Using Styling Tools Isn't a Wise Move
Permed hair can be treated like regular hair, but with caution. "I recommend anyone who has recently permed their hair, don't style it, unless it’s [just] washed and combed with a wide tooth comb or your fingers," Rizzo says. If people must use a hair tool, the experts suggest a diffuser. Straightening tools are best avoided because they cause more heat damage. Plus, Rizzo warns using them can make hair frizzier when it's worn curly again.
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Watch Out for Shampoos With Silicone and Sulfates
Silicone is a popular ingredient thanks to its smoothing effects, but it can disrupt the curl pattern in permed hair because of the film it leaves behind. Sulfates make hair dry and frizzy. Rizzo suggests the Milbon defrizzing line for keeping permed hair on point.
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It Can Be Tricky If You Hate the Look
Don't like your spirals? If you hate the perm as soon as it's complete, Rizzo says to wash it. Perms take 28 hours to neutralize so you can counteract some of the process with a quick shampoo. Gentle chemical smoothing treatments could be an option, Lecher says. A positive, less damaging thing to do is embrace the curls and try to make them work.
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Going Back to Hair's Original Texture Takes Time
Perms will drop over time, but if you want to go back to your true hair texture, it's going to be a long waiting game. "'Perm' is short for 'permanent wave.'" Wesley says. "The chemical structure of hair has been altered and the perm will need to grow out completely for hair to go back to its original texture."
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