I Have a Hair Question

Try having the ends trimmed.  That's where the hair is already dead and most likely the main source of the straw like feeling.  I dunno.....I permed for years and years...stick straight baby fine hair......and I always conditioned.  It didnt seem to hurt anything, but maybe that's just my hair.  For what it's worth.......a really good cut finally took care of my need to perm and my hair takes very little effort now.

I would condition Ann, I don't think it's going to hurt it. 

My mom ALWAYS conditions her hair and she has a perm.  I have VERY curly hair that I straighten everyday and I HAVE to condition otherwise things start to get very very scary. 

They may be talking about deep conditioning, where you leave the hot oil on for a longer duration.  If you are still nervous, I would try conditioning every other wash. 

Do you have to wash your hair everyday?  I only ask, because I don't (and frankly don't have the time to do it every morning).  Sometimes over washing can dry out your hair big time.  Also, try rinsing in cooler water.  Frankly, this method stinks because that means getting a cool shower at the end, but I have heard it works.

I have colored my hair for a million years now, ( okay it's more like 35) like you I began greying very early.  As my normal hair color is red and my skin and eyes support that color I opt for a light brown with both high and low lights added. My low lights are always a reddish tone, the highlights are a shade of honey.  I can not stand un natural looking color. Flat browns and blacks or reds that are more orange or magenta turn me off big time. I also have a small personal issue with Blondes who so are not,  Seriously if you can't keep your roots up why are you pretending to be blonde?

I have only permed my hair twice and both times it was a disaster !! I have very curly , wavy hair to start with and had hoped to obtain some control of it.  With my family the concept of time to primp is a joke. I have always had kids, ( I know nothing exceptional about that) but in the past 26 years there has never been  a time I was not also caring for both Moms in law who lived with us for 14 and 8+ years, now it's the 5 grandkids.  Add my pack of ridgebacks and I really have next to no time for doing hair etc. What I found works for me is really good quality hair product, I prefer Loreal but I will use anything for colored hair.  I wash it once every 3 days which helps maintain the color and condition of my hair. It surprized me that washing my hair every day not only stripped the color but dried it out.  I use a straight iron now, one of the best investments I have ever made. I spend less than 1/2 hour styling and my hair looks great till the next shampoo.  Again let me stress PRODUCT, I make sure I use an iron guard, and heat activated conditioners.  If you don't, you can kiss shoulder legnth hair good bye.

Hope you find what you need, I strongly suggest going to a colorist or your hair salon and asking them about product, they love to sell it and once you know what you need you can find less expensive substittues.

Bonita of Bwana

I have always conditioned a perm as well.  Use a light conditioner for permed hair or for fine hair and it will help. 

Maybe a spray on leave in would not be as bad for the perm?

I used to get perms all the time, and I always used conditioner.  My hair would've been a disaster if I hadn't used it!

If you have a regular hair person you use, then I'd call her/him and ask for a recommendation.  I personally really like Nexus and Redken products, and you can get both of them at most Targets.  But what works for one person may not work for another.

I, too, am inept which is why my hair is VERY low maintenance Don't worry about conditioning your hair once the perm is more than a couple of days old. Don't put a ton of heavy stuff in it and try to use things formulated for colored hair/permed hair.

Try the Fekkai line of hair care products at Bath and Body Works. The shampoo/conditioner combos are good, but there is a cream you put in your hair (and leave in) that is amazing. The "luscious curls" cream will work for your perm, but I also like the "glossing" cream. It is expensive but you use about a dime's worth for shoulder length hair. The tube lasts forever.

I don't color or perm, but our water is terrible and my hair was getting brittle before I tried this stuff. My hair is curly and the cream helps it curl without frizzing out or getting too crazy. I like to shower before bed and finger comb it through my hair before I go to sleep. My hair looks awesome in the morning when I drop off the kids at school! My hair hasn't looked this good in years.

Thanks for the suggestions. It does need a cut. My stylist did not want to trim too much right after the perm because is takes the length up she wanted me to get used to one step at a time. I go back first week of April for color and a cut.

I like my perm, I will probably condition it a bit more.

My hair is naturally straight, thin and limp! HOWEVER every member of my blood family (some family is adopted) has NATURALLY CURLY hair. My brothers hair was so curly it grew out like an afro! My hair really takes a curl really well. It's probably a winter thing too.
 

I don't have a perm, but I do color my gray. I have very fine limp hair, but since it's color treated the ends get dry, so I HAVE to condition. But anything too heavy will weight it down and make it limper than ever. What I've been using for several years is the Pureology brand, and I love it! I use the Hydrate shampoo and conditioner daily. It would be perfect for you.