Best Shampoo for Permed Hair – What Is the Best Shampoo for Permed Hair?

Perms have evolved a lot over the last few decades.  With many different styling options to choose from, you can achieve the perfect curly or wavy hair that you desire.  However, one thing that hasn’t changed about perms is how damaging they can be to your hair.  To create a perm and ensure that those gorgeous waves stay in your hair, various chemicals are used, which can damage hair.  One of the ways to limit this damage is to choose the right shampoo.  We’ve compiled our top picks for the best shampoo for permed hair, and we’ll share them with you below!

Table of Contents

• What Products Should You Use on Permed Hair?
• Top Shampoos for Permed Hair
• What’s Our Favorite Routine to Follow for Permed Hair?
• About Getting a Perm
• Permed Hair Routine
• When Can You Wash Permed Hair?
• Choosing the Best Shampoo for Your Permed Hair
• FAQs

What Products Should You Use on Permed Hair?

When choosing products for permed hair, there are a few things to look for.

Choose hair products that are:

• Sulfate free: Sulfates can cause further damage to hair. They also remove the natural oils from hair, and leave it very dry.  Since perms can also dry out your hair, you’ll want to avoid further drying and frizziness by choosing a sulfate-free shampoo.
• Paraben-free:  Parabens can also damage hair.  They make hair dryer and frizzier by making it lose water.  So, like sulfates, you won’t want to use products containing parabens on permed hair since they can make it overly dry.
• Formulated with natural oils:  Since permed hair is already so dry, choosing shampoos and other hair care products that are rich in argan oil, almond oil, or other natural oils can help hydrate hair and reduce frizz. These natural oils contain softening agents, like vitamin E and iron.

Top Shampoos for Permed Hair

Here are our top picks for the best shampoos for permed hair!

• Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair Shampoo
• Chi Infra Shampoo
• Pantene Pro-V Curl Perfection
• Marc Anthony Strictly Curls
• Enjoy Hydrating Shampoo
• Royal Locks Clean Curls Shampoo

Editor’s Pick – Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair Shampoo

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What’s our favorite shampoo for permed hair?

It is none other than Arvazallia’s Advanced Hair Repair Shampoo.

Why did we choose it?

There is a lot we love about this shampoo for permed hair.  It is specifically designed to strengthen and repair hair damaged by perms and other chemical treatments.  The shampoo has a sulfate- and paraben-free formula that is very hydrating to hair.  It is formulated with beneficial ingredients, such as argan oil and macadamia oil, which help improve shine while also helping hair to grow.

Why This Shampoo is Great for Permed Hair

The Arvazallia Advanced Hair Repair Shampoo is designed to strengthen and restore hair damaged by chemical treatments, like a perm.  It offers a very hydrating and moisturizing formula that is paraben-free and sulfate-free to improve the texture of permed hair.  You’ll find that this shampoo is also very nourishing; it is formulated with Moroccan argan oil and macadamia oil to keep hair shiny.

Pros and Cons

• Sulfate-free
• Hydrates hair to reduce frizz
• Strengthens chemically damaged hair
• Improves texture of hair
• Has a bit of a strong scent

Chi Infra Shampoo

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Why This Shampoo is Great for Permed Hair

This Chi Infra Shampoo is a gentle shampoo, both paraben- and sulfate-free, making it a great choice for permed hair.  The shampoo is formulated with ionic and catatonic hydration interlink technology to improve hair health, strength, and moisture.  You’ll also find that this shampoo increases the shine of your hair for an absolutely stunning look.

Pros and Cons

• Paraben-free
• Sulfate-free
• Helps make permed hair more manageable
• Balances the moisture on the hair and scalp
• Some found the shampoo too heavy for their permed hair

Pantene Pro-V Curl Perfection

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Why This Shampoo is Great for Permed Hair

Use this Curl Perfection shampoo from Pantene to enhance the look of your curls and reduce frizz and dryness.  The shampoo is formulated with panthenol, a provitamin designed to strengthen and soften hair.  This shampoo can also help increase hair’s shine and brilliance.

Pros and Cons

• Reduces frizz
• Softens and strengthens hair
• Inexpensive
• Contains sulfates

Marc Anthony Strictly Curls

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Why This Shampoo is Great for Permed Hair

The hydrating formula of the Marc Anthony Strictly Curls shampoo is perfect for preventing permed hair from getting too dry or frizzy.  The shampoo includes ingredients such as shea butter, vitamin E, and hydrolyzed silk that can also help strengthen hair and prevent damage.  The sulfate-free formula is also designed to deliver gentle cleansing, reduce frizz, and leave hair bouncy.

Pros and Cons

• Sulfate- and paraben-free
• Formulated with shea butter, vitamin E, silk proteins, and other hydrating ingredients
• Reduces frizz and increases softness
• Some users found that the shampoo didn’t help control frizz well

Enjoy Hydrating Shampoo

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Why This Shampoo is Great for Permed Hair

The ultra-hydrating formula of this hydrating shampoo from Enjoy is perfect for permed hair.  It can help reduce frizz and decrease dryness while increasing the shine and smoothness of hair.  The 24-hour lasting formula is color safe and made without the use of any sulfates.

Pros and Cons

• Sulfate-free
• Very hydrating formula
• Restores shine
• More expensive than other shampoos

Royal Locks Clean Curls Shampoo

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Why This Shampoo is Great for Permed Hair

The Royal Locks Clean Curls Shampoo is another excellent pick for maintaining permed hair.  This sulfate- and paraben-free shampoo is designed to gently cleanse hair and won’t strip away its natural oils.  The shampoo works to remove dirt, dander, and other impurities from the scalp and hair while also helping restore hair’s natural pH balance.  It is formulated with nourishing and hydrating ingredients such as argan oil and macadamia seed oil.

Pros and Cons

• Sulfate- and paraben-free
• Hydrating formula
• Suitable for use with colored permed hair
• The fragrance may be too strong for you.

What’s Our Favorite Routine to Follow for Permed Hair?

If you have permed hair, developing the right routine  to care for your hair is essential.  Everyone’s hair is different, so you may need to make some tweaks to the routine below, but it can serve as a good starting point:

• Wait at least two days to get your hair wet.
• Choose sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners that are specifically designed for chemically-treated hair.
• Each time you shampoo your hair, condition it.
• Use a deep conditioning treatment if you notice your hair is getting too frizzy.
• Avoid using heated styling tools when possible.  If you need to use heated tools, use a heat protectant spray.

About Getting a Perm

What Is Permed Hair?

When you hear the phrase “permed hair,” you may think back to the 70’s and 80’s and visualize big, full, and bushy hair.  However, perms are back in style now, but they don’t look anything like they did in the past.  Today, perms are much looser and wavier than they were back in the day.  But, they still allow you to create a lasting-curled or wavy hair look.

The way in which you get those gorgeous waves, however, still uses harsh chemicals and can be just as damaging to hair as it was decades ago.  The chemicals used to create a perm are designed to change the natural texture of your hair.  Perms, which stands for “permanent hairstyle,” actually permanently alter the hair’s structure.

What Is the Best Method to Get Permed Hair?

One of the most important things to do if you’re looking to get permed hair is to choose a good hair salon.  You want to make sure you find a hairstylist that knows what they are doing and will be able to work with you to achieve a final look that you’ll be happy with.

Once you’ve found a salon and stylist you can trust, have a detailed conversation with the stylist.  They’ll need to know the full history of your hair and the specific goals and visions you have for your new perm.  Be sure to bring pictures with you of what you would like your finished result to look like.

What Should You Be Wary of When Getting a Perm?

There are a few things that you should be wary of before getting a perm.

First, if your hair is overly dry or damaged from bleaching, highlighting, or using heated styling tools, a perm may not be the best solution right now.  The perm will cause further damage to your hair, and may result in too many hairs breaking.

Also, if your hair isn’t long enough to curl with a curling iron, it probably means it isn’t long enough for a perm.  To perm hair, it must be wrapped around a rolled or rod, and if your hair isn’t long enough for this, you’ll want to grow it out a bit more before getting a perm.

What Do You Have to Be More Careful of After Getting Your Hair Permed?

One of the most important things to be very careful about after getting a perm is keeping your hair dry.  If you get your hair wet too early, the water or ingredients in your shampoo or soap may deactivate the perm.  This will cause the curls in your hair to release, which obviously will ruin the perm.

Another thing to be wary of is getting your hair too dry. You must hydrate your hair and scalp, since both went through a chemical process. You may gt dandruff and very damaged hair if you don’t take care of permed hair.

Permed Hair Routine

Below, we’ll share some permed hair routine tips to help you take care of your permed hair.

Following the right routine can help your perm stay looking its best and prevent your hair from damage.

What Is the Best Routine to Follow After Getting a Perm?

Taking good care of your perm can help it stay looking its best and protect your hair from too much damage.  Immediately following your perm, you’ll want to be extra careful with your hair.

Immediately following your perm:

• Wait at least two or three days before shampooing your hair and don’t stand under the shower head for at least two days.  The weight from the water can damage your hair.
• Avoid getting your hair wet in a pool or hot tub for at least seven days.
• Do not use heated styling tools for at least two days.
• Strictly avoid coloring your hair for at least three days.
• Do not pull your hair or brush it for at least one or two days.

Maintaining your perm:

• Use a wide-tooth comb to untangle hair
• Try a curl fixative or texture spray for tighter and more defined curls.
• Use a sulfate-free shampoo.
• Always condition your hair to keep it from getting too frizzy or dry.
• Finish up with a leave-in conditioner.

When Can You Wash Permed Hair?

You can wash permed hair two or three days after getting it permed.  Washing it too soon can cause damage to the hair fibers and impact the perm.  However, after waiting at least two or three days initially, you should be able to return to a normal washing schedule for your hair.

Choosing the Best Shampoo for Your Permed Hair

Whether you’re just got a perm or you’re looking to get one to enjoy stunning wavy hair, choosing the best shampoo for permed hair is essential.  With the right shampoo, you’ll be able to keep your perm from getting too dry and frizzy to ensure it stays looking its best.  Which of the shampoos that we shared are you ready to try for your permed hair?

For more hair care tips, check out our blog:

• Best Natural Conditioner
• Non Comedogenic Shampoo and Conditioner
• Coconut Oil Before Dyeing Hair
• Best Salt Free Shampoos

FAQs