Semi-Permanent Perm

Permanent or semi-permanent curls
Photo: Juan Llauro/Shutterstock
Q: I am going to a 4-day festival in the summer and need something manageable for my hair which I usually straighten. Is there such a thing as a semi-permanent perm that I could have done for a couple of days so that I don't have to worry about my kinks, etc.?
 
A: There are a number of makers who offer "semi-permanent" wave products. These are generally designed to last for 2-3 weeks, depending on how often you shampoo the hair and how much you work to preserve the curl.
 
These could be used in the same manner as a thio-relaxer (wherein a perm solution is used to relax the natural curl and straighten the hair) with the same duration for the straightening results.
 
The problem is that these are often not as successful in their results as traditional process for straightening and may require additional straightening techniques for achieving smooth hair (if that is what you are looking for).
 
If you are interested in simply getting a style that you can wet and go with for a few days, perhaps you'd like to get one of these "temporary perms" and go with a curly look. That way you can simply wet the hair, spray in a little product and let it dry on its own.
 
The temporary perms are generally useful for "trying out" a hairstyle before making a real commitment to it. Even if you want to use a "temporary perm," you may want to have a professional apply it for you. Given that you want to have a style that will be easy to keep up for a few days, he/she may be able to do some extra techniques to help you keep the style longer.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Perms
 
How to style hair
 
Roller styling techniques
Shop