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.

DIGITAL PERM DISASTER - WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HATE YOUR PERM

As I write this I find myself hoping that none of you will need this advice. There's nothing worse than getting excited about a new hairstyle, browsing through millions of digital perm pictures to find that perfect one to take with you to the stylist whom you place all your trust in. You sit in the salon chair eagerly awaiting your hair transformation only to be disappointed by a hair disaster. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Most stylists are very professional and know what they're doing, but as a precaution it is a good idea to not go cheap-back-alley-salon on this one girls.So what should you do when you hate your perm? First thing, go and talk to the stylist that messed things up and gently explain the problem. Point out the mistake and demand a refund. Next, ask what else the salon can do for you to fix the problem. If your hair is very strong they may attempt to straighten your hair, but I really don't recommend this. You'd be putting chemicals on top of chemicals and your hair will end up severely damaged EVEN IF it's strong.The salon might suggest the at-home treatments that will make your perm look better. Remember, a digital perm is different from a traditional perm in that it is much softer and wavier. The curls actually relax more and more over time, so if you really hate your perm what you may want to do is just wait. Buy a good anti-frizz serum, some hot-oils and leave-in conditioners and wait.
Now, if the hair stylist messed up big time. Let's say s/he smoked something funky and went crazy on your hair. I'm thinking nightmare scenario here - half your hair breaks off and you look like someone who just came out of a burning building. What do you do then? Cut it off. All of it. This isn't as bad as it may seem, short hair can be incredibly sexy and we're seeing it more and more on the runways. Super-duper-model Anja Rubik first put short hair on my radar, then came Rhianna, Sienna, Kirstin Dunst - they all rocked the short hair look. Don't despair, it may just be the happiest accident you ever got yourself into. And the best thing about it is that the texture of your perm will add incredible shape to any short cut. Check out some of the incredible images below. I'm so inspired!

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.