds, you should actually think twice before getting a perm, as they can cause some serious damage.
According to hairstylist Priscilla Flete (via Well + Good), "Perms get a bad rap because, ultimately, it is a chemical process that permanently changes the hair, which can affect the hair if done incorrectly or if the hair was already chemically processed." As hairstylist Casey Wintheiser further explained to Bustle, "It changes the chemical properties of your hair to get that curl or wave."
And the more you get your hair permed, the more likely you are to damage your hair. "The real damage happens when you apply your next perm after perm after perm, which causes breakage," Trey Gillen, hairstylist and artistic director at SACHAJUAN, told Well + Good.
If you have color treated hair, a perm may cause serious damage
Sadly, as a result, if you color or bleach your hair, experts agree that you should generally stay away from perms as your hair is already considered to be quite fragile. "Having a perm and keeping your hair in good condition is really important, so you need to bear this in mind if your hair isn't in the best condition starting out," Luke Hersheson, hairstylist and CEO of London's Hershesons, told Stylist. "Perms are definitely most suitable on virgin hair," he added.
And if your hair is in the right condition for a perm, "it's really important that the person you go to understands perms," said Hersheson, explaining, "Perming doesn't get taught to hairstylists like it did in the '80s, so the technique has kind of died out a bit." You should also be sure to talk through any concerns with your stylist and get a full understanding of the aftercare before you go through with your decision.