Perms and Wearing a Hat
A: A well-executed perm should allow your hair to behave much like naturally curly hair. While wearing a hat will affect your hairstyle to some degree, it won’t undo the perm itself. How much your hair is flattened depends largely on the type of hat you wear, how snugly it fits, and how long you keep it on.
The remaining two-thirds of the hair’s strength comes from physical side bonds, primarily hydrogen and salt bonds. These bonds are temporary and are constantly affected by everyday factors such as heat, humidity, brushing, and pressure. That’s why your hair can become flattened under a hat, lose its shape in humid weather, or be restyled with a blow dryer.
So, yes, wearing a snug-fitting winter hat can temporarily compress your curls, just as it would with naturally curly hair. However, the hair won’t become permanently straight. In most cases, simply removing the hat and gently fluffing your hair with your fingers is enough to restore volume.
If you know you’ll be wearing a hat frequently, consider choosing a hairstyle that works well with winter headwear. Looser styles tend to recover more easily than tight curls. You can also opt for hats with a roomier fit or soft-lined interiors, which put less pressure on the hair and reduce friction. As an alternative, a loosely wrapped wool scarf or earmuffs may provide warmth while helping preserve your hairstyle.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
How perms work
Winter hair care advice
Winter hair problems and solutions