Q: I would really appreciate some advice on what to do with my very bad perm. I have quite strong and straight hair which whilst
in Thailand on holiday, I very naively thought it would be a good idea to get my hair permed so I would have romantic locks in the sun.
This, of course, was not what happened and I have been left with a very dodgy poodle effect. I read on the internet that using a perming
solution on my hair again can loosen the wave. I have bought a solution for damaged hair. Is this a good thing to do? I am desperate to
get my straight hair back, so any advice would be gratefully received.
A: As long as your hair was not damaged by the initial perming process, using a second perm to remove the curl added by the initial perm
should be safe. Depending on the length of your hair, you may need to enlist the assistance of a friend, as you will want to be able to
keep your hair very straight. Hair longer than shoulder length may require that you tilt your head back so that the hair can hang without
following any curve because of interaction with the body.
My suggestion is to apply the waving lotion from the second perm kit to the hair and use a wide
tooth comb to comb the hair straight. Continue combing the hair while the waving lotion processes. You should see the curls relaxing
and disappearing as the processing continues. Allow the hair to process with the waving lotion for a total of ten minutes. After ten
minutes, rinse the hair thoroughly with warm water for at least 5 minutes.
After the waving lotion is rinsed from the hair, gently squeeze the excess water from the hair using
a towel and pressing the hair between the folds of the towel to blot the hair. Do not rub the hair. This is important. The waving lotion
will have swelled the hair shaft and raised the cuticle. Rubbing will cause damage to the hair.
Once the extra moisture has been blotted away, apply the neutralizer to the hair and comb it through
the hair once more. Continue combing while the neutralizer processes. Follow the package directions for the timing of the neutralizer
stage (usually 5 minutes). After the processing time for the neutralizer is complete, rinse the hair once more for at least 5 minutes
using warm water, the for an additional 2 minutes using cool water to help close the cuticle layer of the hair.
Once more, dry the hair using a towel to blot away moisture. You can use a leave-in conditioner, and
a smoothing serum or straight hair styling product on the hair to protect it during blow drying, but be sure to keep the heat setting on
your dryer at low heat and use a diffuser attachment. Dry the hair carefully. If possible, allow the hair to air dry naturally. Try to
give your hair at least 48 hours before wetting, shampooing or conditioning again to allow the hair to normalize and the cuticle layer to relax.
After two chemical processes in a short period of time, the hair may require additional
conditioning. If the hair feels dry or rough after the 48 hour rest period, give yourself a deep-conditioning treatment, and be sure
to use a smooth and silky formula shampoo to ensure smoother cuticle layer.
