Expert: Kristy - 6/5/2007

Question
is it true you cant perm your hair even if its colored 2 mos ago?

Answer
Hi Allyson,

No, that is not true. Usually, we advise that you wait atleast 2 weeks after a perm, before colour application.

If your hair is very dry, or brittle, it may be advised to use a deep moisturizing treatment to reconstruct the hair, and add moisture.

Keep in mind, that if you apply a perm over colour, the perm will strip the colour out. Your colour will fade right out. So remember, its essential to perm first, and colour a couple of weeks later.

Also, if you perm and colour your hair regulary, its essential to use a good every day conditioner for chemically treated hair.

One last thing, the only time where there could be serious issues with perms, and colour, is when you are using a highlift colour like a bleach for blonde highlights. Bleach is a very powerful, and damaging chemical. Over processing with bleach over a perm can be disasterous, and hair breakage, frizziness, brittle hair can be a potential. Again, deep treatments will prevent this, along with regular trims.

In the past, I have had ladies with bleached highlights on long hair request spiral perms, and body perms. If the condition of the hair was fragile, and I felt hair breakage was a possibility, I would have the client sign a waver form, so they understand the risks.

I have seen some very adament ladies lose 7-8 inches of hair, and forced to wear a short hair cut.

However, if your hair is short, or shoulder length, trimmed and condition regulary, and you are only getting a tint with 20-20 volume peroxide, then 2 weeks after the perm is absolutely fine.

Hope this has been of some help, and should you have further concern, please dont hesitate to write back :)

-Kristy