Okay, so I’ve been wanting beach waves forever, but I’m, like, super scared of damaging my hair. I finally decided to take the plunge and try a beach wave perm. Here’s how it all went down.
The Prep Work
First, I spent hours scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest, you know, for “inspiration.” I showed my stylist a bunch of pics of what I wanted – loose, effortless waves, nothing too tight or curly. We talked about my hair type (which is kinda fine and straight) and what kind of look I was going for.
The Perming Process
She washed my hair with some clarifying shampoo to get rid of any buildup. Then came the fun part – the rods! She used these bigger, softer rods than the ones they used back in the 80s (thank goodness!). It felt a little weird, having all these things sticking out of my head, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Next, she applied the perm solution. This is the part that always freaks me out, but she assured me it was a gentler formula than the old-school stuff. It smelled a bit funky, but not as bad as I expected. I just sat there and flipped through a magazine while it processed.
- She carefully sectioned my hair.
- Then methodically wrapped each section around the rods.
- The solution has to sit for a specific amout of time.
The Waiting Game
Seriously, the waiting is the hardest part! I tried not to think about my hair potentially falling out (lol, a bit dramatic, I know). My stylist checked on it a few times to make sure it was processing correctly.
The Reveal
Finally, she rinsed out the solution and applied a neutralizer. This is what stops the perming process and sets the waves. After another rinse and some conditioner, she took out the rods.
I have to be honest that my hair looked a little…springy at first. But, she assured me that it relaxs a bit after the first wash or two. She gently scrunched my hair with some product and diffused it to show off the waves.
The Final Result!
I was pretty happy! It wasn’t exactly like the pictures I showed her, but it was definitely wavy and beachy. It looked way more natural than I expected. Now, a few weeks later, the waves have loosened up a bit, and I’m loving it even more. It’s so much easier to style my hair in the mornings – I just add a little texturizing spray and go! I’ll update more as my hair grows out, but I wanted to share my initial experience!
