HAIR TREND ALERT – PERMS ARE BACK!

So… in yet another example of how 2018 has gone off the rails, perms are making a major comeback.

And…I’m actually okay with this.

First off, perms have come a LONG way in the 30+ years since perms were in style (for which I am PROFOUNDLY grateful). We are NOT talking about “The higher the hair, the closer to God” looks favored by 80s soap stars and televangelists’ wives. Instead of dry, frizzy, crunchy-from-hairspray hair, the red carpet and runways are showing more waves, more body, and looser curls – think beachy waves with a kick.

Where Are We Seeing Perms?

Photo Credit @juleshough Instagram

With beachy waves and tousled ringlets a must-have look, perms have been on the radar for a few months now. To move farther from the stigma of perms, they’ve even been re-christened The American Wave.

For people with ultra-straight hair, perms are a simple solution to getting the soft waves and curls and thanks to new salon-specific treatments, like Olaplex that strengthen hair and repair it, perms don’t dry or damage like they used to. Julianne Hough debuted low-maintenance waves last spring thanks to a perm from Nine Zero One Salon.

Now we’ve seen Taylor Swift, Chrissy Teigen, and Gigi Hadid all sporting perms, and they all look modern and fun, instead of fried and frizzy.

Taking the Plunge into Permed Hair

If you’re ready to step into curls, you need to do a little bit of prep work because the LAST thing you want is a badly done perm. Basically, perm solution breaks your hair down and restructures it around the perm rods to create permanent curls (or at least permanent until the grow out, which can take months). Hence the name “perm” and not “temp.”

First, your hair has to be in healthy condition. Damaged hair will only be more damaged by the processing, so if you recently colored your hair or spent much of the summer in a chlorinated pool, you may want to hold off. Use a deep conditioning treatment once a week for a few weeks and maintain regular cleansing and conditioning with high-quality hair cleansers and conditioners.

Next, find a capable stylist and be willing to spend a bit more for expertise.  See above: The LAST thing you want is a badly done perm. Make sure you trust the stylist and you two are on the exact same page with the look you want.

Taking Care of Your Perm

Photo Credit Amber Rose Neil via Instagram @tatumneil

Once you take the step to go curly, you have to take care of your perm, or else it will not hold the cute beachy waves you dreamed of. Your hair has been through a lot, and you need to take extra care of it with these simple steps:

• Avoid coloring your hair for at least a month
• Use a deep conditioning treatment once a week
• Avoid using any products with sulfates, formaldehyde, or parabens that can cause damage
• Use an anti-frizz hair cleanser and conditioner

It’s really all about keeping your hair healthy and hydrated to keep your hair looking good!

Maintain your style with my signature line of hair cleansers and conditioners, and keep your style looking healthy, vibrant, and sexy-soft all day with my Styling Cream. Made from natural ingredients and free of damaging sulfates and parabens, you can repair your hair and keep it looking simply gorgeous!