Perms In Singapore
Perms have always been popular, especially in Asian countries like Singapore and Korea where most are born with pin-straight hair. After all, adding some bouncy curls or natural waves to your locks is one of the easiest ways to elevate and switch up your look.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a perm, this guide is for you. We’ve explored different types of perms — hot perms, cold perms, and digital perms — and compiled a list of perm styles to help you find the one that suits you best.
What is a perm?
“Perm” is a term short for “permanent hairstyle”. FYI, a perm is a process that changes the texture of your hair by adding curls. To alter the structure of your hair, chemicals that break certain bonds in the protein of your hair will be applied to your hair during the perming process.
How long do perms take?
Most perms take two to four hours. However, some treatments can take even longer, depending on the type of perm you are getting, as well as your hair texture.
Many people also choose to get additional services besides a perm, like a haircut, which will increase the time spent in the hair salon.
Types of perms
There are two main types of perms, a hot perm and a cold perm.
1. Hot perm
During a hot perm, your stylist will apply an acidic solution — containing glyceryl monothioglycolate — to your hair to break down the disulfide bonds in them. The chemicals in the solution are more effective when heated, which is why a warming machine will be used to heat your hair as well. What’s more, the heat also helps to rearrange the proteins in your hair and keep them curled.
Digital perm
Digital perms — aka Korean perms — are a type of hot perm that is widely used all over the world. During a digital perm, your stylist will curl your hair with rods that are connected to a heat machine.
More often than not, a digital perm will create bigger and bouncier curls than a traditional hot or cold perm.
3. Cold perm
While hot perms use an acidic solution, cold perms use an alkaline chemical solution containing ammonium thioglycolate. Cold perms rely solely on chemicals to curl hair and do not require any heat.
Though they may seem like a good choice to avoid damaging your hair with heat, note that cold perms use extremely strong chemicals, which means that they can cause weak or thin hair to become even more brittle.
Popular perm styles
1. Root perm
If you’re looking for a simple way to add volume to your hair, check out Root Perms. Instead of creating waves or curls, a root perm lifts the hair at your roots. Note that while it uses the same chemicals as a regular perm, it does not affect the rest of your hair which means that results will be very subtle.
Additionally, root perms are much more affordable than regular perms since they only affect a small part of your hair — making them great if you’re on a budget.
Price: $50 to $150
2. Partial perm
Opt for a Partial Perm if you’re looking to add curls to a specific area of your hair. It can add volume to your overall hairdo, or even out one’s hair texture.
However, note that Partial Perms are more effective on those with short hair. It is undeniably more difficult to make spot perms blend in seamlessly with natural curls on longer hair.
Price: $60 to $150
3. Hippie perm
Moving on to popular Korean perm styles, we have the Hippie Perm — aka Jelly Perm. This type of perm adds small S-curls to your hair, making your hair seem thicker and more voluminous. Additionally, it also adds a playful and youthful vibe to your look.
Many popular Korean idols have tried out a Hippie Perm for themselves. For example, Blackpink’s Kim Jisoo and IVE’s Jang Wonyoung.
Price: $200 to $600
4. Cloud perm
Just like a Hippie Perm, a Cloud Perm can make one look more youthful. However, rather than exuding a playful charm, a Cloud Perm makes you look more feminine and graceful look. In Korea, Cloud Perms are said to give a person mermaid-like waves in their hair.
Consider getting a cloud perm if you would like to soften your facial features since the fluffy hairstyle it creates makes prominent features like a large forehead and sharp cheekbones less obvious.
Price: $200 to $500
Also read:
9 Korean Hairstyles Inspired By K-Dramas To Show Your Hairstylist On Your Next Salon Visit
5. Build perm
If you watch K-dramas religiously, you’ll notice at least one character with a Build Perm in every show. Think Suzy as Go Hae Ri in Vagabond and Park Shin Hye as Choi In Ha in Pinnochio.
Honestly, it’s no surprise that this elegant perm style has stayed popular throughout the years, since it is easy to maintain and gives you the refreshing #iwokeuplikethis look. Consisting of thick S and C-curls, this perm is more suitable for those with medium to long hair.
Price: $200 to $350
6. Spiral perm
Instead of perms that give subtle and natural-looking curls, try switching things up with a spiral perm. It involves rolling your hair into extremely tight curls vertically, forming curls that are reminiscent of corkscrews.
ICYMI, curly hair is becoming increasingly popular in countries like Japan and Korea. In fact, Danielle from the K-pop girl group New Jeans recently wowed fans by showing off her luscious curly locks.
Price: $200 to $450
7. Pin curl perm
In recent years, trends that pay tribute to the past have been all the rage — like the Y2K or Jazz Revival trends. If you’ve been looking for a way to bring back a blast from the past, consider getting a Pin Curl Perm. FYI, pin curls were extremely popular among Hollywood celebrities in the 1940s.
If you have some reservations about this look, don’t worry, I get it. There is a fine line between looking like a Greek goddess and a Korean ahjumma with this perm. But trust me, when styled properly, this perm will add a touch of seduction and femininity to your look.
Price: $100 to $300
8. Straight perm
Curly-haired girlies who are tired of spending hours straightening their hair can try getting a straight perm. Aptly named, a Straight Perm is a process that “permanently” straightens hair.
During a straight perm, chemicals will be applied to your hair before a heating tool, like a flat iron is used to straighten it. Try your best to opt for Japanese straightening perms if you can, since they often use milder chemicals that nourish your hair while still straightening it.
Price: $100 to $400
How to take care of your hair after a perm?
1. Avoid washing your hair 24 to 48 hours after a perm
After getting a perm, do not wet it for at least 48 hours. This includes not washing it, no matter how gross it may feel in Singapore’s humid weather.
As Elle Woods says “Isn’t the first cardinal rule of perm maintenance that you’re forbidden to wet your hair for at least 24 hours after getting a perm at the risk of deactivating the ammonium thioglycolate?” For the unacquainted, wetting your hair after a perm can deactivate the chemicals in your hair, leaving you with frizzy and uneven curls.
2. Deep condition your hair at least once a week
Since perms use chemical solutions to break the bonds between your hair molecules, they can cause your hair to become dry and brittle. To minimise such effects, you should deep condition your hair regularly, at least once a week.
Besides deep conditioners, you can also use hair oils and hair masks to nourish and rehydrate your hair.
3. Avoid applying heat on your hair for at least 48 hours after a perm
You should also not apply any heat to your hair until 48 hours after your perm. The heat from styling tools like hair straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers can relax your curls before they set, weakening them.
4. Trim your hair regularly
By now, we’ve all probably heard that the key to keeping your hair healthy is regular trims. Similarly, to maintain your curls after a perm, you should go for a trim every two to four months. This prevents the formation of split ends and breakage, which can cause your curls to become frizzy and irregular.
How long does a perm last?
Most perms last for three to six months. With proper care and maintenance, they can sometimes up to a year.
Get The Curls Of Your Dreams With This Guide To Perms In Singapore
There are many things to consider when getting a perm, like which style will suit your face shape and how tight you want your curls to be. If you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to bring them up with your hairstylist.
Hopefully, this guide gives you a better idea of perms in Singapore, so you can get the curly — or wavy — hair of your dreams.
Also read:
10 Best Hair Stylists In Singapore To Get Your Ideal Look, Based On Reviews
