Get a Body Wave Out of Your Hair

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Q: I had a body wave put in my short hair. It is fine and straight and cut in layers. How can I get the body wave out?
 
A: Because body waves are permanent wave processes performed using larger rollers, they alter the internal chemical bonds of your hair. To completely reverse the process chemically, those bonds have to be broken down and reset again.
 
However, because your hair is fine and has already undergone one chemical service, attempting to reverse it at home using another perm kit is highly dangerous. Combing chemical solutions through loose, fragile hair can cause severe over-processing, chemical burns, extreme frizz, or cause your hair to snap off.
 
Instead, here are the safest and most effective ways to manage and get rid of the unwanted wave:
 

Option 1: The Salon Route

If you want the texture gone immediately, visit a professional stylist.
 
• Professional Smoothing or Keratin Treatments: A stylist can apply a mild, professional-grade smoothing treatment or a gentle relaxer. They will carefully monitor your hair's porosity and strength to ensure it doesn't suffer chemical damage.
 
• Blending the Layers: Since your hair is already short and layered, a stylist can also tweak your haircut slightly to make the soft waves work with a style you actually like while it grows out.
 

Option 2: The At-Home Route

If you do not want to risk any more chemical damage to your fine hair, you can easily blow out a body wave since it is a much looser curl than a traditional perm.
 
• Weaken the Wave with Moisture: Wash your hair with a heavy moisturizing shampoo and a deep conditioning mask. While this won't chemically undo the perm, deeply hydrating the hair weighs down the wave and relaxes its pattern.
 
• Blow-Dry with Tension: Apply a heat-protectant blowout cream or serum to damp hair. Using a round brush or a paddle brush, blow-dry your hair section by section, pulling it taut to smooth out the wave.
 
• Leverage Your Short Length: Because your hair is short and layered, it will grow out relatively quickly. Regular trims every 4 to 6 weeks will remove the chemically altered hair faster than you think, safely returning you to your natural, straight texture.
 
©hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
Perms
 
The scientific processes during perming and relaxing hair
 
Can I use canola oil to get rid of my perm?