Salon deZEN

let's get curly

the return of the perm and how to care for curls

STORY BY LIESEL SCHMIDT

Once upon a time, no one looked at you sideways when you walked into a salon and asked for a perm. But alas, the perm fell out of vogue along with baggy jeans, leaving those of us with stick-straight hair to look upon curly heads with envy while we tortured ourselves with curling irons or—conversely— obsessed over taming our manes into perfectly straight curtains of hair.

As with all trends, however, perms have once again made their way into the style-watch—this time with the added benefit of techniques that have modernized and streamlined the whole process. “Traditional perms, as we all recall from the classic Legally Blonde, use a chemical called ammonium thioglycolate to break down and reassemble the hair's structure to create curls on hair that otherwise would be straight,” explains Lee Wilson, Stylist, Director of Events and resident curl expert at Salon deZEN. “The hair is washed, rolled onto perm rods and then processed for a long period of time both in the chair and in the shampoo bowl. Traditional perms are stinky, uncomfortable and have a high risk of getting the recipient soaked with water at the shampoo bowl. The perm itself—and sometimes the smell—can be expected to last around three months depending on the size of the curl. The new perm method we offer uses a different chemical entirely, which has eliminated the stinky sulfuric smell of traditional perms. It includes a pea protein complex to make the hair healthier as it processes. We also remove the rods prior to rinsing, so that you don't have to sit at the bowl with uncomfortable rollers in your hair.” So why the return in popularity of perms? “Perms are in again because they create natural-looking, consistent curls or waves that can add volume and make the hair significantly easier to air-dry,” says Wilson.

"anyone can have awesome volume, beachy waves or perfect curls." - lee wilson

For Wilson, curls aren’t just something she does—they’re a passion. “My interest in curly hair began about the same time as my interest in hair in general,” she says. “I grew up in the time of flat irons and stick straight hair and never loved how puffy my hair looked. Once I started working in salons and learned that my hair was naturally wavy and just needed a nudge, I became obsessed with helping others harness their true natural hair potential. Ten years and countless hours of education later, here I am at Salon deZEN, making Alexandria curlier, one head at a time.”

Fortunately, you don’t have to have a specific hair type to be well-suited to perms. “Perms are great on any hair type as long as the hair isn't significantly damaged already,” Wilson notes. “Because perms are so customizable, we can use them to create soft and wispy pixies, wavy French bobs and textured long locks, so any length of hair can be permed. Even colortreated hair can be permed.”

With an issue that is all about health and wellness, I can’t help but talk about hair health. The truth is your hair does change as you age, but you do do have the power to make it as healthy as it can be by caring properly for your scalp and keeping your hair properly hydrated. ZEN has the two perfect products that will give your tresses some extra hair love.

1. True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub by

Innersense. This is a scalp scrub exfoliation treatment that was crafted to gently remove impurities while also restoring hydration to the scalp and stimulating blood flow. All you have to do is apply, massage, and rinse your way to more healthy, nourished hair. Happy scalp = happy hair!!!

2. Hydrating Hair Mask by Innersense. This is a hair mask like no other. It successfully revitalizes dry, coarse, and/or damaged hair. Remember, it is just as important to hydrate your hair as it is to hydrate your body.

Find these Innersense products and more at ZEN.

Love, Maria Elizabeth