Guide · 4 min read
How long does a digital perm last?
The short answer
Usually six months or more. The curl doesn’t drop off in one go: it softens as the hair grows, and the new growth at the root comes in with your natural texture.
Want this done properly?
In my chair it's called WavementUP.
Curl built for your hair, 6+ months. Cold £299.95–£499.95 · Hot £389.95–£659.95, by length.
See WavementUP →The short version
At my salon a heat permUP usually lasts six months or more. Some hair holds it much longer; some hair, especially very fine or very smooth hair, lets go sooner.
What makes it last
- Your hair. Coarser, more porous hair tends to hold a curl longer than fine, glassy hair.
- The size of the rods. Big, soft waves relax sooner than smaller curls.
- Aftercare. Daily washing, high heat and tight ties all shorten it.
- The chemistry being right. An under-processed permUP drops quickly; an over-processed one frizzes. Neither lasts.
What “wearing off” looks like
The permedUP hair keeps its shape, but it loosens. Meanwhile the root grows in straight or with your own texture, so after a few months the wave sits lower down the head.
When to redo it
Once there’s enough new growth to permUP, usually after four to six months. I perm the new growth and protect the old, rather than processing the same ends again and again.
Keep reading
All Hair Guides →Want this done properly?
In my chair it's called WavementUP.
Curl built for your hair, 6+ months. Cold £299.95–£499.95 · Hot £389.95–£659.95, by length.
See WavementUP →Are you a pro? The full technique is on tecSture. tecsture.com →