- You'll need a home perm kit and rods or rollers, available at drugstores and beauty supply stores. Perm kits usually come with numerous colored rods. The rod colors specify the size of curls-- big rods will give you large loose curls and small rods will create tight curls. You will also need shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioning products designed for permed hair to give your hair extra moisture it will need.
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You'll need a helper to do a home perm. You'll also want to allow yourself a good chunk of time to allow the perm time to set.
If you have hair damaged by coloring, you'll need a specialized perm kit. To determine whether your hair is healthy enough to perm, do a strand test for damage. Cut a stand of hair and put it in a glass of water. If the hair floats, it is healthy. If it sinks, the hair is porous and damaged, and a perm is not recommended.
You should also make sure you are not allergic to the perm solution before doing the perm. Put a little bit of it on your skin, then wait a few minutes to make sure you do not have an allergic reaction to it.
To prepare your hair for a perm you should first shampoo and rinse as normal. The perm solution can be messy, so wrap an old towel or sheet around your neck. Also, make sure to wear clothes that you do not mind damaging. Then just follow the directions on the kit and you are on your way to curly locks.
