Can You Perm Bleached Hair? Will You Ruin The Bleach?

Perms are coming back, and blonde hair is always in. Is it possible to perm your hair if you have bleached it? Can you perm bleached hair?

• It is very risky, but yes, you can — ideally at a salon!
• You must follow the strict guidelines for dyeing and perming to avoid damaging your hair
• You must wait at least a week in between the dyeing and perming

You can perm your hair, but you need to follow the correct process and know just how to maintain your hair afterward. This is to ensure your hair stays healthy.

We’ll explain it all below. But if you’re thinking of doing this, you should consult with a professional stylist to ensure you don’t damage your hair and cause it to fall out.

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Can You Perm Bleached Hair?

In case you’re unaware, perm means a permanent wave. Traditionally, to achieve this result, harsh chemicals must be used along with curling rods in a multi-hour hair treatment process.

But technology has improved, and now, perms are performed with fewer harsh chemicals and bigger, bouncier waves, giving them a more natural look. It’s a costly process, but can look amazing.

However, many straight-haired women still go to the stylist regularly to get some bounce added to their locks. You can keep your hair healthy and happy if you care for it well, and it can look amazingly natural.

But you can get into trouble when adding bleach to the process. 

Bleach is a harsh chemical. Bleach can cause hair loss if the hair is damaged beforehand or if you don’t mix and apply it correctly.  Just search for “Bleach Fails” on Youtube and you’ll be horrified.

Here’s one:

Bleach can cause hair loss if the hair is damaged beforehand or if you don’t mix and apply it correctly. 

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How Long Do I Wait In Between Bleaching and a Perm?

Bleached hair can be permed, but the dye and perm must be applied at least two weeks apart.

If you want to do a perm on dyed hair, what should you do?

Going this way, you must wait about a week between the process. Is there a reason for this? The chemical ingredients used in these processes affect the cuticle, the inside part of the hair, modifying the hair’s natural structure.

Obviously, the longer you can wait in between, the better.

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If You Permed Bleached Hair, What Could Happen?

Bleached hair can be negatively affected by perming. Some effects may be minor, whereas others may cause permanent damage to your hair.

Let’s take a look at what can happen:

1. Hair Loss

There is a possibility that your hair will fall out. Yep. If you perm your hair, you risk it falling out immediately or sometime afterward. This scenario is not out of the question because of the bleached hair’s already compromised condition.

The perming of bleached hair can result in hair loss, which you do not want to experience at all.

2. Hair With No Moisture Left

You may experience super dry, frizzy hair, which means your hair will become thirsty and almost useless for moisturizing. Each time you bleach, perm, or relax your hair with chemicals, the structure of your hair is permanently altered. 

During this process, its cuticles become more porous, making them less capable of retaining moisture. Moisturizing hair becomes difficult due to this.

Split ends may develop. A split end is a symptom of over-processed hair. The downside of perming bleached hair is that you have heaps of split ends. In addition, neglecting to treat the damaged ends may lead to their breaking off altogether. 

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A Professional Salon Is the Best Place to Go

Bleaching is one of the most aggressive things you can do. It damages and deteriorates the fiber from the inside out whenever it occurs.

You should leave this decision to professionals who can determine how much your hair can withstand before completely ruining it. You should alter your hair care routine after perming dyed or bleached hair.

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The Best Way to Take Care of Bleached Permed Hair

After a perm, you may be advised to wait 48 hours before washing your hair or the curls won’t be defined as you prefer.

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Permed and Bleached Hair Care

1. Wet Hair Should Never Be Dried With a Hair Dryer

Don’t rub it with a towel if you want to keep your hair tangle-free after shampooing and conditioning it. Instead, to remove as much moisture as possible from your permed hair, let it air dry when possible.

Keep your hairdryer in a cool setting and with a diffuser during the colder weather. Keeping your hair healthy and bouncy requires trimming it once or twice a month.

2. The Damage Needs to Be Repaired

Two times a week, you need to apply a deep conditioner to your hair to repair the damage caused by these processes.

Several weeks into deep conditioning, you can reduce the frequency.

Also, acquire a wide-toothed comb and a soft brush to brush your damp hair.

3. Should I Color or Perm First?

The hair should be colored first, then permed, since any color mistakes can be corrected more easily. It will also destroy a few hair bonds as soon as the hair color is applied, allowing for a faster perming process.

Pro stylists, however, recommend avoiding a quick succession of these two chemical processes.

4. If You Have Had a Perm, Wait 48 Hours Before Washing Your Hair

It may not be as easy as you might think to maintain the shape of your curls if you do not follow this rule.

Shampoo chemicals interfere with perm cream chemicals, making your hair even more damaged and uneven. If you have to wash your permed hair, use a permed-specific dry shampoo.

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Perming Bleached Hair What You Need to Know

You should also consider the following: 

1. Patience Is Important

It’s going to be a long process for you. It takes hours to bleach, color, and perm, and there are weeks of waiting between each process. So keep patient and don’t rush the process.

2. Color Fading

Due to the chemicals added by the perm, your hair’s color may fade faster.

3. Moisturize

The constant processing of your hair will eventually cause it to dry out. You can stretch a strand of hair from the back to check its health. It needs moisture if it breaks. To keep your hair full of moisture and natural oils, you should purchase products suitable for your situation.

4. Reduce the Amount of Washing You Do

There is no better time than now to learn not to wash your hair daily. Your curls and color will fade more quickly the more you wash them.

5. Damage Is an Unavoidable Consequence

Make sure you’re prepared. The damage may still occur in the end. For example, the bonds between your hair may break, leading to a haircut earlier than expected.

However, you will grow your hair back no matter what happens. You want to avoid damaging and needing to cut your hair.

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Care For Your Hair When Sleeping

The process of sleeping with permed hair can be a bit daunting if you are new to it. If you don’t want to wake up with tangled or messy hair, wear a silk scarf or pillowcase while you sleep. As a result of this trick, less friction will be generated on the cuticle, reducing frizz and texture.

As a result, you’ll be able to sleep well without having to worry about crazy hair in the morning.

Use the Correct Tools

Short or fine hair: If you permed your hair for volume, blow-dry it with a round brush. As a result, your hair will appear fuller and lifted at the root.

If your hair is long or thick, use a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer. The heat will be directed where it is needed, resulting in less friction against the hair cuticle, so the hair will be frizz-free.

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Can Bleaching Loosen Curls if Done After Perming

If the hair was permed with tight curls, bleaching could loosen the curl, particularly if the hair isn’t bleach-suitable.

To prevent your perm from being deformed by bleaching, ensure that your hair is bleachable first. In most cases, bleaching is best, then allow the hair to recover from that before getting a perm.

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Conclusion

You can perm dyed or bleached hair, but you should always consult a professional hairstylist. If you try to go as far as you can yourself, you’re going to land in hot water.

The stylist can tell you if your hair is healthy enough to be permed. If you have colored or bleached hair, you might be disappointed to learn that perming them isn’t a good idea. Sometimes you have to be flexible.