Perm for long hair: how to do it beautifully

A large number of representatives of the fair sex with straight hair dream of voluminous curls, styling that will take a minimum of time, while maintaining its ideal shape for a long time.

Women resort to various low-quality curling methods, such as styling with a curling iron, hair dryer brush, hot rollers or curling iron. All these methods have a bad effect on the strands, dry out the ends and their very length, and over time they become lifeless. If you don’t want to waste time on constant styling, try doing chemistry; it will save your time and effort, as well as refresh you and allow you to change your appearance for the better.

Most women are only afraid of the name of this procedure, but this is completely in vain - in modern times, specialist hairdressers have developed perm compositions that not only give the desired hairstyle, but are also able to strengthen the hair structure.

• Disadvantages and comments
• Types of chemistry

  Alkaline perm

• Acid perm procedure
• Carving
• Bioperm
• Root chemistry
• Vertical curl

Caring for curls after perm

A perm is not a hairstyle that you can do once every six months and then completely forget about your hair. “Chemistry” is a foundation that needs daily care. With the right approach to curls, they can be preserved in their original form for a very long period of time, but for this you need to adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Wet hair should not be pulled out or twisted in a towel. It is better to carefully blot them and dry them properly.
2. You should absolutely not go to bed with wet hair; you must dry it properly, otherwise the curls will lose their shape.
3. You can comb the strands using a large-toothed comb, or best of all, just with your fingers.
4. Dry with a hairdryer at medium blowing temperature, avoiding too hot air. Do not overdry, leave slightly damp.
5. Using special devices (hat, scarf, cap, beach umbrella) and preparations, protect curls from direct sunlight, exposure to salt, cold or chlorinated water.
6. Once a month, cut off the split ends of your hair.
7. Nourish your strands weekly with nourishing and moisturizing masks.

To learn more about how to properly style your hair after a perm, watch the video:

Curls, curls and mischievous curls are no longer dreams, but an accessible reality for every lady. The only thing you need to remember in pursuit of fashion trends and an uncontrollable thirst for experimentation is that there is nothing more beautiful than healthy hair.

Therefore, you need to choose the perm method as carefully as the hairdressers and the beauty salon. After all, only a professional is able to translate even the most daring and creative ideas into original and unique hairstyles.

After-chemo care for curls and hair

To ensure that your hair remains beautiful and well-groomed, and the effect is more lasting, you need to properly care for it. This is especially important when aggressive compounds were used that could damage the hair structure. In order for the curling result to last as long as possible, you need to follow simple rules:

1. Do not wash your hair for 3-4 days after the procedure.
2. Also, do not expose your curls to heat.
3. Use a mild, restorative shampoo for curly hair.
4. Make nourishing masks regularly to give your hair a healthy shine.
5. Do not comb wet curls.
6. To style your hair beautifully, use a wide-tooth comb.
7. When using a hairdryer, do not overdry your curls.

By following these simple rules, you will not only make the result more lasting, but also restore your hair so that it pleases you not only with a beautiful, but also with a healthy look.

Peculiarities

Hair perm is a procedure where a special composition is applied to strands wound on bobbin curlers. After the required time for the procedure has passed, the strands are additionally treated with a fixative, which allows them to obtain the desired shape. As a rule, perms look amazing on medium to long hair, especially thick hair. However, recently, stylists have also been using chemicals on short hair, and it turns out no worse, it looks feminine and at the same time daring.

It is best to choose the following haircuts for curling:

• elongated bob;
• bob;
• cascade.

As for both types of bobs, small curls will look very beautiful; large, wavy curls are perfect for cascade-type haircuts. But on asymmetrical hairstyles, according to the advice of experts, it is better not to use chemicals.

Pros:

• hair acquires thickness and volume, becomes fuller and more beautiful;
• you don’t need to get up half an hour earlier to style your hair – literally within a few minutes your hair will be in order;
• you can use different types of hairstyles, as well as many spectacular accessories to change your look;
• the face looks younger and fresher;
• there is no need to frequently visit the salon for correction.

Minuses:

any interference with hair growth other than cutting is considered stress, and this is especially true for curling; components of the products for the procedure can cause allergies; the scalp will be dry, you will need to use moisturizing nourishing products; if you constantly practice chemistry, the strands will lose their shine, become dry, begin to break, and split ends will appear; After curling, you should be very careful about coloring and other similar procedures.

Disadvantages and comments

It is a mistake to believe that only women with straight hair of varying lengths do hair chemistry. In practice, beauty salons claim that a large number of women who have curly hair are unhappy with the direction in which they curl or fluff during humid weather. In this situation, women with curly hair can also use this procedure: changing the direction of their curls, choosing the diameter of the waviness, etc. The most common disadvantages:

• 
  An unpleasant odor that may appear after the procedure (no need to worry about this, the odor goes away within a few days).

• If the hair is very porous, thick or heavy, the effect of the procedure may be very short-lived (after all, this procedure was invented for thin and lifeless curls).
• It is prohibited to use chemistry during pregnancy and lactation.
• You should not do this procedure during the menstrual cycle, as the result may not be consolidated and the effect of the procedure will be zero.
• After the procedure, during the first wash of your hair, there may be increased hair loss, which you should not be afraid of; this should not happen again in subsequent washes if your hairdresser followed all the steps of correct perm.
• This procedure can have a negative effect on some hair types due to the penetration of the composition deep into the hair structure, so to maintain hair thickness you need to stock up on products to care for damaged strands.
• If you like to use oils, to prolong the curling effect, it is better to exclude them at first or use them only on the ends of the strands.

To avoid the disadvantages of a perm, after the procedure, take more careful care of your hair: make moisturizing masks (no more than twice a week), it is useful to rinse your hair with a decoction of oak bark, nettle, chamomile, and calendula after washing your hair. It is very important to avoid washing your hair in hot water, this increases the greasiness of the scalp, so choose the water temperature closer to room temperature, then rinse with cold water (to close the hair scales). Use a hairdryer sparingly to avoid over-drying and to prolong your style.

Do not forget that the degree of elasticity of curls depends on a large number of factors, such as the structure and condition in which the hair is located. If they are falling out a lot, you should hold off on getting a perm, treat them, and only then boldly go for the procedure. Such factors include: the air temperature in the room, the time the composition was on the strands, the quality of the chemical used, the diameter of the bobbins.

Be careful if you are prone to allergic reactions or have poor tolerance to various chemical components, because in most cases the mixtures that are used are very aggressive. If the desire to do chemistry exceeds concern for safety, then stock up on anti-allergy tablets or syrups.

Comparative characteristics of the new generation perm

In the photo - carving at different lengths

All compositions of traditional permanent permanent contain acid or alkali as an active substance in different proportions, the percentage of the active substance is determined depending on the structure:

1. Acid perm - hair after perm becomes brittle and dull, its structure is damaged. This is despite the fact that the acid does not violate the protective structure of the scales, but transforms the inner layer, making it pliable. The curl is rough, the curls at the roots are lifelessly elongated. One plus is that cool curls last for six months or more.

1. Alkaline permanent - based on changing the protective coating of the hair, the composition opens the scales and allows you to form a long-lasting curl. This perm lasts from one and a half to three months. Not suitable for thick, heavy strands - the curl lasts only three weeks.

Possible curl options

1. Neutral is a combination of acidic and alkaline. Suitable for all types of curls, but the instructions recommend that you always carry out a test, since much depends on the individual characteristics of the strands.
2. Amino acid is a new type of permanent, based on the action of natural amino acids with the addition of proteins. The effect of perm on the hair structure is minimal, since compositions that correspond to the organic substances of the human body are used. Unfortunately, such a permanent does not last long, a maximum of three weeks, and requires very painstaking care. The curl straightens instantly under the influence of many factors.

Lightweight chemicals for short strands and medium-length curls

1. “Biowave” is the latest development in the field of cosmetology. The principle of action is stretching the connections between cells and forming new ones. Cysteamine hydrochloride is used as the active substance. This is a protein synthesized from animal (sheep) wool, which gently changes and restores the structure of the hair, makes it voluminous and does not cause any harm to the skin.

Types of chemistry

Depending on the length and structure of the hair, there are different types of chemicals:

• Alkaline perm.
• Acid perm procedure.
• Carving.
• Biowave.
• Root chemistry.
• Chemicals for short hair.
• Light chemicals for medium hair.
• Chemistry on the square.
• Wet chemical for medium hair.
• Vertical hair perm.

Let's look at some more popular and gentle types of chemistry.

Alkaline perm

Maintains styling for up to three months. The essence of its implementation is that alkaline components open the scales by deep penetration into the structure of the strand. This procedure is used by specialists for unruly hair that tends to frizz during humid weather. This is an “express method” and is considered more gentle compared to the acid method. But, as with any of the methods, you need to be careful and not overexpose the composition for more than the allotted time. For thick, heavy hair, this method will be useless.

Before using the method, you should choose a specialist with extensive experience working with this technology; not everyone can cope with this task due to the high concentration of alkali.

Do not forget to ask for an allergy test, which is carried out by applying the composition to sensitive areas, such as the wrist, and hold for no more than 10 minutes, then rinse and look at the skin reaction.

Acid perm procedure

It is the most merciless way of curling strands, the peak of its popularity was in 2000. Many owners of the fair sex love this procedure over time, because it is the most durable and can stay on the hair for a whole year. Experts recommend doing this only to those with oily hair, as this procedure can cause serious damage to dry hair.

The advantages of the acid procedure include the fact that the strands do not increase in volume as much as when using preparations containing alkali. Do not allow too much tension after curling to avoid damaging the hair follicles. It is better to do this type of curl for short strands; it looks more advantageous than for long ones.

Carving

It is a light chemical and, accordingly, more gentle. The damage caused is minimal. Hairdressers recommend carving short haircuts: bob, bob, cascade, bob, and so on.

The advantages of carving include the airiness of the hairstyle ; due to the root volume, this look is suitable for girls who do not want a long-lasting effect. The duration of preservation of the curl can be up to two months.

When regrown roots begin to appear, the boundary between them and the curled hair is not visible. If you have done a carving perm, but today you don’t want curly hair, just wash your hair and dry it with a hairdryer brush, it will become straight, but by the evening it will start to curl again. This method is mainly suitable for girls who carefully monitor the beauty of their strands.

Bioperm

Used by women whose hair has damaged ends. The curls keep their shape for up to three months. The biowave does not contain bad substances in its composition, replacing aggressive components with synthetic keratin protein. further treatment is required after biowave.

Root chemistry

It is the most common type , because it is used by women who do not want curly or wavy curls. It is recommended for people who suffer from a lack of root volume. It is advisable to do root chemistry for women whose previous perm has grown out. In this method, only the roots are wound.

Vertical curl

The oldest method of curling strands. Instead of whoop curlers, boomerangs, spiral curlers, curlers, and needle curlers are used. When curling hair at different levels, a hairdresser can use different diameters to create beautiful hair. This method is not suitable for people who do not like tightly curled curls, due to the fact that during curling the strand is wound very thinly. Used for thick curls, can be combined with the “wet hair effect”.

Perm for short hair

How to make at home

Many women, due to their busyness and economy, have adapted to perform perms at home. If you follow all the recommendations and rules, the result will be quite predictable. To carry out the procedure, you should prepare:

• 2 towels;
• cape;
• strand clips;
• bobbins;
• a ceramic or plastic container for diluting the reagent;
• paper leaves for fixing the tips of the bobbins;
• comb;
• applicator for distributing the solution;
• reagent;
• retainer;
• hair conditioner and shampoo.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Do an allergy test by applying the solution to the back of your hand.
2. Wash your hair, pat dry with a towel.
3. Comb the strands and divide into zones. Clip the separated curls with clips.
4. Separate the strands one by one, treat them with a reagent and wind them onto bobbins, placing a paper blank under the ends.
5. Apply the composition again over the surfaces of the bobbins, trying to saturate the hair deeper.
6. Allow time according to instructions. If the strands are not weakened, you can wrap your head in a plastic cap and warm it up a little with a hairdryer.
7. Rinse the reagent from your head without removing the coils.
8. Apply the fixative, and after leaving, rinse your hair again under warm running water.
9. Remove the bobbins and rinse your hair thoroughly again using shampoo and restorative balm.
10. Dry your hair with a hairdryer. For styling, use special curlers or a comb.

Precautionary measures:

Before carrying out the procedure, you need to test the reagent for an allergic reaction; when applying, it is important to avoid getting the composition in the eyes, skin, or clothes; To prevent irritation and burns, rubber gloves should be worn before handling; containers with chemical solutions must be kept out of the reach of children and animals; In order for the result to be effective, you need to follow the rules for washing off each layer; The final washing of the hair involves the complete removal of reagents, so there is no need to rush.

Indications and contraindications

Let's look at who perm is suitable for and for whom it is extremely contraindicated:

Indications

• Thin hair – Thin and straight hair looks lifeless due to lack of volume.
• Too rough facial features - soft curls can smooth out the image, making it more romantic and feminine.
• Constantly busy and lack of time for styling - with curling, you can simply comb your hair with a fine-tooth comb or add texture to it using a styling product, without wasting time on a curling iron.

Contraindications

• Coloring done less than two weeks before the procedure will put a lot of stress on the follicle and hair shaft, which can cause the structure to deteriorate irreparably.
• Pregnancy and lactation - despite the fact that there have been no medical studies proving the negative impact of hair chemicals on the health of the expectant mother and child, doctors recommend refraining from the procedure during this period. Acrid and pungent odors can trigger an attack of toxicosis.
• Taking antibiotics or other “heavy” medications. During this period, the hair may not receive enough nutrients; it is not worth loading it even more.
• Fever and increased intracranial pressure - additional heating of the head can seriously worsen your well-being.
• Dyeing with henna or basma - vegetable dye strongly clogs the hair cuticle, making it less susceptible to any influence.
• Weakened and thinning hair is a completely different situation than just naturally thin hair shafts. Hair worn out by frequent dyeing, bleaching and improper care may not withstand perming.

Important! If your hair needs restoration, give preference to biowave

Gentle hair perm: myth or reality?

Can perm be absolutely safe? This is a rather complex question to which it is not easy to give a definite answer. On the one hand, today's technology has really advanced very far. Beauty salons today offer a lot of ways to curl your hair without causing much harm to your hair.

However, we should not forget that perm (even if it is done in a gentle way) is somehow associated with exposure to all kinds of chemicals. Therefore, it is unlikely that this procedure will go completely without a trace. Negative consequences, to a greater or lesser extent, will be present. True, their effect can be minimized with competent and regular care after the procedure.

Proper preparation

Perm is a very complex process, so you can only entrust such a procedure to an experienced professional. In order to get beautiful, uniform and neat curls, it is best to go to a beauty salon or hairdresser. Before starting the perm itself, the specialist must assess the general condition of the hair, and for this he needs to do:

Visual analysis of strands. The master evaluates: hair type, density, elasticity and strength. According to individual indicators, the concentration and active substances for the chemical composition are selected. For example: for thick hair, a strong hold is needed so that the drug penetrates into the hair shaft and has the expected effect

Important! For weak and thin hair, the concentration should be moderate, otherwise aggressive effects will lead to irreversible consequences. Having low elasticity, the strands, as a result of curling, simply stretch and become deformed. Dry curls, if the chemical composition is incorrectly selected, will break and fall out.

Visual analysis of the scalp

The specialist checks the scalp for diseases (seborrhea, allergic rashes, etc.) and mechanical damage (wounds, scratches, purulent formations). If you have injuries or illnesses, chemotherapy is contraindicated.

Allergotest. Before starting the procedure, the master must do an allergy test to determine the tolerance of the chemical solution. To do this, apply a small amount of the drug to the skin behind the ear, leave for 5-10 minutes, then wash off and watch. If the skin is inflamed, red, or itchy, perm with this composition is contraindicated.

Strength test. A small strand is taken from the back of the head, the drug is applied to it, and after 15 minutes the master checks the hair for strength. If the curl looks like tow, the concentration of the solution is high. If the hair remains elastic and strong, you can start curling.

Washing your head and hair. As for whether you need to perm your dirty or clean hair, the procedure of washing your hair before “chemistry” is mandatory. When washing your hair, the scales of each hair shaft soften and absorb the chemical better, which only benefits your curling.

A haircut. If you follow the instructions for the correct perm, then a haircut is provided there, but it is not specified at what stage. Therefore, the master does it at his own discretion, sometimes before curling, but more often after. This way you can give your hair a finished shape and remove protruding ends of the hair.

Advantages of the method

Chemistry is also very useful for oily or combination hair types (oily at the roots and dry hair along the entire length) due to the composition that is applied by the hairdresser during the procedure; in most cases, the root zone of the head after curling secretes less sebum, due to which the hairstyle looks always fresh and well-groomed. Other advantages:

• If you have very sparse and thin hair, chemicals will make it thicker, while at the same time giving your hair lightness and airiness (visually it becomes voluminous and thick).
• The root volume increases.
• No need to waste time on daily washing.
• Hair retains its fresh look for a long time.
• The curls look orderly and do not stick out in different directions.
• Possibility of creating large or small curls.
• After curling, your hairstyle lasts from three to six months.
• Your haircut has a structured and well-groomed appearance.

Another advantage of perm is that any client can independently select the diameter of the curling materials with a specialist, depending on the result they want to get: large, medium or small curls.
For people who suffer from a lack of volume, but do not want to have very curly hair, experts suggest doing only root chemicals with a slight wavy effect. The technology of the perm process itself is safe; it simply consists of applying a composition specially selected by a specialist to the strands, which are twisted into bobbin curlers before the procedure (the beauty salon client chooses the diameter herself). After the chemical composition has been left on the hair, a retainer is placed on top of the curlers, which secures the curls until the end of the procedure.

At the end of the procedure, the specialist hairdresser unwinds the bobbin curlers, carefully rinses off the composition and blow-drys, after which your flawless hairstyle is ready for a long time. Sometimes, to strengthen the hair, the stylist may suggest additional procedures, but this is not a mandatory item; you can safely refuse to provide such services.

Women who have bangs in their haircut should not wrap them around small diameter bobby curlers to avoid an awkward look; it is better to give preference to medium or large diameter curlers. It is also worth considering that the length of the bangs will be halved, which is why experts suggest using curlers of a larger diameter. In any case, it all depends on your tastes and hairstyle preferences.

Hair care after chemotherapy

After perm, hair needs care. To do this, follow a few simple rules.

• Rule 1. To wash your hair, you will need a special shampoo for curled hair.
• Rule 2. Moisturize your hair with special masks. They should contain panthenol, collagen, silk proteins or keratins.
• Rule 3. As a home remedy, you can safely use an infusion of rye bread crusts (pour 1 liter of boiling water over 300 grams of bread and leave in a thermos for 5 hours), nettle or hops. A variety of oils (almond, peach, burdock) may also be useful. They need to be slightly warmed up.
• Rule 4. Take fish oil.
• Rule 5. Trim your ends regularly and lubricate them with a special cream.
• Rule 6. Comb with a wide-toothed comb - it will not injure the strands.
• Rule 7. For several days after curling, do not wash your hair and heat-treat the strands.
• Rule 8. Protect your hair from hot sun rays.
• Rule 9. Do not twist washed hair, but lightly blot it.
• Rule 10. Don't sleep with wet hair.

Neutral perm for fine hair

For this type of curling, compositions with a pH level of 7.4 are used. When applying such preparations, the hair does not swell much. This minimizes stress on the curls and, accordingly, minimizes the likelihood of damage. The formulations used do not contain aggressive chemicals. The drug has a gentle effect on the strands. Therefore, this option of chemistry is suitable even for those with thin, weakened hair. This procedure allows you to restore damaged areas of hair. A restoration effect is achieved due to the presence of a keratin complex in the composition used.

The duration of the effect depends on the length of the strands. On a short haircut, this curl will last up to six months. If your hair is long, you shouldn’t count on such a long-lasting effect. On thin long strands, curls after this procedure will last about 3 months.

Neutral perm for thin hair combines all the advantages of acid and alkaline chemistry.

Moreover, due to the special gentle composition after such a procedure, the risk of damage to the hair structure is minimized. This type of chemical is definitely suitable for those with thin hair. Even if you have dry, thin hair, you shouldn’t give up creating curls. Neutral formulations do not dry the scalp and do not cause irritation.

Among the disadvantages of this perm, the need to use shampoos, conditioners and care products with zero pH should be highlighted. If you use other means, most likely the curls will last no more than 1.5 weeks.

Neutral look: major hair chemicals and other possibilities

The compositions for it are made taking into account the areas of the hair that absorb liquid well and are hydrophobic, so the hairs do not swell too much. This is a great opportunity to get major hair chemicals that look natural.

• Amino acid

Even less harmful than previous types. The composition includes proteins and amino acids that treat hair. The curls are natural and soft.

But it is not very durable, and is also not suitable for long or coarse hair.

• Silk

The composition includes silk proteins, so it not only creates curls, but also treats them.

• Bioperm

With this method, the hair not only curls, but is also saturated with protein. Curlers can be used in different diameters. Suitable for normal and oily hair.

Medium length curls: styling methods

The most popular type of loose hairstyle for medium-length hair is large curls. They not only add a touch of tenderness, but also help create an elegant look that is suitable for special occasions, everyday life, office work and walks with friends.

When choosing a perm, girls count on the correct shape of their curls and the longevity of their hairstyle. Styling does not need to be done every day, and care is quite simple even for children.

The most popular type of loose hairstyle for medium-length hair is large curls.

When choosing a perm, girls count on the correct shape of their curls and the longevity of their hairstyle.

Styling does not need to be done every day, and care is quite simple even for children

Advantages of large curls:

• versatility (hairstyle is suitable for any life situations);
• on medium-length hair, you can use different types of curls (curls can be zigzag, smooth, light, and others);
• on medium hair, curls retain their appearance longer;
• defects in the skin of the face and head are visually hidden with the help of a spectacular hairstyle with large curls.

Such curls always look feminine, stylish and sexy.

There are several types of styling of large curls. Light waves, like those of the heroine from the movie “Pretty Woman,” can be easily reproduced if the artist has permed the hair starting from the roots. You need to use vertical curlers.

Corkscrew strands look amazing. Perfectly complement a romantic evening look. Curlers should also be vertical. No need to comb hard.

To get “Quick Curls” you need to put in a minimum of effort. It’s just that during the morning toilet, the hair rises chaotically. Dishevelment will add charm and sexuality to the image.

Zigzag strands are obtained if the master wraps them like an accordion during a perm.

Light waves, like those of the heroine from the movie “Pretty Woman,” can be easily reproduced if the artist has done a perm starting from the roots

Corkscrew strands look amazing. Perfectly complements a romantic evening look

Zigzag strands are obtained if the master wraps them like an accordion during perm. The hairstyle is great for evening events and going to the club. However, during the day in the office, the appearance remains charming and impressive.