Caring for your permed hair is easier than you might think. If you are afraid that you will lose your curls after applying conditioner or other hair products on, don’t be.

Here are ways for you to care for your hair after a perm:

Do not wash your hair yet

After you’ve just gotten a perm, do not wash it for at least 24 hours. This is because hair is very fragile, plus hair needs to adjust to the chemicals.

Shampoo for chemically treated hair

When your 24-hour wait is up, choose a shampoo that is designed for chemically treated hair. Regular shampoos contain chemicals that are too harsh for chemically treated hair. Shampoos for chemically treated hair contain more gentle ingredients and will cleanse your hair without drying them out.

Conditioner for chemically treated hair

After shampooing your hair, use a light conditioner or a conditioner that is designed for chemically treated hair. Use only a small amount, about the size of a nickel. Conditioner does not weigh your hair down if you do it correctly. Conditioners not only close the hair cuticles but also serve as a detangler, so you won’t have to pull hard on your hair when you comb it. Pulling on your hair can cause split ends, frizziness and breakage.

Towel dry and use a detangler

Towel dry your hair after shampooing and conditioning. Do not rub it too much so your hair won’t get matted and become difficult to comb. Spritz on a detangler if you feel like you need to.

Detanglers are very light and do not weigh hair down. Plus they contain plenty of nutrients so they are like instant vitamins for your hair. Use a wide tooth comb to get through the hair and give it an extra boost.

Styling

After all these, you are ready to style your hair. Some people prefer to keep the wet look with their perm, while some prefer to blow their permed hair dry. Whichever way you prefer to style your hair, always keep in mind that a lot of hair products contain a lot of alcohol that dries your hair out.

Choose a glaze or a gel rather than mousse (unless it’s alcohol free) to apply onto your hair. When blow drying your hair, be careful not to overdry your hair. This causes frizziness and split ends. Dry your hair only up to 85-90 percent.

Getting a haircut

Not a lot of people know that getting a monthly trim is part of caring for your permed hair. A regular trim springs up your curls. If you get it cut in 4-6 weeks as aforementioned, you will spring up the curls more and the perm will last longer.

If you wait too long to get a haircut, your hair will become damaged and your hairdresser will end up having to cut more than you would like and your perm will be gone before you know it.