1) What is Hair Perming?

Hello to all reading today's post!

It's Emma here, and I am going to talking about one of the greatest beauty treatments ever, in my opinion. Tired of having straight hair? Why not go curly! Tired of having curly hair? Why not go straight! Hair Perming is something that women and even men have been experimenting with since 1905!

These next few posts are going to be all about Perming Hair, but not just about the kind of curls you can get, the preparation for a perm or the post-perm habits you should keep; we are going to be investigating the hardcore, factual science behind perms ... Or at least the basis of the reaction...

Today's post is going to be about the perm generally and what it is; guys, if your lady wants a perm but you don't even know how to spell the word "perm", keep reading...

Question 1: What is a perm?
Answer 1: A perm is defined as "a hairstyle produced by treatment with heat, chemicals, etc which gives long-lasting waves, curls, or other shaping" (Collins Dictionary, 2014). In summary, it's a process in which you break down the bonds of the hair and reform them by using curling rods or other, to produce a different texture (i.e. curls, waves, straight hair).

(http://www.hairstylesidea.us/long-hair-perms-before-and-after.html)

Question 2: Who can get a perm (i.e. what kind of hair should you have)?
Answer 2: It doesn't matter what kind of hair you have; anyone can get a perm, whether you have straight, thick, thin, curly or wavy hair! Although it is said that perms work best on thick, non colour-treated hair. The only thing about getting a perm that you need to think about is whether or not it is right for you. If you have previously colour treated or chemically treated your hair, your hair might not be the healthiest in the world. Consider what you want your hair to look and feel like when it's done, because there is no stylist that can perm your hair without damaging it; you are dealing with chemicals after all. If you have strong, minimally-damaged hair, I say go for it! You've been saving your hair for something that you really want to do, and if a perm is just that; don't hesitate!

(http://kinkycurlycoilyme.com/how-to-determine-hair-type-on-natural-hair/)

Question 3: How long does a perm take?
Answer 3: A perm can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours, depending on your hair type and considering that we are dealing with a chemical change in the hair's structure. You must be patient when getting a perm, otherwise you are not going to leave the salon with the picture you showed your stylist.

(http://www.haircinema.com/download/firstperm_download.html)

Question 4: Preparation for a perm?
Answer 4: There isn't much you can do before going to get a perm because you will be treating it chemically and the chemicals will do the same kind of damage no matter what kind of deep conditioning mask you put on your hair beforehand. But, nonetheless, you can prep your hair by using as little heat or chemicals in your hair as possible for even up to two-three months before the treatment. You can also put lots of good oils and conditioners in your hair, in order to keep your hair as safe as possible from the chemicals of the perming treatment.

(http://www.wigtypes.com/every_strand_aloe_vera_treatment_deep_conditioning_hair_cream_15oz.php)

Question 5: Post-Perm Habits I should adapt to?
Answer 5: No matter what style you go for, after getting a perm, do not wash your hair for 48 hours because the curls or straight hair need to settle. If you wash your hair, you'll end up with what you started with. After this critical step, the new texture is yours to experiment with! Just remember to keep your hair nicely hydrated; do not wash your hair too often, or you'll dry it out even more after the chemical treatment. Get lots of good oils in your hair and treat it right!

(http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlproducts/view/6256/beautiful-curls-deep-conditioning-treatment-treatments-8-oz)

Question 6: Do the chemicals of a perm treatment damage your hair?
Answer 6: Like any chemical, yes. No matter where a chemical goes in your body, it will damage that part. The chemicals of a perm will dry out the hair and definitely cause an un-natural state that the hair will have to get used to. The chemicals of the perm solution penetrate the hair cortex and reaches the inner layer of the hair shaft, which gives the hair its shape and provides strength and elasticity.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5FmQhgeLq4)

Question 7: Is there anything I should know before going to get a perm?
Answer 7: All that you need to know is that this is a decision will affect the state of your hair's natural being. Breaking down the bonds of your hair and rebuilding the sounds scary, but it can also be a fantastic way to reinvent yourself. You don't have to worry so much about your hair because it really is just hair and hey; if you don't like the perm, just cut it off! Your hair will grow back soon enough and you'll forget that the whole thing ever happened. Just try to have fun with your hair!

(http://www.metroqueens.com/more.php?services_id=4)

Question 8: How long will my perm last?
Answer 8: Perms typically last two to six months, depending on your hair type. For example; chemically-treated hair might not hold the perm as well as non chemically-treated hair.

(http://www.hairstylesidea.us/long-hair-perms-before-and-after.html)

(http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hypnotic-salon-and-spa-tustin?select=FRQn2-ld3agiWITC9JtLZg#FRQn2-ld3agiWITC9JtLZg)

Question 9: What kinds of perms can I get?

Answer 9: You can get so many different kinds of perm, depending on what look you want. The same procedure will be used but the rod size of the curlers will be different. Here is a slideshow highlighting some of the different kinds of perms generally available...

Question 10: How much is a perm? 

Answer 10: Perm are quite costly; depending on your hair type and hair length, a perm can cost anything from 100 dollars CAD to 250-300 dollars CAD. Perms have become less popular since the 50s and 60s, because people have become more educated about the damage it causes your hair, but it seems as though people are allowing wavy and loose perms to become more popular because this kind of hair is trending right now, whereas very volume, Hollywood-glam waves were trending in the 50s and even the 40s. 

http://hair.lovetoknow.com/Different_Types_of_Perm_Pictures#3

Ok, so here a great video about perms generally everyone, you should definitely watch it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxY8AL3Sp4Q

In this video, it speaks about how a perm is a double displacement neutralization reaction. 

Alright everyone, I hope these FAQs were helpful for those contemplating getting a perm or a rebonding treatment (straightening). Next time, I'll be speaking about the history of hair perming; this is going to be interesting...

Until then,
Emma