My perm didn't take - any way to revive it? :(

[Angelina321]

Had a 'loose spiral' perm yesterday afternoon. The hairdresser had to leave the solution on a bit longer than she had thought, and then even when they took the rollers off it wasn't anywhere as curly as I'd been hoping for.

She said it was because my natural hair is dead straight, in great condition (so the lotion had a tough time damaging its bonds) and it was my first ever perm, so that's why I only got a wave. She said it'd stay wavy for two months and then once I go back for another one, then the results will be better.

I googled and it seems she was right and these are known issues so I can't blame her.

By bedtime it had pretty much gone. I haven't washed it today as per orders. Is there anything at all I can do to activate the curls or am I resigned to using tongs, yet again, until January?

You can get a perm that gives you waves?! I need to know more about this.

how disappointing, I hope she will be giving a hefty discount on the next one! I have slightly wavy hair that I straighten if I am going out but lately for work I have been spritzing it with a curl spray and when almost dry, as in just a tiny bit dampness left I twist it into a 'sausage' and twist into a bun with a soft scrunchy then leave it, sleep in it too, when I take it out in the morning I have nice loose curls. Think it is sometimes referred to as a 'sock bun' apparently You tube have lots of videos about it. There are lots of products on the shelves now that claim to activate curls so may need a trip to Boots or somewhere to investigate or check the history here as there have been best curl product threads before.something like that with a bit of scrunching might work.

Divere - yes - waves for about three hours!

Thanks Eccles I will try the sock bun tonight. Can't tell you how disappointed I am actually. It took me forever to plump up the courage only for the whole thing to have been a waste of time and money!

I will give it a go a second time to see if it takes better, but no more than that.

I was considering getting a digital perm a while back, did a bit of googling and this review put me right off. Read the comments as well. I think a salon should warn customer you might not get the result you want straight away, rather than taking your money and simply shrugging when it doesn’t work.