Ask A Stylist: To Perm or Not to Perm

Here's some hair-do advice from Ross Bartolomei, Owner, Salon Hype:

Q:  My stylist has recommended a perm for me.  I struggle with the top of my hair because I can’t get height anymore and it goes flat a half hour after I do it.  I have had bad experiences with perms in the 80's and I'm wondering have perms gotten any better?

A:  Well, I think almost everyone had a bad experience in the 80's and 90's with perms.  Especially if you have any photos laying around, people who didn't even need perms got them!  But now, it sounds like a perm might be in order.  Although practically no one got perms for the last 20 or so years, the company's that make the product really took the time and focused on making perms healthier for your hair.  We also now have larger perm rods that will just give you body, and there is a great trick I use a lot for women who have trouble with the top of there hair collapsing.   I just wrap a section on top of the head with large perm rods, then I process for the normal time, but when I neutralize the rods I skip every other one.  The neutralizer is what hardens the bonds in the hair.  So what happens to the un-neutralized hair? It still gets some of the solution on it, but within 24 hours the hair is back to its normal PH level.  The result is the perfect amount of body to the top of your hair, so when you blow dry the top you have style supportive body.  I recommend discussing this with a hair care professional to see if they feel this technique is right for you.