Getting a Great Perm

There are several different hairstyles that someone can decide to get. Among the most dramatic (and possibly traumatic) is the perm. Before deciding to get one and possibly end up looking like a bad reject from the 1970s, or maybe even have your hair fall out, there are some guidelines that you should know.

• Consult with Your Stylist. You have got to know what type of hair you have and not just if it is fine or thick. Resistant hair, greasy hair, dry hair, and ethnicity differences are all going to play a factor in whether you should or should not get a perm.
• Consult with Friends. Get your friends' input about what they think would be the best style for you. These are the people who know you best, and while they are not going to be making the final decision for you, they can help you determine whether this is something that you really want to do. They can also help determine the best look that you are going for.
• Look at Alternatives. If you are looking for a temporary look, then a perm is not for you. Perms can last for up to six months and by changing your mind a few days after getting the procedure done, you are going to seriously damage your hair. Damaged hair is notoriously brittle and easy to break. This leads to other hairstyle nightmares which no one wants. Alternatives abound—if you want curly hair you could simply use curlers; if you want straight hair you could use a hair iron. Often times the simplest result is the best, while still giving you the flexibility to change later on.
• Bring in Pictures. Bringing in a picture of what you are looking for gives your stylist something to work with. This is going to help your stylist decide which tools to use in fixing your hair.
• Prepare Your Hair. To prepare your hair, you want to use a strong conditioner 48 hours prior to treatment, but no sooner than 24 hours before. If you use a strong conditioner any closer than 24 hours, you will run the risk that perm will not "take."
• Delay Washing Your Hair. After getting the perm, do not wash your hair for at least 48 hours, since again this could cause the chemical agents to wash out of the hair and cause you to loose your perm.
• Use Care when Drying. When drying your hair use an air diffuser on your hair dryer. This is going to avoid drying out your hair, as is the proper use of any and all professionally recommended products to maintain the condition of your hair.