How Long Does a Perm Take to Process? Ultimate Guide and Tips

If you’re new to perms, there’s a lot that you need to know. But, one of the biggest questions people ask about them is “How long does a perm take?” Knowing this information can help you decide whether you plan on doing your own perm at home or having it done at a salon.

This article will tell you how long perms take and deliver helpful insight into the perming process.

What Is a Perm?

If your hair has become unmanageable, try a perm. This chemical treatment creates permanent waves or curls in the hair. You’ll apply rollers, perming solution, and a neutralizer to your hair to break down and reshape your hair strands in the shape of the rollers.

Perms are known to be damaging. They basically destroy your hair’s protein bonds and have to be rebuilt with new ones. Once your hair’s protein bonds are destroyed by the perming solution, they will never go back to their previous state of health.

Background on Perms

It’s called a “perm” because it literally sets the hair in place. This section gives you a short overview of how perms work. You’ll learn how they’re created, what products you need to have them applied to your hair, and when they are appropriate for your hair type.

How Long Do Perms Take?

On average, a perm takes anywhere from 1 to 3 hours or more to complete. This time estimation encompasses all of the perming steps from start to finish. The exact time that it’ll take for you will depend on several factors, and we’ll take a look at each of those factors in the following list:

Perming your hair can be challenging, but you can prepare yourself for the task with a few pointers. It’s not hard to properly apply each chemical. However, it is easy to mess up because you don’t want to put the chemicals on anyplace you shouldn’t.

A stylist can work more efficiently than you can, so they’ll be able to work faster. You’ll also have a wide range of hair sizes to choose from with perms.

In general, the shorter the rod, the tighter the curl. That said, you can make a permed shorter wig last longer by using a smaller rod. A longer rod can be used to create more loose and wavy curls.

What length of your hair it is: The time required for the perm rod wrapping process will also depend on the length of your hair. It will take significantly less time to wrap short hair than long hair. Though, perms generally turn out better on long hair.

In order to find a curl size: You will first need to choose between the different types of rods: straight, wavy, or 3D. Then, you will have to select from a range of different sizes. You can ask your stylist to help you with this.

Hair is one of the most important parts of your appearance, but it can also be a frustrating and time-consuming process if you don’t choose the right rod size. It’s very important that you choose the right rod size because you want to look your best every day, and you want to get your hair to look perfect.

When you go to the salon to have your perm, your stylist will also walk you through the different perm solutions available to you. A good stylist will assess your hair and scalp to make sure they’re healthy enough for a perm.

The Steps Involved in Perming Hair

The hair prep involves many steps, so it helps to know what they are. That’s what we’ll cover in this section: How To Prepare Your Hair for Perming.

The first step to perming your hair is to wash it thoroughly to remove debris and excess oil. Once it’s clean, apply a conditioning mask to the hair before perming it.

Divide your hair into sections, apply the rollers, and plan to do this for at least 15 to 20 minutes. When it’s time to stop, wait five minutes and then give your hair a break. Do not let the rollers touch your scalp.

Wrap your hair in all rollers. You can use a large roller to get loose curls or small rollers to get tight, bouncy curls.

You have to do your part by using a professional product that takes a few hours of effort, so you may as well put in all the time. Next, apply a perm solution to your hair for about five minutes before taking another 5 minutes to apply the perming agent.

Wait around 15 minutes, then rinse it out. Be careful not to touch your hair after the perm solution goes in or else you may cause your hair to dry out and damage it. You don’t want to cause your hair to become frizzy, which will be very noticeable.

You can’t rinse your hair when you use this product. Apply the treatment solution first and then the neutralizer, which will reform the hair’s bonds and create the rods.

Let the hair perming solution sit for about 5 minutes. Then remove the rods, rinse thoroughly, and style. You should do this step in about 30 minutes. These are the main steps involved in the perming process.

There are a few steps you might want to take before going to a professional stylist for a perm. The steps might vary, but in most cases, you might want to consider Olaplex for your hair’s protection as it prepares the hair to be permed.

Anyone with chemically treated or damaged hair should read this book. It gives you the information and the guidance to understand exactly why your hair is breaking and what you can do to stop the damage and make your hair stronger and healthier.

How To Choose Your Perm Type

Choose your Perm type. There are several types of modern perms available and you will need to choose the one that best suits your hair’s current condition. Here are a few of your choices:

Alkaline Perm – Alkaline perms are known as cold perms. This is an excellent type of perm for people who have colored hair, as it won’t damage your color. It won’t add any shine and won’t be harsh on hair that’s been previously colored or chemically processed.

It’s important to understand how you want your hair to look before you invest in an expensive perm. Knowing your natural hair texture and how you want your hair to react to chemicals is the best way to avoid damage to your hair during the perm process.

Acid Perm – Acid perms require heat in order to be activated. The principal component of acid perms is lyceryl monothioglycolate. Even though heat is required for this perm type, it’s still preferred for people with compromised hair. This is due to the fact that they are more gentle than the alkaline perms. One tradeoff to consider when using acid perm is that the curls may not be as tight as you expect.

Exothermic Perm – An exothermic perm is gentler than alkaline perms, but you may need to add more time to your perming treatment. You can expect your hair to be more relaxed and looser with exothermic perms, but you will still end up with super tight, shiny curls.

For people with perm-resistant hair, it’s acid or alkaline, and it’s very effective at producing tight ringlets and defined waves. If you have perm-resistant hair, you’ll find that exothermic perms produce the best results.

People who have sensitive scalps often want to get a perm, but they don’t want to end up with an irritated scalp. That’s why some manufacturers have developed perms specifically for sensitive scalps.

With the increase in demand for a more skin-friendly, gentler, and more comfortable perm experience, companies have formulated gentler, more skin-friendly, and more comfortable perms for all hair lengths. A: People who take part in a group that has a common goal are less likely to engage in counterproductive behavior.

How to Prepare for a Professional Prem

Preparing for a professional perm is much easier than preparing for a semi-permanent perm. It doesn’t take you longer to get ready for your appointment either. However, you will still have to book at least a half-day for your appointment, so you should plan accordingly.

Things are pretty busy at the salon, and it’s becoming more customary for stylists to work on multiple clients at once.

4 Things to Consider Before Getting a Perm

There are four things you need to think about before getting a perm. First, know how long you’ll have to commit to the process.

A perm can make you look better or worse—you never know which you’re going to get. In this section, you’ll learn four things to remember before getting a perm.

Your Hair’s Health

Before getting a perm, make sure your hair is healthy. If your hair is unhealthy before a perm, it will likely end up in worse condition following a perm.

Some mistakenly think that after the neutralizer, the hair goes back to normal, but that’s not the case. Perms do some degree of permanent damage to the hair.

Perms have a significant impact on your hair, and they’ll change how your hair behaves, which means you may need to make a few adjustments to your hair care regimen in order to keep it healthy.

Your Hair’s Length

Your Hair’s Length. The length of your hair will have a lot to do with how your final result will turn out. Perms usually turn out much better on longer hair than short hair. If your hair is short and you go for a super curly perm, you may end up with a puffy, shapeless result.

A large curl on short hair won’t be very noticeable at all. That’s why it’s important to wait until your hair has grown out to at least mid-length before trying to make a large curl.

Your Level of Expertise With the Perm Process

If you’ll be getting your perm professionally done, make sure you have an understanding of the process, what’s involved, and what to expect from the stylist as they style your hair.

A good perm will take you to step by step through the process. You’ll want to talk to a stylist about the procedure, so you can feel confident in your perm.

• What type of perm is best for your hair?
• What size rollers should you get?
• How long should I leave the perm solution in?
• How long should I leave the neutralizer in?
• How long should I wait to wash my hair after getting a perm?
• How many times a week should I wash my hair?
• Can I color/bleach my hair after getting a perm?

Hair stylists should always have your questions covered and be able to give you expert advice after looking at your hair, feeling your natural texture, and speaking to you about it. This will help you get the results you want after getting your permed hair done.

If you’re worried that you might have bad hair or it just won’t look right for a while, you don’t need to put up with it. You might even discover that you’re not a good candidate for a permanent after all.

Perm Aftercare

The post-perm treatment for your new perm includes proper conditioning for a good hold, and to keep it healthy and shiny. But if you don’t take good care of it, you won’t get the result you want.

When it comes to perm care, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The first thing you need to do is to ensure your hair isn’t wet when you go to sleep for the first 48 to 72 hours. Washing hair is also discouraged during this period.

It’s also a no-no to brush and comb your hair with tools and then pulling your hair into a ponytail. This can lead to frizz and/or damage to your curls. Instead, run your fingers through your hair to detangle and style. What we are doing here is that first we use our mouse to open the webpage.

Hair moisture. After a perm, your hair will be more porous than usual. This means that it may have a hard time holding onto moisture. If you use to wash your hair every day you’ll need to reduce that to 2 or 3 times a week after a perm.

Never skip the conditioner step when washing your hair. There are some chemicals in shampoos that will damage your hair and ruin your curls. Be gentle with your curls by applying conditioner after shampooing.

Dry hair leads to breakage, so use only gentle products on your hair. If you find that your hair is becoming more brittle, it’s time to switch to a different product.

What factors affect how long your perm lasts?

How do you keep your hair in style while your perm is set? While you can go DIY, a professional has much more curl-setting expertise and greater knowledge of the chemicals used.

Your dedication to perm maintenance also plays a role. You should avoid products that contain alcohol or silicone, and avoid heat styling whenever possible to keep your perm intact.

If you want to have beautiful hair for your wedding day, then make sure to use hair products that won’t damage your hair. You will also want to use your hairdryer sparingly and only use it when your hair is dry.

Can you get a perm if you have dyed hair?

Can you get a perm if you have dyed hair? You can, but if you plan on getting it done, be sure to ask about how often it needs to be redone as they may have special instructions for your type of hair.

Can you dye your hair after you get a perm?

Can you dye your hair when it’s been permed? You should wait around a month or so before doing anything dramatic to your hair. It’s possible to dye permed hair but, as with everything else, ask your hairdresser before committing to anything.

Can you use heat tools after you get a perm?

If you’ve already got a perm, you might think you can just go ahead and use heat tools. However, if you plan on using heat tools, protect your perm first. Use a product like Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray and invest in a diffuser for your hair dryer.

Things to Do

Don’t wash your hair for at least 48 hours after receiving your perm. It takes a long time for your perm to finish setting. If you wash your hair before that point you could damage your perm and have a lot of product in your hair.

If you want to repair damage to your hair after perming it, it will need to be hydrated before you comb it. Use a wide-toothed comb while your hair is still damp, and add in a dollop of leave-in conditioner.

Combining your curly hair with your natural texture will help define your curls and add definition. If you are using a perm, combing your hair regularly will help your perm stay soft and manageable for longer.

A deep conditioning session is critical after a perm. Don’t swim with a perm. This is especially important when swimming in chlorinated water, which will dry out your hair dramatically.

Things Not to Do

Don’t sweat after a perm. The sweat can dry out the setting process and cause additional damage to your hair. Don’t use shampoo or conditioner that contains humectants or emollients, as both can make your hair even more dry than normal.

You should never towel dry your hair because it can frizz out your curls. Instead, use a clean, fluffy t-shirt to wrap your curls on top of your head. It will absorb the excess moisture, but won’t create any frizz.

After a perm, brushes are your enemy. You should avoid using heat styling tools if you can. They have a tendency to cause your hair to frizz more than ever. Any warmer than that, and you risk frying your perm. No rubber bands to pull back your curls.

Don’t let the bands get in the way of your hair’s natural beauty. Try switching to silk-covered hair bands or scrunchies instead.

Can You Undo a Perm?

How do you get rid of hair that has been relaxed with a permanent or chemical relaxer? That question is easy enough to answer—there are many ways to undo a perm. A perm is permanent, hence the name, so it doesn’t really matter how you undo it—you just have to start over.

Don’t just walk away after getting your new haircut. Washing and drying the hair as soon as possible is very important. Don’t be afraid to try a few treatments if you need a little extra assistance.

If the first two options don’t work, or if it’s been too long since you got your hair colored, you may need to speak with your hairdresser about a color treatment for your hair. They’ll look at your hair for damage and then let you know if you’re a good candidate.