How to Control Frizz in a Bad Perm

Bad perms can result in dry, frazzled tresses.
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Salon perm treatments rely on chemicals and heat to structurally reshape and train your locks. The goal is to leave the salon with lasting, luxurious curls. Sometimes, you end up with dry, damaged and unruly hair. If your stylist left the treatment on for too long or rolled a few curls unevenly, you might also have to contend with frustrating frizz. Fix a perm gone wrong with lots of extra moisture, which acts as a smoothing agent in the battle against frizz.

Stand over a sink or clean basin and flip your hair over.

Apply a generous amount of canola oil to your entire head of hair from root to tip. Start with a healthy palmful of oil and gently massage the product into your hair to encase the locks. Continue until all of your hair is evenly coated.

Twist your hair up onto the top of your head. Clip the hair in place gently with a couple of large alligator clips.

Wrap your entire head of hair in plastic wrap. Place the first end of the plastic wrap at the nape of your neck and wrap it around your head a few times until all of the hair has been closed in plastic. The heat from your head will help the oil to absorb into your frizzy locks.

Leave the oil in place for about an hour. Remove the plastic wrap gently.

Wash your hair with a gentle moisturizing shampoo until all of the oil is removed. Choose a shampoo formulated for chemically treated hair and rinse with warm, rather than hot, water.

Apply a deep conditioner from root to tip once the excess oil has been washed away. Leave the conditioner in place for five to 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and towel dry your hair.

Apply one or two drops of coconut or almond oil to your fingertips and work into your hair, starting at the tips and working your way to the roots. Leave the product in as you go about your normal day to cut down on frizz and add moisture to your frazzled hair.

  • Always use products designed for chemically treated hair to retain moisture and encourage healthy hair.
  • Apply the oil mask only once every couple of weeks.

Sarah Vrba has been a writer and editor since 2006. She has contributed to "Seed," "AND Magazine," Care2 Causes and "202 Magazine," among other outlets, focusing on fashion, pop culture, style and identity. Vrba holds an M.A. in history with an emphasis on gender and fashion in the 19th century.

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