Styling your hair with a perm at a salon can be a great way to have great-looking hair all of the time.
There are ways to do it at home, but having it done with a professional can offer some expert advice and use quality products.
While the salon professional will know exactly what to do to give you a perfect perm, the tricky part comes in taking care of it. You may be wondering “can I wear a hat after a perm?”.
The short answer is no! Do not wear a hat immediately after getting a perm. Try not to even touch your hair at all in the first 72 hours after getting a perm.
Aside from avoiding wearing a hat for the first couple of days, here are a few ways to care for a perm: A perm can be an excellent method for styling your hair.
Getting it done at a hair salon (instead of doing it yourself) can usually ensure it’s taken care of using quality products by a professional hairstylist.
Once you step out of the salon, however, you should know how to take care of your perm at home to keep your hair looking good and staying healthy.
Can I Wear a Hat After a Perm? Top Tips for Caring for Your Perm
Let’s not beat around the bush. Harsh chemicals create the perm you love, so the least you could do is take care of your locks afterward.
The chemicals used help to literally reshape your locks into a curly perm. The chemicals are usually quite strong, so it only makes sense that you’ll have to take proper care of them afterward.
If you don’t, you could end up with damaged hair. Firstly, you should allow your hair to settle after the perm.
When you do wash it, take care to avoid vigorous washing. After that, be sensible about how you choose to style your hair. Intense heated tools can cause further damage.
What Does Letting a Perm Settle Mean?
Letting your hair settle.
Hey there, curly queen (or king)! Congrats on your new perm, you’re about to be the envy of everyone. But, listen up, don’t get too excited and touch those beautiful locks just yet. Trust me, I know it’s tempting – I mean, have you seen how bouncy and fun they look? But hold off for a sec.
Apparently, it takes between 24 and 48 hours for those curls to settle down, and you don’t want to mess with that process. Plus, did you know that the chemicals used to get those perfect waves are pretty strong? Yeah, your hair needs a little time to adjust, so don’t go tugging on it. Your hair might be a bit fragile in the first couple of days, so let it chill.
But hey, don’t worry – this isn’t a “no touchy” situation. You can still style your hair a bit, but let’s not go crazy. Just use your fingers to give it a little zhuzh, but don’t even think about whipping out that comb. Keep it gentle, sister (or brother).
So there you have it. Relax, let your hair do its thing, and soon enough, you’ll have the most amazing, low-maintenance curls around.
Avoid washing your hair.
Don’t wash your hair for at least three days after you get your perm. The water and chemicals from the wash will stop your hair from permanently taking shape. If you wash your hair in the first 72 hours, you’ll find that it will lose its curl or wave.
Try to avoid moisture, and that includes rain and snow. Your stylist will usually give you the proper time frame for keeping your hair dry after the perm. She or he will know how to gauge this based on the type of perm and your hair.
Avoid tying your hair back.
Keep your freshly permed hair loose. Avoid using anything that could compromise the curl and shape, including pins. Even if your hair is hanging in your face, try to avoid pushing it back. You’re going to just have to make peace with hair in your face for the first couple of days.
Not only could you compromise the shape, but your hair could even fall off or break. Don’t run your fingers through your freshly permed hair either. If you really have to tie back your hair, and only if you have to, use a silk scarf. These are soft enough to inflict minimal damage if you tie it as loosely as possible.
Avoid color treatment.
As we have mentioned, your hair is more fragile after a perm. This means that a chemical color treatment could inflict severe damage during the first week after a perm. If you want to dye it, wait at least a week before you do. Give your hair enough chance to strengthen after the perm before applying additional chemicals.
If you plan on dyeing your permed locks, it’s best to schedule the appointment with the same stylist.
Color shampoos, color powders, and tints are generally better than using an intense color treatment after getting a perm. Always speak with your stylist if you plan on color treating your hair after a perm.
Washing Your Hair When You Have a Perm
The time will come when you have to wash your hair after a perm. Use these tips to ensure a healthy set of permed locks:
- Use specially formulated products. Your hairstylist isn’t always trying to peddle products- they also genuinely recommend products to help you. Chances are, you’ve spent money on getting your perm. It makes sense, then, that you would need to preserve your investment. The specially formulated products help to maintain your hair’s health as well as the shape.
- Avoid products that contain sulfates and parabens
- Instead, opt for products infused with soy, eucalyptus oil, and biotin.
Don’t be shy to ask your stylist for what type of products they recommend. It’s part of their job to know what’s best for your hair. If you feel your stylist is simply ‘pushing products,’ you can always order products online. You can even purchase from your local drug store or pharmacy.
Weekly Shampoo
Avoid washing your permed hair every day. Instead, aim for a weekly wash. If you wash your hair too often, you could end up removing the natural essential oils and destroy your perm. How would you care for an expensive garment? Well, it would be the same way that you would care for your perm. Avoid scalding hot water and harsh shampoos. And remember to rinse it thoroughly after washing. If there’s any remaining shampoo or chemicals, it could compromise your curls.
Top Tip: Get a quality dry shampoo. Use dry shampoo for the roots in between your weekly washes. Simply spray your roots ten inches away and allow the dry shampoo to be absorbed. Let it sit for two minutes before giving it a gentle massage. This gentle massage will help to remove lingering residue.
Can I Wear a Hat After a Perm: Conditioning Your Hair
After all the chemicals I’ve exposed your hair to, you’ll want to give it a good conditioner. Without moisture, your perm could take on more of a frizzy look that lacks appeal. There are plenty of conditioners formulated explicitly for permed hair. Instead of stripping your perm and dulling down your locks, a good conditioner will make your locks more lustrous.
How to Apply Conditioner to Permed Hair
Firstly, condition the ends of your hair. Work your way up towards your scalp, gently working the conditioner into your hair. The product will have directions on the label telling you how long to leave it on for. Rinse your hair thoroughly, make sure no residue is left on your hair. As with the shampoo, make sure the water is not too hot. If you do not rinse all the conditioner out of your hair, then the residue could leave your hair looking dull and attract dirt.
When your hair is wet, use a wide-tooth comb to work through the tangles. Do this while the conditioner is still in the hair so that your hair does not break as much.
Top Tip: Treatment masks can be a great addition to your hair care routine. Use a quality mask once per week to help broken or stressed hair to help keep it looking healthy. Leave the mask on in the shower. If your hair is very stressed, then leave it on overnight. You can also get leave-in conditioners or treatments designed for dehydrated and damaged hair.
Avoid Heating Tools
Avoid heating tools, including hair dryers. Flat irons and curling irons will cause damage to hair that is already damaged and dry. If you must use some sort of heating tools, then try a steam-based tool.
One way to style your hair using steam is to place a shower cap over your hair (or wrap in curlers for extra bounce) and let the heat from the shower or a bath give your curls a boost. By using the steam, you can give your hair an extra moisture boost as well as extra moisture.
If you insist on using a hairdryer, then make sure you use a diffuser. These diffusers help to disperse the airflow to avoid drying out and damaging your hair. If you want to give your hair added volume, flip your head over. Remember, always use the coolest setting possible.
Top Tip: Give your hair a daily scrunch. This helps your curls to stay fresh and bouncy. This scrunching technique is simple and incredibly easy. All you have to do is use your hands. It gives them a soft, sultry effect.
Conclusion
While there is no set rule to wearing a hat or not after a perm, the general consensus is that you should leave your hair untouched right after a perm. The first forty-eight hours are crucial after having a perm. Try to leave your hair untouched (as much as possible) and dry for the first two days. It’s similar to when you get frosted tips – you have to let the effects settle in.
Use your fingers to gently work through the hair if you really have to. Avoid running your fingers through your whole head of hair in the first 72 hours. In fact, avoid all styling tools, including pins and scrunchies.
There are many things to avoid after getting a perm, but it’s worth it if you want to maintain your luster and curls. We hope you enjoyed this article answering the question “can I wear a hat after a perm?”. Want to gel your curly hair? Check out our guide on how to gel curly hair for men.
Cheers!
