How to Roll Hair for Home Permanents

When you use a home permanent, follow an organized approach for rolling the hair. Divide the scalp into sections and roll one section completely before moving to the next. Use rods of different sizes based on the kind of curl you want; the smaller the rod, the tighter the curl.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Permanent rods
• Comb
• End papers
• Spray bottle with water

1. Select the permanent rods and arrange them by size. Make sure you have enough of each size. Place end papers from the permanent kit within easy reach.

2. Start with the section of hair that grows from the crown to the neck. Use a comb to lift the first segment of hair from the crown, making sure it is about the same thickness of the rod you use.

3. Comb the segment of hair so it is smooth with no creases or tangles.

4. Position an end paper close to the end of the hair and fold it around the hair. Spray the hair and end paper with a fine mist of water so that the paper adheres to the hair. Slide the end paper carefully to the end of the hair, allowing the paper to extend beyond the end of the hair.

5. Wrap the end paper around the rod and roll the rod under toward the scalp. Keep the hair even on the rod. Go slowly.

6. Secure the rod with the elastic band when the rod is at the scalp.

7. Repeat the process until the section from crown to nape is finished. Then move to another section of hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Always roll downward. Roll permanent rods from the crown to the forehead toward the forehead. Role those on the sides toward the chin.
• The size of permanent rod affects the size and kind of curl. A body perm, for instance, uses large rods.
• Avoid crowding the permanent rods as you roll the hair. Roll so that you can't insert a finger between rods.

Resources

• Tips for selecting rods are on the Hairfinder website.