Should you wash your hair before getting a perm?

You should wash your hair before getting a perm because once you get the chemical treatment, you should not wash your hair for 24-36 hours, so that the perm sets and becomes permanent. When you finally do wash your hair, use a mild shampoo to protect the newly applied treatment.

If you wash your hair immediately after getting a perm, the treatment is unlikely to hold, causing your hair to return to its natural state. There are special shampoos for perm treated hair that prolong the life of the style; hair oils also help prevent chemically treated hair from becoming dry and frizzy.