by Amber Hilton

Created on: November 10, 2009

Perms may not be as commonplace as they were in the 1980's, but they have definitely starting to creep back to popularity in recent years, even among younger women. However, more often than not, many women who decide to make this drastic change in hair texture realize too late that their perm doesn't live up their expectations.

Usually, it isn't the stylist's fault and the best stylists will do a thorough lifestyle consultation and hair analysis before even agreeing to go forward with a perm. The problem is, even with recent changes in perming techniques and technology, it is nearly impossible to get a perm to mimic naturally wavy or curly hair. The result is usually something that looks dated and unnatural, much like my fifth-grade school photo. The pictures of beautiful, perfect curls and waves that we all see in fashion and beauty magazines are unfortunately generally the result of many painstaking hours with a curling iron and models with naturally textured hair.

However, if you're regretting your decision to get your hair permed, or even if you enjoyed your perm for a while, but are simply ready to go back to your natural texture, all is not lost. There are several things that you can do to ease the transition from permed to natural hair.

First of all, you need to remember that perming is a very nasty chemical process. Even if your hair was extremely healthy to begin with (which is what drives some women to get a perm in the first place), you're going to need to be gentle with it in the coming months as you transition back to your natural hair texture. The process of growing out a perm will vary greatly depending on the individual's hair growth, length and texture, as well as on the type of perm rod and solution that was used. Some looser perms basically straighten themselves out over the course of several months, while others can take nearly a year to completely grow out.

As you grow your perm out, you will need to get frequent trims, even if your goal is keeping or increasing length. The permed ends are simply too damaged and need to be removed every four weeks or so in order to keep your hair looking healthy and avoid further damage to the hair strand.

A weekly deep conditioner, such as Aveda Damage Control, performed at home or at the salon, is also a good idea. If you choose to condition yourself, make sure you start with a quality deep conditioner and apply at night on freshly washed hair. Gently squeeze excess water from your tresses and then comb

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