Spiral Perm & Pregnancy

Pregnant woman with her hair in a spiral perm
Photo: Lightfactory/Shutterstock
Q: I recently received a spiral perm, and from the minute the curlers came out, my hair wasn’t curly at all. I’m four months pregnant, and I’ve heard mixed opinions. Some say pregnancy hormones can affect the outcome of a perm, while others claim this is just a myth.
 
Additionally, the stylist who did my hair seemed distracted. While the neutralizer was processing, she was attending to other customers in the salon, helping them buy shampoos and other products, and even took time to cut a man’s hair. On top of that, she used orange/light orange rods, but I’ve since been told she should have used purple ones.
 
What do you think? Is the most likely reason my hair didn’t take the perm due to my pregnancy, or was it the lack of proper technique and attention during the service? Also, how long should I wait before trying again? I was given a refund, but the whole experience still feels like five hours completely wasted.
 
A: I’m sorry to hear about your disappointing experience. You’re right that hormonal changes during pregnancy can influence hair texture and how it responds to chemical treatments like perms. However, a skilled stylist should be able to adjust their technique to accommodate these changes, so while pregnancy may have played a small role, it’s unlikely to be the sole reason your perm didn’t turn out as expected.
 
In my opinion, the main issue here was your stylist’s approach. A thorough professional would have performed test curls first to determine the ideal processing time for your hair. Additionally, proper perm application requires close attention throughout the entire service, especially when timing the neutralizer.
 
The fact that your stylist was multitasking (helping other customers and even performing a haircut while your neutralizer was processing) suggests she wasn’t giving your perm the focus it needed. Her decision to refund you also implies she recognized that the service fell short of professional standards.
 
As for how long you should wait before trying another perm, that depends entirely on the current condition of your hair. If your hair isn’t overly dry or damaged, you can schedule another appointment whenever you feel ready. However, this time, be sure to explain your previous experience in detail to your new stylist.
 
Stress the importance of performing a test curl first. This step is crucial for determining how your hair will react and ensuring the perm is tailored correctly. A careful stylist will adjust the formula, rod size, and processing time to give you the curls you want without compromising your hair’s health.
 
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See also:
 
How pregnancy changes your hair
 
Getting a perm and pregnancy
 
Can you wrap a spiral perm with normal perming rods?