Perm Perm.. Perm?

**|Xei** · April 30th, 2011, 02:54 PM

Have you considered getting a small amount of layers put into your hair? I'm not an expert on curly hair, but I have noticed in the past with several different curly-haired people that layers really help to bring out their curls, and define them.

A good friend of mine used to have really limp and stretched out curls. I always thought her hair was only wavy until she got layers put into her hair, and her hair was probably, judging from photos, close to or around 3a.

Apparently, the same thing happened to a teacher of mine as well. After getting layers put in, her hair just sprung up and it became really easy to style. Her hair was at waist length and looks a lot like the picture you posted, so even though you're aiming for longer lengths, I don't think it's totally undoable.

**Slinks** · April 30th, 2011, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by |Xei

Have you considered getting a small amount of layers put into your hair? I'm not an expert on curly hair, but I have noticed in the past with several different curly-haired people that layers really help to bring out their curls, and define them.

A good friend of mine used to have really limp and stretched out curls. I always thought her hair was only wavy until she got layers put into her hair, and her hair was probably, judging from photos, close to or around 3a.

Apparently, the same thing happened to a teacher of mine as well. After getting layers put in, her hair just sprung up and it became really easy to style. Her hair was at waist length and looks a lot like the picture you posted, so even though you're aiming for longer lengths, I don't think it's totally undoable.

I think the same thing after seeing her pics in the album .. all the OP needs is a good hair salon ..

**RitaPG** · April 30th, 2011, 03:18 PM

I had a friend in high school who did that, she used to have waist length hair, but after a year and a half and two perms, her hair broke all the way up to shoulder length. And the curls barely lasted a month.

I know there are hair stylists on LHC that might be able to help you with that, hopefully they'll see this ang give a better insight. I'm sure there are better alternatives to a perm.

**Celebrian** · April 30th, 2011, 03:36 PM

I got a 'soft, body perm' about two months ago on my thick but fine BSL hair (both hennaed and bottle dyed - but very well conditioned and regularly trimmed.) It didn't take very well, and I went away to do deep conditioning treatments for a month and then went back to try again (no extra cost.) He used a perm for color treated hair by L'Oreal - that's all I know - and set it on large curlers/wands.

This time it worked much better. There's a distinct 'S' shape to the lengths when my hair is wet, and I like the thickening effect (and the slight root lift) regardless of whether I dry it naturally or pull it out.

I had one problem with the hair just in front of the ears - which frazzled - and needs LOADS of treatment even now, but that said, I am still glad I had it done! But then I trim my hair regularly to keep it fresh and crisp (been BSL for years now!)

Why? Because I have body and fullness, and waves if I want them.

I've discovered that Herbal Essences 'It's a Curl thing' S & C ('Twisted something-or-other' in the US) hydrates my hair well, if that helps.

Oh, I will probably just have a 'root' perm in a few months time (literally roots only) and leave the rest for another 6 months or so.

I will say that I have had some problems with dryness, and these have been overcome by frequent deep conditioning. Also, I tend to henna a few times a year.

I must add that if I leave my hair its lovely, floppy silky self - I start to look like a spaniel (with long, droopy ears) a bit like this:

http://tiny.cc/ullcp

**Scarlet_Heart** · April 30th, 2011, 03:40 PM

If your hair is really long, they will layer it, otherwise, your curls won't look tight just because of the weight. That's what they did with me years back. I wouldn't do it again. My hair looked like a frizz-bang explosion a few months after.

I would not do it if I were you, but I totally understand how it is when you get a bee in your bonnet about trying a new hair thing.

ETA: I just looked at your pics and while I understand you wanting to do it, I feel compelled to beg you not to. Your hair is gorgeous the way it is. It's truly enviable.

**terpentyna** · April 30th, 2011, 03:42 PM

You will decide yourself in the end, I have no input other than what was already said.

I wanted to ask, however, if you have tried to figure out why your hair lost its curl? is it length/ weight, or maybe a product you use?

**caiti42** · April 30th, 2011, 04:39 PM

I suggest trying layers if you don't already have them. I have pretty straight hair with a slight wave but layers in my hair really play up the wave and add volume.

Maybe also go to a haircare place and get them to suggest a good curl defining mouse or sirum (sp?). There are some great ones on the market and I can even get spiral curls with some. I'm talking salon quality products too not grocery store. Might be $10 more but still untimely cheaper than a perm!

**spidermom** · April 30th, 2011, 07:23 PM

I find that a perm generally looks good for 4-8 months, then the damage starts to show and the curl gets wonky because of the 2-4 inches of grow-out. It's downhill from there.

But you might get as much as a year of terrific, and the amount of damage varies from person to person. Your hair may not hate it as much as my hair did.

**Athena's Owl** · April 30th, 2011, 07:27 PM

something to consider - you know how to care for curly hair already, so you won't have as much of a "care shock" as someone with straight hair might have.

the other thing to consider - perms are every bit as damaging as a relaxer. cumulatively moreso, because when you touch up a relaxer you can get a root treatment done, but for a perm you have to re-perm all your hair.

I'm experiencing that "not as curly as it used to be" thing. i'm missing my tight 3b/3c curls. and because it's so dry here I can't get away with using glycerine to activate the curl. my boots curl creme helps somewhat, but I think if I want that level of curl back I'd have to cut it.

**SearMeCarefully** · April 30th, 2011, 10:36 PM

Thank you for all the replies and advice everyone!
I know my pictures show my curls but they are older pictures when my hair tended to curl more (and with plenty of coaxing lol) but again my hair seems to have lost some of it's curl. I would say it's still "wurly" but tends to lean towards the wavy than the curly now.

Oh as for the layers I have had layers before (if you see in my album some of them are when I did). I got them for that very purpose of helping my hair to curl more and really loved it then. However the hairdresser cut a V line so I spent a lot of time growing it back out to a U (as the sides were cut to BSL when I was trying to grow to classic haha ahhh!).

Anyway I spent a few years growing it back out/evening it out and most of my layers grew out. So about a year ago I was feeling frumpy as my hair had been less curly and decided to get layers again (but make sure stylist knew wanted U line this time!) and it didn't seem to help much..

Terpentyna - you know thinking back/time line wise and with what I know from being on here I actually think it may be about when I started birth control and perhaps my hormones have caused this change? My hair care routine hasn't changed much since I used to visit here all the time. I still use the same/similar products.. And my length has stayed about the same as well. I tried growing to classic and farthest I ever got was around TB but my ends looked so bad that after awhile and I trimmed to hip and kinda float around hip/tb now

I don't take hair pictures anymore or come on here like I used to because I've just felt really.. down about my hair lately.

Yea cheese