We all love styling our hair in new styles. Yes, of course who doesn’t get bored with the same hairstyle for a long time!
There comes a point when we are just done with our old hairstyle and can’t wait to get the new one done.
But is there a specific time to hold on to the same hairstyle before switching to the next?
Let’s talk about today’s topic that’s perming!
Suppose you have done a perming recently and just for some reason that’s not suiting you, or you just want to experiment with a new look very soon. So, how long do you need to actually wait before straightening it?
If you straighten a perm, it will NOT ruin it completely but will definitely cause partial damage to it. Be it perming or for that matter any hair procedure, you need to wait at least 4 weeks before experimenting with the new one!
Any hairstyle with hair products that changes the structure and bonding of your hair, needs that time span of 4 weeks to heal your hair cuticles and follicles.
Let’s learn about hair perming, straightening a perm, its side effects and how to do it…..
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What happens if you straighten a perm?
As I have mentioned above, you need to wait for a period of 4 weeks before straightening your perm. And if you impel to do it any time sooner, your hair can go through the following side effects:
1. Straightening a perm will change the curl patterns over a period of time
If you have done your perming and want to straighten it, say within a week, with the use of flat iron, it will definitely work but at the cost of hampering the structure of curls later.
Your curl won’t be the same way if you continue to straighten your perm again and again. It will lose its curly pattern and the heat will also dry your hair.
2. Straightening a perm will damage your hair
If you are straightening your perm with a flat iron, which is also logical because you are not supposed to straighten your hair with a permanent straightening hair product any time soon, the heat from the flat iron will take away the moisture from the curls and will make your hair dry and frizzy.
3. Straightening a perm will cause breakage of the hair
This owes to the heat of the straightening iron rod. Even if it’s ceramic coated, it is going to turn your hair dry after some usage and dry hair is prone to breakage and fall out.
4. Straightening a perm will be a wastage of money
If you are not about to use a flat iron for straightening your perm and intend to straighten it permanently with hair straightening products like creams and masks, it will be a wastage of your perming process (the money you had spent on the perming process) and again getting a new straightening done within a few weeks!
5. Straightening a perm might not give you the desired result
Yes, when your hair is already permed and you want to straighten it ASAP, the straightening process won’t be that easy or might not be of long stay as your hair is already binded in the curly pattern now. Your straightening might get affected and you might notice waves very soon.
See also: How Often Can You Straighten Curly Hair?
Can you straighten a perm without ruining it?
Though there will be a certain percentage of damage still to your permed hair, yet the following procedures will cause significantly lesser damage to your permed hair if you ought to straighten them:
1. Straighten with a ceramic coated flat iron
Ceramic coated irons certainly cause lesser damage to the hair as compared to the normal ones. They cause less dryness as they are built to maintain the shine in your hair.
So, in case you want to straighten your perm right after, these iron rods are the best for you now.
2. Deep condition your permed hair
Try to keep your permed hair as conditioned as possible after the perming process. Apply conditioning masks or leave-in conditioners alternate days.
This will help retain the moisture in your hair and will not cause damage to your hair to a great extent when you straighten it.
3. Use a heat protectant before ironing your permed hair
This is mandatory! You should not straighten your perm until you have applied a heat protectant serum to your hair. These serums help to lock in the moisture and revert damage caused by the heat of the ironing rods.
4. Start with the lowest temperature setting on the flat iron
Applying as little heat to the hair as possible is recommended. So, start with the lowest temperature setting of the flat iron and try working the entire length of the hair with the same. This might be a little time consuming as higher the heat faster will be the straightening process.
5. Iron each strand of hair only once
If you keep on ironing the same strand of hair repeatedly to achieve perfect straight hair, it will cause more damage to your hair.
Can you straighten your permed hair permanently?
Yes, you can do it, after all it’s your hair and you would know better what’s good for you, yet I would suggest you wait for a month after perming when you want to straighten it permanently.
Yet, the following process will help you get your permed hair straight with least damaging it:
- Brush your hair to detangle it thoroughly
- Wear gloves because perming solution have chemicals in them which can harm your skin
- Take the perming solution out in a bowl and mix nicely with an applicator
- Start with strands of hair applying the perming solution from the roots to tips
- Comb the section of hair straight until you get the desired straightening (you can also use a ceramic flat iron for this)
- The perming solution now is going to break down those proteins in your hair and neutralise it and build those proteins back to make them straight
- Repeat the process until you have covered your entire hair (working in small stands)
- To make it a perfect straight, flat iron once again (skip it if you think your hair is already very damaged)
- Voila! You are done.
See you soon!
Hope I could help you with valuable solutions regarding straightening your perm. If so, do stay tuned for such tips on hair and fashion.
Till then,
Keep it simple, keep it fashionable!
