GET OVER IT ALREADY!

I understand that for women hair is often more than just hair. There's a certain emotional attachment that comes with the years of love and care we put into growing it, and making it look good. But c'mon! This is just gross.

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.

MIND THE BRUSH

Be mindful of the brush you use when you brush your digitally permed hair. Ideally the bristles would be made of an organic material, but if you have to go man-made, go for a mental over a plastic. The bristles should be flexible, have ball-tips and be spaced wide apart to prevent breakage. When you brush your perm always start by holding it in one hand as if you were going to make a pony-tail, and brushing out only the very ends of the hair first. Slowly work your way up to your scalp, removing any knots as you go. If you tend to start brushing your hair from the scalp down then your hair will likely have a lot of broken hair, and as a result tons of fly-aways. The best brushes to use are either paddle brushes (which should have a rubber center that holds the bristles), or else a wide-toothed comb, which is my personal favorite.

CARING FOR YOUR PERMED HAIR

Have you ever wondered what it really means to have healthy hair? To understand your hair you have to realize that your hair is a fiber like cotton or wool. In order for the hair to be healthy you have to protect the outer cuticle of your hair. Hair is essentially made up of very tiny fiber-like structures which are packed very tightly together and protected by an outer shell. That outer shell is like the skin on your body, and is designed to guard the delicate keratin underneath. When the outer protective layer of your hair is damaged it will break and expose the keratin-fibers underneath. That's what split-ends, flyaways and frizz are! The frayed fiber unearthed by a broken outer shell. Healthy hair = a solid outer layer. Therefore, it makes sense that the products you use, and the way you style your hair is gentle on the hair. If however your hair is damaged due to a digital perm, or a cold perm you will need to buy products that treat the broken outer shell, and protect it from further damage. Search for quality products that make your hair more healthy at the same time they allow you to style your hair. Avoid alcohol based products, and remember to use leave in conditioners that double as anti-frizz serums such as the Redken Fresh Curls Curl Refiner. Also, something I can't recommend enough is giving your hair weekly hot-oil treatments which will smooth the cuticle and replenish moisture.

CINTIA DICKER'S WAVY HAIR & BLOW-DRYING YOUR PERM

Photo Credit: Ellen Von Unwerth in Lula Mag

Supermodel Cintia Dicker appeared in a recent issue of Lula Magazine looking nothing less than perfect. Mind you, Ms. Dicker is blessed with naturally wavy hot-red hair but I couldn't help but share these images with you when I saw them. Sadly, not even a digital perm could get your hair looking this good without a team of stylists. But lucky for you permed bunnies out there, this feat is going to prove to be significantly easier than for those with pin straight hair. To get something closer to Cintia's look buy a curling cream product like Curls Rock by Catwalk in cream form. The cream tends to work better than the sprays because you have more application control. To achieve the super-defined curl above you will have to apply some heat to your digital perm. ANd yes, in case you were wondering it is perfectly acceptable to blow-dry you perm as long as you have some heat protective product on it before you start. No problem. Put some curl defining cream on your fingers and twirl away with your blow dryer pointed at the finger you're using to twirl around the curl. If you want your curls more relaxed and wavy, put some of this product on your fingers and simply brush the curls out with your hand. No heat necessary.