Everything you need to know before getting a perm in 2025
Read: They're nothing like your mum's high school perm
When we think of perms our minds typically wander to the big hair of stars like Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston and Julia Roberts in the '80s. Plus, there's always an inevitable horror story about perms in everyone's family history.
But, by comparison, modern perms aren't traumatising in the way your mum's high school perm might have been. In fact, perming techniques have advanced so much that they can be an easy hack for adding a natural-looking wave or subtle curl to hair that's typically dead straight.
The positives? A good perm can positively impact your sleep, because you can finally get rid of that uncomfortable overnight heatless curling rod, and it'll cut your AM routine in half, because you'll no longer have to painstakingly curl your hair every morning with a curling wand.
Don't believe us? Ahead, USFIN Atelier hair salon founder and Shark Beauty Ambassador, Daniel Jianing Liu, tells BEAUTYcrew how to pick the right kind of perm, how to care for permed hair, and how to style it too.
What is the difference between a traditional perm, a cold wave perm, and a digital perm?
A traditional perm uses a chemical solution, along with heat, to create tight, uniform curls. It's great for strong, defined curls, but it's higher maintenance, Jianing Liu tells us.
While more modern techniques and technologies like a cold wave perm and a digital perm can be used to create loose curls and waves to imitate natural texture.
With a cold wave perm no heat is used; curls form at room temperature, the USFIN Atelier founder explains. It creates versatile curls and is suitable for wavy layered styles, however it's not recommended for bleached hair.
"A digital perm uses heated rods with a chemical solution to create soft, natural waves that last longer," Jianing Liu continues. "Heat is carefully controlled for smooth, silky curls."
But it's worth mentioning that a digital perm typically works better on thicker hair, and it's not ideal for bleached or very fine hair.
How often do you need to perm your hair to maintain results?
"Generally, two to three perms a year is enough; however, it depends on hair type and how your hair responds to the perm agent," explains Jianing Liu. "With proper care, most perms last three to six months, depending on how well you look after your curls."
What not to do after getting a perm
"Right after a perm, try not to wash your hair for at least 48 hours so the curls can set properly," warns the expert. "And avoid tying it up too tightly or using clips that could leave dents."
How to look after a perm
According to the hairstylist, over washing your hair can loosen permed curls, so scheduling a hair wash day about two to three times a week is ideal.
"Between washes I usually lightly diffuse or spritz with a curl refresher to revive the shape," he explains. "I also sometimes mix conditioner with water in a spray bottle to refresh the style."
The hair expert also recommends adding a sulphate-free shampoo, curl-enhancing conditioner, and a lightweight leave-in treatment to your current hair routine — "try different products as your hair may respond differently after being permed".
"Using a tool like the Shark FlexStyle (usually $499.99, now on sale for $399.99 from Oz Hair & Beauty) ensures no heat damage, helping your curls last longer," he adds. "In the morning, give your hair a quick spritz with water and then use the Shark FlexStyle diffuser ($36.99 from Shark Beauty), while scrunching your hair with your fingers to refresh curls and give them bounce — without flattening them."
As for the evening? Jianing Liu recommends sleeping on a silk pillowcase or wearing a silk bonnet to help prevent frizz and preserve the shape of your curls overnight.
How to style permed hair
"I usually start by lightly spritzing my client's hair with water, or a curl refresher, and then I use my fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently define the curls," Jianing Liu tells us.
"If I want a bit more lift and smoothness, I’ll reach for the Shark FlexStyle with the diffuser attachment (usually $499.99, now on sale for $399.99 from Oz Hair & Beauty). It dries hair evenly without flattening the curls and gives the roots some bounce," he explains.
"I like the Build your own FlexStyle (usually $349.99, now on sale for $299.99 from Shark Beauty), because you can choose the attachments you need, making it super versatile," he went on to say. "You can twist it to switch between a fast hair dryer and a multi-styler, and the heat is regulated, so it won’t cause any damage — using a tool that causes no heat damage is a simple way to keep curls soft, bouncy, and healthy."
Main image credit: @sooyaaa__
Want to switch up your style, but not sure if a perm is right for you? The hime haircut trend might be right up your alley.
Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).
