A lot of women, as we get older, turn to hair color to hide the gray that we aren’t quite ready to accept. I am no exception. I may be pushing 60, but I don’t usually “feel” that old so I’m not quite ready to view the silver streaks in my hair.
I also have baby fine, fragile straight hair that makes everything from curling to perming a major problem. Over the years, I’d venture a guess that I have tried over 50 different types of permanents. Some have been at the beauty shop and have ranged in price between $50 and $100. Others I have done myself, at home, for well under $20. Oddly, I find that I have much better luck with home perms.
The worst permanent I ever received cost me close to $100. The beautician fried my hair so badly that it had to be cut short like a boy, which was not a good look for me. And the cut, of course, negated the need for the perm.
My best permanents usually come from Ogilvie Precisely Right Perms. For my hair, I choose Ogilvie’s Professional Conditioning Perm for Color-Treated, Thin, or Delicate hair. My daughter and mother use their “regular” perm. All of Ogilvie’s perms are very easy to do. It takes less than two hours and it is gentle to almost every type of hair.
Ogilvie’s new improved auto-timed heat activated conditioning formula is gentle enough for the delicate hair of a child. Its heat-activated formula allows for both faster and better overall perm results. It turns the heat up on your curls to ensure the perfect look each and every time.
I particularly like that special conditioners are built into every step of the perm to make certain that hair keeps its shine, manageability, and softness. And the worry-free auto timing assures that you never over-process.
I also appreciate that Ogilvie is honest with its customers. They make it clear that their permanents are not made for hair that has been bleached and toned (called double processing), frosted, for treated with henna rinses, color restorers, metallic dyes, or products that lighten (e.g., Sun-In). They also suggest postponing a perm if hair has been chemically straightened within the last 12 weeks; if the scalp is scratched or sore; or if the hair is overtly brittle and breaks off easily.
The company also cautions that hair should not be color-treated within one week before or after the permanent. Other suggestions include wearing disposable gloves for sensitive hands, protecting the neck and shoulders from the perm solution; doing the perm in a well ventilated area; and avoiding perm solution connect with anything metallic.
They also caution to immediate flush out eyes if any waving or neutralizing solution gets in them and to avoid spilling any solution on to clothing, furniture, or floors. Any spills should be immediately wiped away.
For soft body and waves, Ogilvie suggests using large benders or rods on medium or longer length hair. For medium waves and curls, they suggest using medium benders or rods on medium and shorter hair. For tighter curls, they suggest using small benders or rods on medium and shorter hair.
Alternating bender or rod sizes will result in a more natural looking curl. The amount of hair put onto each bender or rod will also affect the way the hair perms. More hair on a rod will result in looser curls and waves, while less hair on the rod will result in tighter curls and waves.
The perm itself is simple. Simply wash your hair and towel dry it. Then wind your hair on the benders or rods that you have chosen. Be sure to re-wet any hair that dries out before you are ready to apply the permanent solution.
Once the hair is rolled, apply the permanent wave solution to each curl, repeating as necessary until the entire solution is gone. For color-treated, thin, or delicate hair, check your curls after five minutes. Continue to recheck curls every two or three minutes until you get the desired curl. The maximum amount of time allowed for color-treated, thin, or delicate hair is 20 minutes.
For normal hair, check the curl after seven minutes; continuing to check every two minutes until the desired curl has been obtained or for a maximum of 30 minutes. For hard-to-wave hair, check the curl after 10 minutes and every five minutes thereafter for a maximum of 45 minutes.
Once the amount of curl has been obtained, rinse the hair thoroughly with large amounts of warm water for at least three minutes. Then towel blot the curls to remove excess moisture.
Apply neutralizer to each curl, being careful to saturate each one thoroughly, using all of the solution. Let it sit on the hair for five minutes and then gently remove the rods without breaking or pulling the hair.
Work the neutralizer through the hair before rinsing it with warm water. Once you are finished, your hair is ready to be styled or you can let it dry naturally.
Be sure not to wash your hair for at least 48 hours after your permanent. If you do, you risk either destroying your curls or causing severe frizziness.
I love that Ogilvie offers a free question line from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. That way, if I have a question about a specific product I’ve used on my hair, I can obtain an answer before I do the perm. They also answer questions on line at (www) ogilvieproducts (.com).
These days, with fragile hair that is also aging right along with the rest of me, Ogilvie is the only product I will use to perm my hair. I am confident enough that it will work the way I want it to, each and every time, without damaging my crowning glory. That’s a guarantee that I depend on.
