Can I Use Conditioner After a Perm? What type should I use?

woman looks at her permed hair and thinks about using conditioner

You can start using conditioner 48 hours after getting a perm. And you must use a conditioner specifically designed for curly hair.
The conditioner will help keep your curls hydrated, bouncy, and frizz-free for longer.
You should always apply conditioner after shampooing, avoiding the roots. Detangle your curls with a wide-toothed comb to avoid breaking your hair.
I’ll tell you about the best conditioners for permed hair later.

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How often should you wash permed hair? Should you wash it every day?

It’s essential you use conditioner after getting a perm.

But you should wait 48 hours after your perm to start using conditioner.

Why?

Because during the first 48 hours after a perm, you can’t wash your hair or apply any type of product to your hair . And if you want to prevent your perm from falling out the same day you had it done, you also can’t comb, tie up, or touch your hair during those first 48 hours.

But once you’re two days post-perm, I’d say using conditioner is almost mandatory. Because conditioner will hydrate your curls and give your hair back the moisture it lost during the chemical process.

Even if you had your curls permed a while ago but noticed your curls are dry, limp, or frizzy, it’s time to start using conditioner.

How should you use conditioner? That’s what I’ll talk about next.

How to use conditioner on a perm

wide tooth comb and conditioner for permed hair

I’ll start with a recommendation.

I advise washing your permed hair thrice a week.

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First, this is a matter of health since washing your hair every day is unnecessary. Instead, in this case, “less is more.” If you wash your hair daily, you’ll deprive your curls of moisture and soon become frizzy.

So if you wash your permed hair three times a week, you should use conditioner three times a week.

Now, , it is important to use conditioner when you wash your hair and leave it in for at least five minutes.

Why?

Because while the conditioner is working on your hair, you should detangle your curls using a wide-toothed comb.

So, the process would be as follows:

Wash your hair with shampoo. If possible, use a shampoo designed for curly hair that doesn’t contain sulfates.
Rinse out the shampoo, remove excess water, and apply conditioner, avoiding your roots.
Leave the conditioner on for five minutes, and in the meantime, gently detangle your curls with a wide-tooth comb.
After five minutes, rinse your hair with lukewarm, almost cold water to seal in the moisture the conditioner provides.

What are the best conditioners for permed hair?

SheaMoisture Conditioner for Permed Hair

In principle, any conditioner designed for curly hair will be appropriate. But here I recommend some of the ones my clients use, with excellent results.

If you dye your permed hair , I recommend GARNIER FRUCTIS NOURISH CONDITIONER, which is sulfate-free and contains a huge amount of vitamins, proteins, oils, and nutrients. This brand also offers shampoo, styling creams, and leave-in conditioners for curly hair.
If you’re wearing a perm with surfer waves , I recommend the OGX QUENCHING COCONUT CURLS CONDITIONER. It contains surfactants that give strength and volume to each curl. It also contains collagen for durability.
If your perm has tight curls , the SHEAMOISTURE COCONUT & HIBISCUS CURL AND SHINE CONDITIONER will help you shape the curls more easily and control frizz.