Perm Not Taking

Permed curls
Photo: Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock
Q: I have gotten perms a number of times over the years. The problem I have is that there seems to be a section on the right side of my head that doesn't "take" the perm as well as the rest.
 
Do you have any suggestions for pre- perm or during the perm action to take? I have fine, medium thickness dirty blond hair.
 
A: Well, this is a fairly common problem, and the best suggestion I can offer is to speak with the stylist who performs your perm services and discuss with him (or her) the possibility of adjusting the timing of your perm to compensate for your harder-to-perm section. This shouldn't present a problem for the stylist, since all that needs to be done is this:
 
Once the hair has been wrapped on the rods apply the waving lotion to the harder-to-perm section of the hair first and let it sit for 5-7 minutes before applying the lotion to the rest of the rods. Cover the rods with a plastic cap and process the perm as usual from this point.
 
When it comes time to rinse the waving lotion from the hair, be sure to rinse for a full 5 minutes using warm water. The key is to remove as much of the waving lotion from the hair as possible prior to neutralizing. Make sure to blot the rods thoroughly, and use as many towels as needed until the rods are simply damp.
 
Then, apply the neutralizer and allow it to process as directed. Follow the perm kit directions.
 
This should help you to get better results from your perm. I hope it all goes well.
 
©Hairfinder.com
 
See also:
 
How perms work
 
The effect of not washing your hair before a perm