What you need to know about digital perms

Photo credit: Rooms Beauty

Want to spice up your hair without the hassle of the curling iron? Then the digital perm is your new best friend. But first things first. What is a digital perm and how is it different from a regular perm?

The biggest difference between a digital perm and a regular perm is the use of heat vs. perming solution. A digital perm uses the power of heat to recompose the structure of your hair. Where as a regular perm, also known as a cold perm, uses perming solution. Each roller for a digital perm has electric heat running through it which helps your curls last longer, creating big beautiful curls like you'd get with a curling iron.

Once you get a digital perm, your morning styling's a breeze. Just twist your hair with your fingers as you blow dry and you're done.

Of course, treating your hair after any perm is going to be super important. Make sure you consult your hairstylist for the right type of products to use after your perm.

Digital perm vs. Regular perms

We get a lot of questions from our customers on the difference between a regular perm and a digital perm.

Although there are different factors you need to consider when deciding which perm to go with, we usually recommend regular (cold) perms for short to medium length hair. With regular perms, your hair is most curly when it's wet, and it tends to loosen when your hair dries. Once you get used to styling your perm, your morning's a breeze! You also want to note that regular perms will involve applying a perming solution to your scalp, so it may not be for people who have sensitive skin.

Digital perms are for people who have unruly, coarse hair which is usually difficult to curl. Digital perms use the power of heat to recompose the structure of your hair strands and usually lasts more than 6 months. With this perm, your hair is curlier when dry, compared to when it's wet.

For a detailed explanation of the pros and cons of each, check out our blog post: Cold or Digital? How to figure out which perm's for you and consult your hairstylist for the right perm for you!

Cold or Digital? How to figure out which perm's for you.

A digital perm is different from a regular perm in that it uses the power of heat to recompose the structure of your hair. Each roller has electric heat running through it which helps your curls last longer than a regular perm. A regular perm (cold perm) uses perming solution and doesn't use the power of heat to curl your hair. How do you know which one is for you? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Cold perm pros:

- Curls are defined when hair is wet and looser when hair is dry

- Since the curls are loose, you can still straighten your hair with a straightening iron or style your hair in any way you wish

- You can use it to perm certain sections of your hair or just the roots to create more volume in your hair

Cold perm cons:

- It won't last as long as digital perms

- If you have coarse hair, it may be difficult for curls to form

Digital perm pros:

- You'll have defined curls

- It lasts from 6 months to as long as 1 year

- Curls are more prominent when your hair is dry rather than when it's wet

- There's a trick in blow-drying your hair and once you get used to it, styling is a breeze

Digital perm cons:

- Since you'll have defined curls, if you want to bring them back to straight, you'll have to apply a straight perm

- If your hair is already damaged, or prone to damage, it'll leave you with an unhealthy crunchy texture

- You can't create small, tight curls

So if you want defined curls but your hair is coarse, unruly or flat you should get a digital perm. But if you have fine hair prone to damage, you're better off with a cold perm.

Either way, treating your hair after any perm is going to be super important. Make sure you consult your hairstylist for the right type of products to use after your perm.