Whether you’ve just gotten a perm or are thinking about getting one, doubt may appear when it comes to swimming with a perm.
Will there be a difference between swimming with a perm in the ocean and swimming with one in a pool? Will your beauty investment get ruined or better yet, how can you protect it? Let’s consider your options.
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Perms and Water
If you’ve gotten or are getting a perm, you should know that hair care professionals warn against getting permed hair wet during the 72 hours following the perm. This means any type of water, salted, chlorinated, or otherwise. No, not even with distilled water.
Experts suggest that the curl pattern created by perming needs approximately 72 hours to stabilize, so you shouldn’t even be out and about in the rain without a rain bonnet and umbrella if you’ve just permed. If your hair does get wet, you may lose the perm after spending the time and money to get one.
Perms are chemical treatments, and they modify the hair structure so that it holds a curl. But perms also render the hair shaft more porous. The chemicals used will weaken the hair’s cuticle layer, raising it, meaning that it will absorb more moisture and lose more moisture.
During those first three days after a perm, your hair needs “re-establish” itself. Until the hair’s cuticle layer settles down, water can interfere with the perm process by washing away the chemicals used to set the curl.
Perming chemical treatments are different than some hair dyes because they cannot be washed out. After they have set, perms maintain hair curly even after being washed and dried. Permed hair can still be styled, straightened, or curled like normal hair.
Pool Water and Perms
Pools use filtering and chemicals to remain clean contrasting the development of bacteria and mold. A principal chemical used in pools is chlorine.
Chlorine is unhealthy for hair, even healthy, untreated hair. With treated hair like perms or dyes, it can do damage to hair that already has been weakened through the application of chemicals.
Salt Water and Perms
If you live at the seaside or near an ocean, you are no better off when it comes to perming. The saltwater will interfere with the curling process, leaving you with tangled, frizzy locks.
The ocean’s high salt content can dehydrate treated hair because it is more porous due to the chemicals used. Dehydrated hair can appear dull and be susceptible to breakage.
Once the 78-hour waiting period has passed, you can swim in saltwater, but you should do a few things to protect your hair before you hit the water. When washing your hair always follow up with a conditioner.
Before hitting the beach, apply a protective treatment for swimming that has sunscreen in its formula to block unwanted UV rays.
You can also apply a deep conditioner that can remain in your hair without the need to rinse. If your hair feels dry and brittle after a beach trip, reach for a moisturizing conditioner.
Hot Tubs and Perms
Chemicals are also used in hot tubs to impede the development and proliferation of fungi and bacteria. These chemicals are potentially damaging to healthy natural hair, so with treated hair like permed hair, the damage can be more extensive.
Can I Protect My Permed Hair in the Pool or Ocean?
It’s better to put off that visit to the pool or the seaside for 72 hours. If you are a competitive swimmer and cannot avoid swimming after your perm, you need a good protective swim cap.
These small plastic hats can save your perm if you must enter the water for some reason. With a new perm, it’s essential that you wear the swim cap correctly if you want to save your perm.
- For protection, apply a no-rinse conditioner before wearing the cap. This will give your hair added nourishment and replenish some of the moisture hair strands lost during the perming procedure.
- Prepare your curls by dividing hair strands into sections toward the top of your head. Create little buns with those curls.
- Secure your tiny buns with several clips making sure that they are positioned as far from your neck as possible. The bun shape will aid in maintaining your curls.
- Begin to position your swim cap by starting at the nape of your neck. Gently pull the swim cap from this point to gradually cover your hair. All your hair should be completely covered by the swim cap to ensure protection.
When you complete your swim, always rinse your hair with a perm or not, in the shower or sink to remove chlorine or salt residue. This will assist in preventing your hair from drying out further.
Another good habit you should get into if you are a swimmer with a perm is to use a shampoo and a hair conditioner specifically formulated for swimmers. These products are designed with ingredients that contrast the effect that chlorine has on your hair.
See also: The Perm Solution for Bleached Hair
Can Chlorine Ruin My Perm?
Chlorine can negatively affect permed hair leaving it frizzy, dried out, and more damaged.
What Shouldn’t I Do After a Perm?
- Bathe as opposed to taking a shower for 72 hours.
- Wait 72 hours before beginning to shampoo your hair.
- Avoid swimming pools, the sea, ocean, lake, river, ponds, and hot tubs for at least three days.
- Avoid brushing your hair for a couple of days.
- Do not use any type of hair iron or a blow dryer for at least two days.
- Ideally, wait a week before coloring your hair.
Do Perms become Curlier After They Are Washed?
No, perms do not become curlier with washing, but they will achieve a more natural appearance.
Can You Sleep on Hair that Has Just Been Permed?
Yes, you can sleep on your hair if it has just been permed. If you sleep on it and your hair seems to be flat afterward, mist it lightly and scrunch it a bit with your hands. This should reactivate your new curls.
