Sunday, July 3, 2011

Want Curly Hair?

Do you want curly hair? You might want to look into getting a perm or body wave.
A perm does not mean a scary, crimped Poodle-Do of the 80s. Perms have come a long way, and the result is a much more natural look. A perm can add body to limp hair, give you sexy loose waves or the corkscrew curls you've always wanted but weren't born with.

PERM
Perms work best on thick, strong hair that hasn't been colored. If you have a few highlights or even a full color, that is ok. But heavy highlighted, double processed hair can leave your hair fragile and slightly damaged. The strong chemicals for a perm could totally kill your hair if its already damaged.
If you're not sure if your hair could handle a perm, ask your stylist. They will want to know your hair history and can tell you if you are a suitable candidate for a perm.

Here's a trick to try at home. Take a few strands of hair and put them in a glass of water. If they float, your hair is healthy. If they sink, your hair is damaged and is soaking up moisture.

A perm will take about 1-2 hours, depending on the length of your hair. The way it works- chemicals are used to break and reform the structural bonds of your hair. After the hair is wrapped on a perm rod and the hair is placed in the physical shape we want it to take. The size of the rod determines the tightness of the curl. A chemical solution is applied which raises the cuticle of the hair strand and breaks of the bonds that of your natural hair wave pattern. 

After this chemical solution has been rinsed off, a neutralizer is used to reform the bonds of the hair and sets the new curl pattern.
If done correctly a perm will last about 2-6 months.