How to Avoid the Short Perm Helmet Look

A perm can be a great way to add body and curl to otherwise straight, flat hair. But a bad perm can leave you in trauma and wearing hats for weeks until it grows out enough to cut. You definitely want to avoid certain looks when getting a perm, and the helmet look is one that has gone the way of the dinosaur long ago.

Instructions

1. Use bigger rods to avoid really tight curls that are difficult to comb out. Place the rods all over your head, instead of in even rows to avoid a solid, helmet configuration. If you look like you're wearing a tight helmet with the rods in, the chances of it looking that way when it's done are greater.

2. Cut your hair in various lengths. It will give your hair body while also taking away any kind of uniformity that could create a helmet-head.

3. Comb out your perm with a pick rather than a brush. With the long tongs of a pick, you can pull out the curls in various places to design your style better. Brushing tends to lift the curls out evenly, leaving an even shape, which you want to avoid.

4. Try a root perm. This perm will give your short hair the volume you want from a perm without bending the ends in a shape that will end up looking like a helmet.

5. Trim your hair after the perm has been washed a few times. Sometimes, just a few snips in the right places can change the entire shape of the perm and give you back the ease you were looking for by getting the perm in the first place.