What is a Home Hair Perm?

Series Summary

A perm (or permanent wave) is a chemical treatment used on the hair to create a permanent curl in the hair. Beauticians have been looking for ways to add curl and body to straight hair since the ancient Egyptian days. Hair is permed by wrapping it around a roller or curler and then applying a chemical solution to set the curl. Before 1906, these chemical solutions were too harsh for human skin, so to obtain the curly look, humans had to rely on permed wigs. In 1906, a German hairdresser named Karl Nessler created a permanent wave system that relied on sodium hydroxide and heated metal curlers. Since then, there have been many attempts at permanent wave systems including creams, shampoos, overnight systems and acid perms. Home permanent wave kits are available at beauty stores worldwide and are safe to use at your home.

In this series of expert videos, learn more about home hair permanents. You will get a formal introduction to the different materials needed for creating a permanent wave in your hair. Get tips on rods, timers, pre-perm hair care, and applying the perm to the hair. See our expert demonstrate techniques for parting the hair and wrapping the hair around curlers or rods. Learn about neutralizing substances and techniques for rinsing and caring for your permanent wave in these expert videos. Watch these informative videos and you will learn more about home hair permanents and beauty techniques from our beauty expert.

Video Transcript

"Hi, I’m Lillian with Salon in Scottsdale and on behalf of Expert Village.com I am here today to show you how to give yourself a successful home perm. I will actually be doing it on my hair a little bit later. First of all you are going to want to choose your supplies and the first thing we are going to talk about today is choosing the proper perm. Unfortunately you cannot go to a beauty supply store and purchase the perms that are sold to licensed cosmetologists only. But fortunately they do sell these perms and a variety of them in your local discount stores or drug store. You are going to want to go to the store and buy a perm that is good for your particular hair. In my case my hair is kind of dry and thick so I have chosen a moisturizing perm. They have all sorts of perm for gray hair, bleached hair, over processed hair, fine and limp hair so there is a lot out there. So you just choose the one that is right for your hair. Inside the pack you are going to find the waving lotion. You will also find the neutralizer. Comes also complete with a plastic bag to cover your curls and we will talk about that later as we go along and some end papers. It is very important how to select your perm. We will talk about this next. "