Flat Iron before Perm

Flat ironing long hair
Photo: SunCity/Shutterstock
Q: I would like to get a perm in 3 days, and I was wondering: is it ok if I flat iron my hair before I get one? Is it ok to use hair grease as well or just flat iron it naturally?
 
A: You can certainly flat iron your hair prior to having a perm service.
 
However, I want to make sure that you understand that this kind of styling won't have any bearing on the results of your perm service unless this is meant to be a "straight perm" (which is also known as a "thio straightener") in which case it could be useful in providing a smoother starting point for a permanent straightening service (provided that the hair is shampooed first as part of the service).
 
However, regardless of the type of perm service you are planning to get, I would recommend that you avoid using any heavy products during the styling immediately prior to getting the perm service. These chemical services generally begin with a shampooing step using a clarifying shampoo, but avoiding heavy products can ensure a cleaner result and therefore better perm penetration.
 
Remember, heat styling only affects the physical side bonds of the hair and this change is only good until the next time the hair is exposed to moisture or heat. On the other hand, perms alter the configuration of the chemical side bonds and once neutralized, these changes are permanent.
 
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See also:
 
Perms
 
Hair straightening
 
The effect of not washing hair before a perm