Whether or not to perm hair that has been colored

Over the years I have noticed that many hair stylists advise against perming  hair that has been colored. My clients have confirmed my perception.

There are many unhappy women walking around with flat and straight hair because their hair stylists believe that colored hair (permanent hair color) should not have a permanent wave. There is no better remedy for flat hair than an expertly done permanent wave to give it body. Why do hair stylists take this position.

Well, many years ago when permanent hair color was first introduced, the chemical make up was very different from permanent hair color used today. In the early days, the hair colorist had to literally stand beside the client the entire time, watching closely as the color developed and became darker with every passing minute. If s/he did not wash off the color at the right time and left it on a minute too long, the color would be too dark. The client was stuck with a much darker hair color.

Thank goodness we no longer have to go through this difficult process. Today, a permanent hair color takes automatically 30 – 45 minutes to process,  after which time the color will not change.

Years ago the chemical make-up of the permanent hair color  did not support the type of perm that was used. You probably have seen pictures of women with little cables and clamps attached to perm rods heated up in order to activate the perm lotion for processing.

This explains why a permanent wave was not applied to colored hair. Hair stylists continue to hold on to what was true in the past but is not applicable today.

For many years, I have permed  hair that has been colored with a permanent hair color. I also perm my own hair which has highlights.

Will perming hair that has been colored with a permanent hair color damage the hair? There is no doubt that it will dry out  your hair – dry hair means that the cuticles are slightly raised – yet your hair is able to cope with this as demonstrated by all the women who perm and color their hair as long as both procedures are professionally done.

Hair is an incredibly strong fiber that can withstand all kinds of handling, chemical and otherwise. You see the proof all around you. And this is a good thing.