- Ideally, you should wait two weeks to deep condition your hair after a perm.
- If you don’t wait two weeks, you may lose the shape and curl structure you’ve chosen for your perm or your perm may last for less time. For example, tight curls may turn into slight waves.
- And once a fortnight has passed after your perm, I advise you to use a deep conditioner designed specifically for curly hair, such as Nexxus Curl Define or SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Hair Mask. I’ll tell you below how to apply these deep conditioners to your hair correctly after a perm so you don’t lose the shape of your curls.
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What happens if you wash your hair early after a perm?
Please don’t let anxiety get the better of you. After a perm, caring for it during the first two weeks after the process is essential.
Therefore, you should wait at least two weeks to deep condition your hair.
Why?
Because otherwise, you will ruin the perm. And then, bye-bye curls!
Want to know why? I’ll tell you about it below.
Why you should wait two weeks to deep condition your hair after a perm
The reason is simple. You’ve permed your hair, which is a chemical process that changes the structure and shape of your hair. But your hair needs time to adapt to this new shape.
Remember your stylist’s recommendations when they finished perming your hair and you looked happy with your new curls?
Let’s review.
- Don’t get your hair wet for at least 48 hours. Even raindrops can’t touch your permed hair.
- Use shampoos and conditioners for curly hair.
- When you wash your hair, dry it gently with a towel, without friction, to prevent your curls from ending up with frizz.
- Don’t use heat tools.
- And as far as possible, use satin or silk pillowcases to avoid frizz in your curls.
Do you remember these recommendations? Well, if you don’t have a good memory, write them down.
Why are these recommendations important?
Because your hair is adapting to its new shape during this time, and it’s paramount that you don’t interfere with that adaptation.
The perm needs at least two weeks for the curl shape to settle into your hair, giving you defined curls for much longer.
When you deep condition your hair, you need to leave the conditioner on your hair for a long time, between twenty and forty minutes. You should also rinse your hair with plenty of water.
Therefore, if you deep condition your hair immediately after perming, the ingredients in the conditioner plus the rinse effects will cause the curls to lose shape and stretch out.
Therefore, the perm will last you for much less time.
So if you want to deep condition your hair after a perm, you should wait at least two weeks.
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How to use deep conditioner on permed hair
You can use a deep conditioner on your hair two weeks after perming.
Since you’ve invested your money in a chemical process, I advise you to spare no expense when deep conditioning your curly hair. Here’s a list of the best deep conditioners for permed hair.
- OLAPLEX NO. 3
- PROFESSIONAL SERIES HYDRATING ARGAN OIL MASK for chemically treated hair
- NEXXUS CURL DEFINE
- SHEA MOISTURE INTENSIVE HYDRATION HAIR MASK
These conditioners have a very light consistency, so they won’t stretch your curls or make them lose shape.
Applying deep conditioner to hair after a perm
- Wash your hair with shampoo free of sulfates and salts, and towel it dry to remove the excess water.
- Separate your hair into sections, combing through with a wide-tooth comb.
- Apply deep conditioner to each section.
- Gather your hair and cover it with a shower cap.
- Leave it on for 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Rinse it out with lukewarm water and style your curls.
Conclusion
After a perm, you should wait two weeks to deep condition your hair. Otherwise, your curls will stretch, and the perm won’t last for six months.
