A Little Longer Bubbly! Hair Designer's Perm Care TIP [Likeit]

How to Care for Permed Hair Like This
Interview with Hair Designer Lee Hyunjin (Rain)

Actor Han Ye-seul, singer Taeyeon. Photo by Han Ye-seul, Taeyeon Instagram

[Culture & Life Reporter Eunji Kim]"Let's keep it a little longer!"

This is not something said to a beloved friend or a dear family member. It is a cry directed at the expensive, curly perm hair you paid for. Recently, when the weather plays tricks like a ghost, the desire to see your permed hair last longer grows even stronger.

With the rain pouring down as if the sky has holes, energy is drained, and even the precious and costly perm hair is losing its strength. Before you regret watching your perm loosen day by day, we asked hair designer Lee Hyunjin (Rain), head stylist, about hair care methods and curling maintenance tips ? everything about 'Perm Hair.'

Actor Jung Ryeo-won, group AOA's Seolhyun. Photo by Jung Ryeo-won, Seolhyun Instagram

Q. How long should I avoid shampooing after getting a perm? Some say 2 days, others say 3 days. Whose advice should I trust?

A. It’s best not to shampoo for at least 24 hours after getting a perm. Have you heard of 'neutralization'? It helps fix the curls and works for 24 to 48 hours. For people whose perms tend to loosen easily (severely damaged hair, straight hair, fine hair), I recommend not shampooing for 2 days.

Q. When is the best time to wash permed hair? At night or in the morning?

A. Considering your scalp, it’s generally better to wash your hair at night. However, if you wash your hair at night and wake up in the morning, the curls may look crumpled or loose. So if you want to style your hair more beautifully, wash it in the morning. If you shampooed at night, you can revive the curls in the morning by spraying water and applying styling products.

Q. Can I use rinse and treatment on permed hair? Somehow, I feel like adding treatment during shampooing might loosen the curls. If I have to use rinse and treatment, how long should I leave them on?

A. It’s good to frequently use treatment on permed hair because the treated hair tends to dry out easily. You need to nourish your hair with treatment. Nourished hair gains elasticity, making the perm bouncier. Here’s the order: shampoo → treatment → rinse! Rinse can be skipped if you want.

Singer HyunA, group TWICE's Sana. Photo by HyunA, TWICE Instagram

Q. How should I dry permed hair? Blow-dry or air-dry? I heard you should dry by twisting the hair with your hands. Is that true?

A. The drying method depends on the type of perm. For regular perms or trendy hippie perms (hippi perm), I recommend not drying completely or twisting tightly. Leave some moisture and apply curling products (curl lotion, curling essence) to style. This will create prettier hair.

For heat perms like setting or digital perms, rolling the hair while drying can create a neat, blow-dried look. However, you don’t have to twist it necessarily. If you want a tidy, polished look, twisting while drying is recommended. If drying is difficult or you’re short on time, just shake your hair lightly or scrunch it with your fists, then apply products to style.

Q. When should I apply essence? Should I apply it while blow-drying or when hair is half-dry? Also, what kind of essence should I use? I guess products with 'curling' in the name are suitable, right?

A. After washing your hair, towel-dry (remove moisture only with a towel) and evenly apply a functional essence (protein oil), then dry your hair to prevent damage. It also makes your hair softer.

Applying essence on fully dry hair can enhance the effect. Curling products are hair items specifically for wavy permed hair. For perms like magic straight or C-curl perms, regular essence is sufficient.

Q. Can I comb my hair? I’m worried that combing might mess up the curls.

A. It’s best to comb your hair after washing and before drying. For heavily curled permed hair, combing when dry can make it frizzy and loosen the curls. So avoid excessive combing. If your hair is tangled, just gently comb with your fingers to finish.

Group IZ*ONE's Jang Wonyoung, Kwon Eunbi. Photo by IZ*ONE Instagram

Q. Can I use heat tools like curling irons on permed hair? I’m worried about severe hair damage.

A. You can use curling irons on permed hair, but frequent use will inevitably cause damage and loosen the curls. To reduce damage, lower the temperature of the curling iron or apply hair care products before using heat tools.

Q. On rainy days like these, my hair loses volume. How can I keep my perm curls bouncy during the rainy season?

A. Perm curls actually come alive when they get wet. The reason curly hair gets frizzier during the rainy season is humidity. No matter how much you dry it, the curliness returns. For curly hair, I recommend magic straightening or volume magic treatments before the rainy season.

For wavy perms, just applying curling products is enough. To prevent root volume from collapsing and to increase hold, use a root-lifting product before drying your hair. Blow-drying afterward is even better. For urgent meetings, I recommend using portable Velcro hair rollers. Just clip them at the roots briefly to boost volume.

Q. Do you have any recommended shampoos, rinses, treatments, or essence products for permed hair?

For shampoo and treatment, I recommend Milbon’s 'Jemilf.' It’s very moisturizing and adds softness and shine to dry hair. For essence, the well-known 'Moroccan Oil' is my pick. Though pricey, it never disappoints in terms of feel. For curling products, I recommend Ayoungchae’s 'Blooming Curl Cream.' It styles hair softly without stickiness or hardness.