Exact Answer: 1 Month to 6 Months
Perm is a hair treatment technique that allows having curls or waves. Though perm is the short form and implies permanent, it is a temporary treatment. Women, as well as men, undergo hair perm treatment primarily for waves or curls. Hair perm treatments are offered by hair salons.
Perm is a chemical hair treatment method where permanent changes of hair can be done for a temporary period. Hair perm treatment is the application of two types of chemicals.
The treatment includes a reducing agent that breaks the disulfide bonds and a neutralizer that rebuilds the disulfide bonds in the desired form resulting in curls, waves, or any other desired result.
How Long Does A Perm Last?
Hair perm treatment lasts for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of up to 6 months. For men, the maximum duration of the effects of this treatment is around 4 to 5 months.
The effects of hair perm treatment are highly dependent on the hair care routine. The hair may go flat before the minimum duration if proper hair care hasn’t been done.
Many factors affect the duration of hair perm treatment. Most factors are highly dependent upon the hair condition. Hair condition and care play an important role in deciding the duration. For longer durations, one needs to take good care of hair condition.
The type of hair perm technique also has a great deal of influence on the duration. The first classification of hair perm treatment can be classified essentially into two types of hair perm techniques, hot and cold.
Hot hair perm techniques last longer than cold hair perm techniques. Though the hair damage is the least in the cold hair perm technique. Apart from the hot and cold hair perm technique, there are different types of hair perm techniques based on the end effects achieved.
Refer to the following table for more details,
| Type Of Hair Perm Treatment | Duration Of The Effects |
| Straight Perm | 3 to 6 Months |
| Spiral Perm | 3 to 6 Months |
| Digital Perm | 4 to 6 Months |
| Body Wave Perm | 3 to 5 Months |
| Beach Wave Perm | 3 to 4 Months |
| Root Perm | 1 to 2 Months |
| Pin Curl Perm | 3 to 6 Months |
| Spot Perm | 1 to 3 Months |
| Stack Perm | 4 to 5 Months |
Why Does A Perm Last So Long?
The maintenance & nourishment of the hair after the perm treatment play a vital role. The type of hair also plays a major role in the duration.
Other factors such as hair thickness, hair growth, hair texture, and the length of the hair also influence the duration of perm treatment. Apart from these factors, other aspects influence the duration of the effects.
The use of a strong concentration of chemicals for hair perm treatment will result in a longer duration of the effects. The effects may last for 5 to 6 months.
Hair perm treatment by a professional (with appropriate experience) lasts much longer. This is due to the proper understanding of the procedure, chemical composition, and other aspects by the professional.
The perm treatment duration increases if the hair is maintained free from frizz and tangles. Proper hydration and conditioning of the scalp also help to increase the perm treatment duration.
Hair perm treatment is a result of a combined effect of various chemicals. These chemicals cause temporary changes in the hair. The composition, concentration, and application of chemicals also influence the duration of perm treatment.
The initial days after hair perm treatment are important. No head bath or shower for at least 3 to 4 days after the treatment. Combing of hair should be strictly avoided for at least a day after the treatment.
Conclusion
Hair perm treatment has permanent effects for a temporary period. All the above-mentioned factors decide the duration. After the end of the stipulated temporary period, the result of hair perm treatment effects will vanish. This means that the individual needs to undergo this treatment again for a revival of the earlier results.
There are only minimal chances that hair perm treatment may last longer than 6 months. Proper hair conditioning, hydration, and care can increase the duration of the treatment by a month or two.