How Long Does a Perm Last?

ORIGINAL POST

Last year November, I got a re-perm. It grew out and lost a lot of curl, and it was basically straight except the edges/front. I got it cut to make it cleaner, and I got it permed again. It’s only been 4 months, and I’ve seen mixed reviews saying that 3-4 months is fine and some saying half a year. Looking for an exact answer, and if necessary, it’s around eyebrow length, male. I do not have any hair issues from past perming experiences.

Thanks! 🙏

1 replies

puffy-jacket · 5 months ago

Honestly there’s not really an exact answer. if you’re not sure just ask your hairstylist their opinion. Mine didn’t wanna reperm me more than once a year, but my hair is about shoulder length. I’d err on doing it less often both to save some time/money and to avoid damaging your hair. Try a clarifying shampoo if you don’t already use one, using it once in a while really brings my perm back to life

2 upvotes on reddit

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r/Hair • [2]

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Perm

Posted by Best-Doughnut2294 · in r/Hair · 8 months ago

Hi! I bleached my hair (balayage) in March 2023 and then back to my natural color this summer. I have no idea where the bleached hair ends, my hair grows pretty quick.

I curl it every few days but feel like that might be as damaging as perming it would be. I’m thinking of asking for a consult with a hair dresser but feel like it might be a waste of time after reading more threads here.

1st photo: March 2023 2nd photo: July 2024 3rd photo: January 2025 (had another brown dye and trim. No bleach since March 2023.)

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2 upvotes on reddit

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curlyprince · 8 months ago

Hey! I’m a licensed hairstylist. Perming your hair is definitely more damaging than curling it every few days. If any of the bleached hair remains when it is permed, that hair may break off. If youre using a heat protectant and getting regular trims, occasional heat isn’t the worst thing. Another thing to try could be heatless curls, there are a lot of tutorials online. It also looks like your hair has some wave to it, depending on the type of curls youre looking for, you could try out the curly girl method described at /r/curlyhair and see if you like the look of it.

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/Hair • [3]

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I still have a perm after 6+ mo?

Posted by askshirley56 · in r/Hair · 4 years ago

Most research I’ve seen says perms last about 3-4 months and that the curls deflate as time goes on. I got a perm in September and I loved it, however I had a very short bob at the time (like the hair at the nape of my neck couldn’t be curled kind of short). Now my hair is at my shoulders and my regrowth is pin straight while my curls begin at the top of my ears. My curls are still pretty well defined, especially right out of the shower. Additionally the hair at my nape that was too short to perm is grown out and also straight. So my hair is two completely opposite textures. Is this just something I’m going to have to deal with unless I cut my hair?

tldr: To those who have had experience with perms, will the curls relax over time or do you just have to cut it off?

1 upvotes on reddit

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belikemichellee · 4 years ago

Same situation. Except I didn't really love it even in the beginning. 😆 I just do a bun every day. This was my first and last perm ever.

1 upvotes on reddit

askshirley56 · OP · 4 years ago

Lol I think it’s my first and last too. It’s just long enough now to tie it so I bought ponytail extensions and thats what I use almost daily. So much faster than trying to manage the curls

1 upvotes on reddit

belikemichellee · 4 years ago

Hmmm that's a good idea! I've never used straighteners in my life before all that perming situation 😆 but it's so damaging.

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/Haircare • [4]

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Seeking advice on “fading” a perm…

Posted by CupcakeHistorical802 · in r/Haircare · 2 months ago

I know a perm (as the name suggests) “permanently” alters your hair’s chemical makeup. And you can’t truly “get rid” of it. Just gotta cut it out or wait. But is there anything I can do to reduce the curls? Maybe olive oil treatments or frequent washing? Curls just a little too spirally for me atm. TIA!

2 upvotes on reddit

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thefuzzyismine · 2 months ago

Yeah, the effects are pretty much permanent til it grows out and is replaced with unprocessed hair. The only thing that comes to mind other than regular trims, etc is maybe frequent deep conditioning masks and/or hot oil treatments. I know those relax my curl pattern so they should likely do something similar with yours. Looser curls instead of tight spirals maybe.

1 upvotes on reddit

CupcakeHistorical802 · OP · 2 months ago

That’s what I figured but this is helpful info, thank you!! I will look into the deep conditioning & hot oil treatments! Thanks a bunch!🫶🏼

1 upvotes on reddit

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1 upvotes on reddit

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r/HaircareScience • [5]

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Can i perm my hair forever?

Posted by jimmyking9650 · in r/HaircareScience · 2 years ago

i’ve always had rlly thick asian hair (19 male) and it was always impossible to style without 2 pounds of hair gel on my head so i decided to perm it and i never went back. i’ve been perming my hair for about 2 years now and i’d usually do it in 6-8 month intervals and it always turned out good but now i’m cutting it down to 3-4 months since it looks pretty grown out after 3-4 months i wanna keep perming my hair for the rest of my life honestly or until i go bald because i’ve always loved how it looked and how easy it was to just get out of the shower and not do anything to my hair. i wanna know if it is possible to keep perming my hair for the rest of my life i’ve done a lot of research on re perms and nothing online really gives me a straight answer.

i’ve always used reddit but never really posted so please redirect me if i’m in the wrong subreddit.

14 upvotes on reddit

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https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/hair-straightening-chemicals-associated-higher-uterine-cancer-risk

10 replies

throwawayskeez · 2 years ago

Oh yeah, the women in my mom's generation perm'd their hair forever with no bad side effects.

11 upvotes on reddit

jimmyking9650 · OP · 2 years ago

yeah and i’m pretty sure the chemicals were a lot harsher then they are now so that’s reassuring

3 upvotes on reddit

stipwned_thrill · 2 years ago

I’ve been perming my hair for the last 16 years (f33)

19 upvotes on reddit

jimmyking9650 · OP · 2 years ago

thank you did you perm it everytime it grew out?

2 upvotes on reddit

stipwned_thrill · 2 years ago

I have permed it about once every 1-1.5 years since then.

1 upvotes on reddit

dube101 · 2 years ago

Be careful with perms. What types of perms do you use? I know the chemicals in African American perms can cause cancer and reproductive issues.

https://amp.cancer.org/latest-news/study-finds-possible-link-between-hair-straightening-chemicals-and-uterine-cancer.html

These links are towards those that use hair straighteners (perms included) and dyes in general.

https://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/perms-dyes-linked-carcinogens-study-article-1.1823694

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/25/1131449422/people-who-use-hair-straightening-chemicals-have-an-increased-risk-of-cancer

7 upvotes on reddit

hikehikebaby · 2 years ago

In light of the recent information linking hair, relaxers to cancer and other reproductive health issues, personally, I wouldn't touch them. This is a really understudied issue so we don't know the full extent of these health issues and whether or not any of them apply to men, but it doesn't seem worth it to me.

4 upvotes on reddit

rachihc · 2 years ago

Yes unless you develop an allergy to the products

12 upvotes on reddit

Accurate-Primary9923 · 2 years ago

If you like it and take good care of it, sure

11 upvotes on reddit

Averie_13 · 2 years ago

The waffle house has found its new host

-8 upvotes on reddit

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r/TeenPakistani • [6]

Summarize

Perm

Posted by M_Zunair7 · in r/TeenPakistani · 2 months ago

Guys I'm thinking of getting a perm to go from straight ish to wavy hair, has anyone else got one here?

My mom just keeps saying it damages hair and shows me no videos articles anything (why are parents like this). Ive read up on it from reddit and watched videos on YouTube and the general concensus is that getting one every 6-7 months is fine especially if you care for it. What do you think

2 upvotes on reddit

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BrilliantMastodon957 · 2 months ago

Ive asked barbers they dont damage the hair except tge minuscule damage . Constant perms are gonna damage your hair though,and u cant cut them too or you the perms go poof😔 i wanna get them too , if u do lemme know how it goes

1 upvotes on reddit

Master-Cry543 · 2 months ago

Your mums right my dad had perms in his prime and now hes bald so yeah it does damages the hair

1 upvotes on reddit

fly_to_the_sky777 · 2 months ago

That's not because of the perm

0 upvotes on reddit

fly_to_the_sky777 · 2 months ago

My friend has the exact opposite from wavy to straight I am sure perm is less damaging but it increases breakage and make your hair rough if you don't take care of it. You can ask the stylist for proper products.

1 upvotes on reddit

M_Zunair7 · OP · 2 months ago

Did he get the perm? Was it fine?

1 upvotes on reddit

fly_to_the_sky777 · 2 months ago

As I said, the hair went from curly to straight. My friend had pretty rough hair after it. Well mostly because of not taking care of it

1 upvotes on reddit

dumbestdorito · 2 months ago

real talk dont do it because once your hair grows out after the perm, its gonna grow straight. so you'll have a weird mixture of straight hair at the top and wavy/curly ends. also permed hair isnt very manageable

1 upvotes on reddit

potato_noodles_123 · 2 months ago

Maybe if you're hair strand is thick like naturally curly hair maybe your hair won't fall curly hair is usually thicker than straight hair

1 upvotes on reddit

M_Zunair7 · OP · 2 months ago

Im not sure myself but everyone including barbers have told me i have thick hair

2 upvotes on reddit

potato_noodles_123 · 2 months ago

Then go for it but since you're a guy I think you're gonna go bald eventually so....

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/Hair • [7]

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My Perms only last 3-4 weeks

Posted by Courage-Firm · in r/Hair · 3 years ago

I’m a Asian male Asian with a Korean style longer, thick, and straight hair to my eyebrows.

I’ve gotten 6 perms in the past where all my stylists have told me it’s okay to shower and not shampoo for 48 hours. Turns out that’s untrue, you can’t get your hair wet regardless for 48 hours. So my previous perms literally only lasted 3 days.

My current perm I left in for 3 days before showering which yielded a way better result, but my hair started straightening at the 3-4 week mark. Granted it’s still curly but it’s very subtle. The original perm I got is wavy, not like super curly.

For reference I shower everyday with warm-hot water and air dry my hair. I shampoo every 3-4 days and don’t typically condition. When I do condition I find it curlier but the volume is gone because the roots of my hair flatten. Any advice on how to make these perms last longer?

2 upvotes on reddit

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catfireengine · 3 years ago

Im not sure about the length of the perm, but you might want to try not wetting it every day because the water could be weighing it down. You could try misting with a spray bottle to freshen it up on days you don't wash it instead of fully soaking it. You should always condition after Washing it, especially since your hair is chemically treated. Just fully rinse out the conditioner. To help with volume you could use a little mousse, I use the Not Your Mother's brand curl talk mousse

1 upvotes on reddit

Courage-Firm · OP · 3 years ago

Thank you so much! I will try not wetting it everyday

1 upvotes on reddit

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r/Hair • [8]

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Perm by professional stylists, 3 hours ago i left the salon, is this normal?

Posted by ABChow000 · in r/Hair · 2 months ago

As i said, its been around 3 hours. This is in order of time each 30 minutes or so. Like its losing its spring and curl fast like is this normal or does this mean i wasted £180. First time having a perm obviously but im wondering whether its normal for them to go wavey instead and do they bounce back after a couple days? Anyone know anything about it? Im confused even though im aware of how perming works

reddit.com

396 upvotes on reddit

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RidingSunshine · 2 months ago

Do… do you have a durag on??? AND A HAT?! That’s why your hair is royally fucked.

811 upvotes on reddit

luckylooch13 · 2 months ago

Licensed stylist, IL USA

Why the fuck did you put a drag on, your curls are artifical!!! No durag for you!! They will not behave like a persons with natural textured hair. No hats no washing to water no NOTHING for the first 3 days!!! Did the Stylist mention that to you?? I have no idea the training in (im assuming) UK, but in my state it is 1500 hours. The first thing we learn about perms is how to tell the client to not fuck it up as the ammonium thio sets your hair's bonds back up over the next 48 to 72 hrs. Its gonna be stuck like that till your next perm

435 upvotes on reddit

Trappist1_SpaceElf · 2 months ago

I am not a licensed stylist but I am Jersey, Channel Islands (so UK ish) based and have an NPQ Level 1 in hairdressing (it’s not even close to being qualified and obtained this in 2012 but didn’t pursue further) which covered on basics (basically everything but cutting!) and I remember our tutor being adamant on telling the client to not touch it, avoid getting it wet or mess around with it after you’ve permed it 😅 i still go to a hairdressing school to get my hair done and I’ve been there when they’ve finished the perms and they’re going through the aftercare

64 upvotes on reddit

Party_Pop_9450 · 2 months ago

When I lived in UK in the early 2000’s they trained stylists by being an apprentice . Got me hair ruined more then once.

7 upvotes on reddit

rockymountainway777 · 2 months ago

Did you wear that hat right after your perm?

1752 upvotes on reddit

ABChow000 · OP · 2 months ago

Not directly after no. And it was on for 15 minutes. When i was in the salon the top of my hair was coily but when i walked home after 5 minutes the too went wavey instead of curly like it was. ( No hat put on)

Edit: Stylists called me back and said they hadnt styled it correctly and/or solution hadnt settled correctly and theyll schedule a redo on tuesday. One side is straight/wavey and other is curly , the straight side is where an apprentice worked on

-886 upvotes on reddit

GerardDiedOfFlu · 2 months ago

Your hat didn’t ruin the perm. I did perms for a decade and would blow them out and curl them with a curling iron immediately after. Teasing and all. Old lady hair. If it’s a good perm, it ain’t goin anywhere. Looks like yours didn’t hold. Main rule is no shampoo for 48 hrs. You can still get it wet

3 upvotes on reddit

Nurno · 2 months ago

You can’t wear anything on your head or wet your hair for like three days. You basically want the curls to set first before messing with your hair

1775 upvotes on reddit

Heywhatsup0999 · 2 months ago

If he showers, especially so soon after having the perm, they'll fall and he will no longer have a perm. That's the reason we tell clients not to wash their hair for as long as we do.

172 upvotes on reddit

Heywhatsup0999 · 2 months ago

Wearing the hat is what flattened your curls. The first 48/72 hours are crucial for letting your hair set into the shape it'll be. Unfortunately it'll probably be stuck that way until you get another one in a few months.

918 upvotes on reddit

Fl_Goth12 · 2 months ago

Oh no, you’ve never seen legally blonde 😅 Can’t do anything for the first 48 hours

605 upvotes on reddit

turn-to-ashes · 2 months ago

you're at the risk of deactivating the ammonium thyglocilate!

337 upvotes on reddit

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r/Hair • [9]

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Can mature hair (late 30s) survive a perm?

Posted by Bakedbeanbonanza · in r/Hair · 5 months ago

Any experiences to share? The perm would be a salon one (not a home kit).

i.redd.it

2 upvotes on reddit

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Bakedbeanbonanza · OP · 5 months ago

It’s not 20s hair at any rate, I wouldn’t call it mature though

1 upvotes on reddit

blondeasfuk · 5 months ago

I mean perms are done on teenagers all the way to elderly…as long as it’s done right, your hair should be fine.

3 upvotes on reddit

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r/femalehairadvice • [10]

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Perm barely made a difference?

Posted by Decolonize70a · in r/femalehairadvice · 2 months ago

Just got home from getting a perm. The stylist left the solution on for the maximum time (20 minutes) and it still looks just slightly wavy, and overall it just looks messy and not good. Will it look better when I wash it in 3 days? The next 3 days are going to be torture!!!

reddit.com

29 upvotes on reddit

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mehnifest · 2 months ago

It depends on a lot of things but I’ve never seen curl definition increase over time after getting a perm.

What was the process your stylist used? What kind of perm solution? What size of rods? Most importantly did they completely rinse out all of the solution? The solution being left on too long or not being rinsed out completely will lead to excessive broken bonds and droopy hair.

49 upvotes on reddit

Decolonize70a · OP · 2 months ago

Ugh. Not what I wanted to hear :( I went to a hair school, but the student was being watched pretty closely by the teacher. She put my hair in rollers (with the papers on the ends), put the perm solution on, left it on for 20 mins (checking every 5) then washed it out, put the naturalized on, and washed it out again. Then diffused on low and cut. No idea what perm solution. The rods were about an inch in diameter.

12 upvotes on reddit

mehnifest · 2 months ago

Also if you went to a hair school to get it done I would lean more towards rod size being the culprit than over processing. When I was in school we were always watched heavily for perms and relaxers because of the extent of damage that could be caused by the chemicals

26 upvotes on reddit

mehnifest · 2 months ago

The problem might be with the rod size then. Your hair looks pretty short, it would need to wrap around the rod 2 and a half times in order to make a full curl. Otherwise it’s just going to make waves

38 upvotes on reddit

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