Perming Hair

Perming Your Hair at Home

1.Consider enlisting the help of a friend. It can be difficult to work with the hair at the back of your head, and you'll be working within some time constraints. Having a friend to help you speed along the process and make sure the rollers are tight can ease your mind.

2.Purchase an at-home perm kit. These can usually be found at supermarkets, pharmacies, or beauty supply stores.

3.Read and understand the directions. If you've having someone help you, make sure he or she reads the instructions as well. Pay particular attention to any time limits.

4.Comb hair and get all the knots out.

5.Shampoo and condition your hair. Use a rich protein conditioning treatment (one might have come with the kit you purchased). Do not use a heavy conditioner, as this may prevent the perm from setting.
Do not wrap your hair in towel turban when you get out of the shower. The added friction can knot and damage vulnerable wet hair. Instead, carefully pat your hair with a towel until it's more damp than wet.
If you must comb your hair again, carefully and gently comb with a wide-tooth comb, working tangles out as you move from the ends toward the scalp.

6.Wear the correct safety equipment. Perm chemicals are not designed for use on the skin. Always wear gloves that will resist the chemicals (usually any kind of plastic glove will work).

7.Protect the skin around your neck, face and scalp using a petroleum jelly like Vaseline. Don't forget your ears! Outline the entire crown of your head with the jelly. This will keep any of the chemicals from dripping down your skin.

8.Put an old towel around your shoulders. Underneath the towel, wear clothing that you wouldn't be heartbroken to lose, such as an old T-shirt and sweatpants.

9.Split your hair into four equal sections. Use non-metallic clips to hold back the sections you're not working with at the moment.

10.Place the rods. There are many kinds of rods available to produce a variety of different kinds of perm.
When wrapping the hair, start and the top and wrap down.
Put on perm paper on the back of hair and front and roll hair on to rods.
Avoid bunching or clumping your hair around the rods.
The tightness of the curl depends on the size of the rod. The tightness of the wrap and how long the perm solution stays in the hair.
For the most natural-looking curls, use a straight or cylindrical rod. This allows you to wrap your hair around the rod at the same width from top to bottom.
Unless you are very confident in your abilities, avoid the home use of spiral or concave rods.

11.Apply the perm solution. Begin at the scalp, as that gives it longer to work in that area. Carefully massage the perm solution into all of your hair.

12.Keep the solution at the correct temperature. Leave the perm solution in for the amount of time needed for your desired effect.

13.Rinse the perm solution out of your hair completely. It is vital to get rid of all of the solution.

14.Apply a professional neutralizer. The neutralizing solution begins the process of re-forming the broken proteins in your hair.

15.Carefully towel dry or blot your hair. Hold your head upside down and shake it gently. Be sure not to let the towel damage your new curls as it will take up to 24 hours for your perm to set. Do not comb your hair while perm is in, only massage or blot.

16.Permed hair needs a great deal of attention and care. Learning to care for your perm is an important step in any hair regimen.