Things You'll Need:
- Gloves
- Timer
- Perm product of choice
- Petroleum jelly
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Rat-tail comb
- Rubber bands
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Step 1
Buy a perm for your hair texture. Read the box before buying to ensure that you are purchasing the perm that is right for your hair type. There are a variety of brands on the market. The best thing to do is to ask a professional hairdresser about the perm that will work best for your hair type. You can also ask the store clerk for assistance.
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Step 2
Gather all supplies. Be sure to read the instruction sheet that comes with the perm before use. Before starting, remove all jewelry from your body. The chemicals in the perm will tarnish it. If your hair is broken or damaged, do not attempt to perm your own head. Instead, make an appointment with a local hairstylist who specializes in perming ethnic hair.
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Step 3
Part your hair down the middle of your head. Then part your hair from left to right. You should have four sections of hair. Place a rubber band on three of the four sections to keep those sections of hair out of your way. Put on your gloves and get ready to work.
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Step 4
Grease your ears, the sides of your face, the back of your neck and your forehead with petroleum jelly. This is protection in the event that the perm touches your skin. If the perm product is left on skin for too long, it will burn. Read the perm instructions if you haven’t already done so. Mix the perm and activator as instructed. Mix well. Once you have that done, take your comb and dip it into the mixture. You need just enough product to cover the bottom of your comb. Apply it to your head. Place the comb from the edge of the part in your head you made and move away from the part. Smooth the product over your head. Take the rat-tail comb and make a part about 1/2 inch from your original part of that first section and repeat step above until you have permed all four sections.
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Step 5
Remove your gloves and set the timer for the allotted time the perm is to stay in your hair. Refer to instructions for your hair type if unsure. When the timer beeps, run warm water to rinse the product out of your hair. Rinse for about 1 minute until water is clear, then apply your shampoo. Repeat shampoo two times to ensure that the perm is rinsed out of your hair. Condition your hair. Rinse and dry hair with towel. Style as normal.
