Does your beautiful new perm sometimes feel more like a frizz-fest than a fountain of perfect curls? You spent time and money getting that amazing wave, but now you face the daily challenge: choosing the right styling products. It can feel overwhelming! So many bottles promise bouncy curls, but deliver crunchy stiffness or limp waves instead.
Finding the perfect product is crucial for permed hair. Perms need moisture and definition to truly shine, but the wrong mousse or gel can weigh them down or make them look dry. You want your curls to look soft, springy, and healthy, not sticky or neglected. This confusion is common, and it stops many people from loving their perms.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down exactly what your permed hair craves. You will learn the secrets to selecting the best creams, gels, and sprays that keep your curls defined and frizz-free all day long. Get ready to unlock your perm’s full potential!
Top Styling Products For Permed Hair Recommendations
- Separates and defines curls while nourishing hair. Replaces the need for multiple curl products.
- English (Publication Language)
- Defined Curls, Zero Crunch: Marc Anthony’s Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion is a lightweight styling cream designed to help shape, smooth, and hold curly hair with natural bounce and a soft finish. 8.3 fl oz
- Powered by Silk Protein & Vitamin E: This moisturizing treatment helps hydrate and condition while enhancing shine and definition for soft curls that look as good as they feel.
- Perfect for Air-Dry or Heat Styling: Apply evenly to wet or damp hair and gently scrunch. For spiraling curls, gently twist small random sections with your fingers without pulling. Allow to air-dry or lightly diffuse.
- Frizz Control That Lasts: As one of our most iconic products, our frizz-fighting curly hair lotion works hard to lock in curl shape and resist humidity to help your style hold up effortlessly throughout the day.
- Endless Innovation: With formulas free from harmful sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, the Strictly Curls collection is perfect for men and women with all types of curls.
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse, blended with Fair Trade Shea Butter, helps make your curly hair beautiful and bouncy
- Our volumizing hair mousse enhances natural curl memory and wave pattern, with no residue, to create shiny curls with high impact volume and a soft finish
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse, blended with coconut and neem oil, helps to control frizz while adding a brilliant shine to your curly hair
- This styling mousse, blended with Silk Protein, leaves your wavy, curly hair smooth, silky and obviously bouncy
- All SheaMoisture hair care products, including this mousse for curly hair, are ethically traded, sustainably produced and cruelty-free
- Soft, Touchable Curls: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control featherlight hair curl cream creates a definition for long-lasting, touchable curls. It is a styling cream for women that helps nourish & hydrate dry, damaged hair for effortless beautiful curls
- Flexible Hold: This curl cream for curly hair is a blend of lightweight humectants and natural oils like meadowfoam seed, olive, and soybean that nourishes hair with balanced hydration to enhance curls giving a flexible definition
- Anti-Frizz Hair Styling Cream: This hair cream for curly hair uses high-performance Anti-Frizz Nano Technology and locks out humidity to help achieve frizz-free curls, no matter the climate. Get shiny, hydrated curls with this hair curling cream
- Ouidad's Rake & Shake Technique: Apply the styling cream by dividing damp hair into sections. Rake a nickel-sized amount of this lightweight curl cream through each section. Shake or crunch to create curls. Let air-dry or blow-dry with a diffuser
- The Curl Experts: For over 30 years, we've developed professional collections, backed by decades of stylist knowledge, to address your specific curl type needs. Our award-winning formulas are made with sophisticated good-for-curl ingredients
- SHAMPOO, CONDITITIONER & CREAM CURL SET: Enhance natural definition with this wash day plus styler trio. The Cake ‘Curl Friend’ Curl Enhancing Shampoo cleanses and hydrates while and ‘Curl Friend’ Curl Enhancing Conditioner nourishes for bouncy, shiny curls. Post shower, the ‘Curl Friend’ Defining Curl Cream wraps each tendril in a veil of silky moisture for glossy and defined curls.
- GOOD FOR YOU INGREDIENTS: Curl Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner: We pour in Sunflower Seed and Argan Oil for curls that look and feel healthier. Defining Curl Cream: We pour in Avocado Oil, Soybean Oil, and Shea Butter to moisturize, for smoother, softer curls.
- DEFINES AND HOLDS CURLS: For best results, start your shower routine with the Cake ‘Curl Friend’ Curl Enhancing Shampoo and ‘Curl Friend’ Curl Enhancing Conditioner to restore moisture, and cleanse curly locks. Finish off with the Cake ‘Curl Friend’ Defining Curl Cream.
- FOR YOUR PERSONALIZED CURL ROUTINE: Need some extra oomph in your curls? Add in our Cake ‘Curl Whip’ Whipped Curl Mousse for frizz protection and big curl boosting power.
- YUMMY FRAGRANCES: Indulge in the shower with our Lemon Cookie scented ‘Curl Girl’ and ‘Curl Next Door’ Curl Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner – a refreshing essence of citrus zest and juicy Meyer lemons followed by baked sugar cookie dough and creamy vanilla milk. Finish off in the delightful aroma of our cult favourite signature Lemon Meringue Pie scented ‘Curl Friend’ Defining Curl Cream with fresh baked notes and a zesty citrus top followed by a mouthwatering sweet vanilla cream.
- PERFECT FOR all types of curls
- USE IT TO cleanse, deeply moisturize, detangle, de-frizz, and style your curls
- MADE WITH coconut oil
- 6-PIECE regimen curated for your unique curls
- PETA certified cruelty-free
- 7 ESSENTIAL OILS: nourish hair with shea butter infused with 7 essential oils
- SMOOTH STYLE: define & add shine to natural curls, coils & waves
- GREAT FOR: Type 2 waves, Type 3 curls & Type 4 coils
- NO HARSH INGREDIENTS: formulated with no mineral oil, sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates, gluten, paraffin or propylene
- CRUELTY-FREE: absolutely no testing on animals
- Get Soft, Defined Curly Hair: Let loose your luscious ringlets and springy spirals with this effective All-in-One Styler for curly hair. Repair, hydrate and style in ONE easy step. No stickiness, crunch, cast, or residue – just soft, beautifully enhanced natural curls.
- Infused With Shea Butter and Moringa Oil: Our products are full of hair-nourishing nutrients that repair, strengthen, moisturize and reduce breakage, leaving curls soft, defined, and full of shine.
- For Touchable, Defined Curls: LUS hair care products will help bring out your natural waves, curls, spirals, kinks, and coils each day. Simply choose the customized hair care system that’s made especially for you. No crunch, no cast, and non-sticky.
- Clean, Vegan, and Cruelty-Free: Our curly hair products are never tried on animals. They’re also gluten-free, so you can rest assured that they are suitable for sensitive skin.
- Love It, or It’s On Us: We’re so confident you’ll love our products that we back them with a 30-day money-back policy. As a team of real curlies, we know that learning how to care for your curls is a journey, that’s why we created these products to help bring out the best of your own unique curls.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Styling Products for Permed Hair
Getting a perm gives you beautiful, bouncy curls. To keep those curls looking great, you need the right styling products. Choosing the wrong product can make your perm look frizzy or flat. This guide will help you pick the best products for your new look.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping, look for products that focus on your perm’s needs. These features help your curls shine:
- Moisture Retention: Perms can dry out your hair. Look for products that lock in water. This keeps curls soft, not crunchy.
- Definition and Hold: You want your curls to hold their shape all day. Find products that define the curl pattern without making it stiff.
- Frizz Control: Humidity is the enemy of perms. A good product will create a barrier against frizz.
- Lightweight Formulas: Heavy creams can weigh down delicate perm curls. Choose lighter gels, mousses, or serums.
Important Ingredients (What to Look For)
The ingredients list tells you a lot about the product. Good ingredients nourish your permed hair:
- Natural Oils: Ingredients like Argan oil, Coconut oil, or Jojoba oil add shine and softness. They deeply moisturize the hair shaft.
- Humectants (like Glycerin): These ingredients draw moisture from the air into your hair. This is great for fighting dryness.
- Proteins (like Keratin): Perms slightly change your hair’s structure. Small amounts of protein help strengthen the curl.
- UV Protectants: The sun can damage the chemicals in your perm. Look for ingredients that offer UV protection.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all products work the same way. Pay attention to what makes a product great or terrible for your perm.
Factors That Improve Quality:
- Sulfate-Free Formulas: Sulfates are harsh detergents. They strip natural oils and moisture. Sulfate-free products are much gentler on permed hair.
- pH Balance: Products that are slightly acidic help seal the hair cuticle. A sealed cuticle means smoother, shinier curls.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- Heavy Silicones: Some silicones build up on the hair. This buildup weighs down curls and makes them look dull.
- High Alcohol Content: Alcohol dries hair out quickly. Avoid styling sprays with high amounts of drying alcohol near the top of the ingredient list.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the product matters just as much as what you buy. Think about your daily routine.
- Wash Day: After washing, use a curl cream or mousse while your hair is soaking wet. Gently scrunch the product in. This sets the curl pattern immediately.
- Touch-Ups: On dry hair, use a small amount of light serum or spray. This refreshes the curls and tames flyaways without needing to re-wet your hair.
- Bedtime Protection: Some users like using a silk or satin bonnet. Products help keep the shape overnight, but fabric protection prevents frizz while you sleep.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Perm Styling Products
Q: Can I use my old styling gel on my new perm?
A: Maybe not. Old gels might be too heavy or contain drying ingredients. Look for gels specifically made for curly or permed hair.
Q: Do I need a special shampoo for my perm?
A: Yes, it is highly recommended. Use a sulfate-free, moisturizing shampoo. This keeps the perm chemicals from washing out too quickly.
Q: How often should I use a deep conditioner?
A: Deep condition your permed hair once a week. Perms need extra moisture to stay healthy and bouncy.
Q: What is the best product for very fine, permed hair?
A: Use lightweight mousses or foams. These give you hold and volume without weighing down the delicate curls.
Q: Should I use heat tools on my perm?
A: Try to avoid direct heat. If you must use a blow dryer, use a diffuser attachment on the lowest heat setting.
Q: What is “scrunching”?
A: Scrunching is gently squeezing your curls upward toward your scalp while applying product. This encourages the natural curl pattern to form.
Q: Are heavy pomades okay for perms?
A: Generally, no. Pomades are often too heavy. They flatten the volume that the perm creates.
Q: How do I stop my perm from looking crunchy?
A: Use a light oil or serum after the gel or mousse has dried completely. Gently rub your hands over your hair to “break the cast,” making the curls soft.
Q: Do I need a leave-in conditioner?
A: Yes, a leave-in conditioner is excellent. Apply it right after washing before you put in your main styling product. It adds a base layer of moisture.
Q: When should I apply styling cream versus a finishing spray?
A: Apply styling cream when your hair is soaking wet to set the curl. Apply a finishing spray later, maybe mid-day, to tame frizz or refresh the style.