WHERE TO GET YOUR DIGITAL PERM

To get a digital perm you're best off going to a Korean or Japanese hair salon, since the technology originated in that part of the world, and given the sheer number of unhappy straight-fine-haired Asian ladies out there, East Asian hair stylists have by now perfected the digital perming technique to a fine art. North America/Europe has been slow to jump on the digital perm band wagon but its popularity is quickly spreading. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather trust someone who has been working with this new procedure for years as opposed to someone who has only just found their way around a heated roller. To find a salon near you, just type in "Korean Hair Salon" or "Japanese Hair Salon" and your city name into Google Maps and you're on your way.

WHEN NOT TO DIGITAL PERM

Have you always dreamed of having a mane of tight ringlets? Then it's time to get your facts straight. In the end, the perm solution/technique you should use depends on the look of the curls you desire as well as the condition of your hair. In some cases, it may be better to skip the digital perm and go old-school. An important ingredient in "cold perms" also known as Alkaline Perms, is an ammonia compound which has a relatively low PH balance that allows the solution to penetrate the hair very quickly. So, the great thing about cold perms is that they can form very defined tight curls very quickly and for a very long time (in fact, an Alkaline Perm will barely loose its initial shape until you chop it off). If the above images exemplify the look you are going for then a digital perm is likely not for you. Digital perms, and their other "hot perm" counterparts do not hold a strong curl. But be warned that warm (acid-balanced) perms are much more gentle on the hair, and if your tresses are already damaged then tight curls may not be in your immediate future, no matter how many wet dreams you have.

DIGITAL PERM: WHAT TO EXPECT

One thing that always scares first-timers is how tight the curls are initially. When you decide to get your hair permed be prepared for this, and don't panic when you find that the curls don't look the way you expected right away. Within a very short time the curls loosen and, depending on the size of the barrel used to create your curls, you will have that much loved Victoria's Secret wavy hair men melt for. Don't be quick to judge. It is the nature of digital perms to loosen over time, from tight curl to tousled wave.

DIGITAL PERM STYLING TIPS

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For those low-maintenance bunnies out there, here's the deal with styling your digital perm. After shampooing and conditioning, make sure to rub a leave in anti-frizz treatment into your damp hair. Then twirl your hair into two massive curls and allow them to air dry. Once they're dry, just gently separate your curls by combing them through with your fingers and spritz in an optional curl-spray, like Frederic Fekkai's Beach Waves. But let me stress, that last step is very very optional. Your hair will look amazing either way. One word of advice, avoid blow-drying your hair. Not only does it not work on digitally permed hair, there's little need to stress your already chemically stressed hair. Be gentle with it.

HOT PERM VS. COLD PERM

You may be wondering, "well, what's the difference anyway?" The differences between the digital perm and the regular (cold) chemical perm is the chemical application process, and then the manner in which you achieve a curl when styling your hair. An essential step in the digital perm process is the heat application, that's why it is called a hot perm (while it's older, "normal" counterpart does not require heat application and the perm solution is applied cold directly to the hair). During the hot perm process, every curler in your hair is attached to a computer that can be programmed to heat up to very specific desired temperatures, giving the stylist a greater degree of control over the whole process. That way you can be sure to get the exact curl you want. After you're done, another big difference between the digital perm and the normal cold perm is the way your hair behaves as it dries. After a digital perm you will find that your hair takes on more and more curl as it dries, whereas with the traditional perm you'd have to apply some type of moisture in the form of gels or curling creams to achieve that curl. With a digital perm, the only styling you have to do is a bit of hair spray and a twirl of your finger and you're done! Having said that, I would like to emphasize that digital perms are inherently low maintenance so if you like to experiment with different hair styles, the digital perm may not be for you. Hot perms don't straighten very well with a blow dryer. Another set back of the digital perm is that, because heat is applied to the hair, the rollers cannot be kept too close to your scalp, which means that a digital perm won't add as much volume at the roots as a cold perm would.

DAMAGED COLOUR-TREATED HAIR

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If you have sensitive, chemically treated hair make sure to go in for a consultation with your stylist before you decide to take the perm-plunge. Women with fine coloured hair that has been frequently heat styled (blow-dry, straightening iron etc) will find that, in many cases, the hair is too fragile to take to full concentration of perm solution. But that is not to say that all is lost, and that the digital perm cannot be done. What the stylist will do is take a test sample of your hair and apply the perm solution to see how it will behave. If it receives a passing grade, then you can go ahead and, with the lowest concentration of chemicals, achieve the loose waves of your dreams. A digital perm is definitely not as harsh on your hair as the old-school perm your grandmother used to get.

HELPFUL DIGITAL PERM VIDEO FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS

I'm happy to present you with these incredibly helpful videos documenting Shopaholicness's digital perm experience. She was nice enough to discuss her experience in depth - outlining everything from why she did it to how much it cost and even providing us with photographs of how her perm changed over the course of the week after she got it done. As you may be aware, your digital perm will be very tight and curly at first, but within a few days will relax into the signature wave. I highly recommend you watch this if you're considering getting your hair digitally permed. Overall, she reports being very satisfied with the process. The only two draw backs she discusses are 1. the smell after getting the perm (which goes away eventually), and 2. that there was some damage and occasional frizz. Watch the videos and make your own conclusion.