Permanents and Trims: How to Get Rid of an Unwanted Perm for Men

Introduction

Hey there! If you’re a guy who recently got a perm but find yourself thinking, "I’ve had my perm for 3 months and my hair is getting long. Am I able to get it trimmed and will it get rid of my perm?" you're not alone. Many men face this dilemma at some point. This article will guide you through the process of trimming your hair and what you can expect in terms of perm removal.

Understanding Hair Growth and Perms

First, let's clear up a few misconceptions. Hair grows about a half an inch every month, starting from the root. New growth comes straight from the hair follicles, meaning that the 1.5 to 2 inches of hair at the bottom of your head is un-permed. This is a crucial point to understand because it affects how effective a trim might be in getting rid of your perm.

Trimming and Perm Removal: What You Need to Know

When you get a perm, you are setting the hair's natural wave pattern for a certain period. While trimming your perm might make the curls bounce back a bit, it won't completely remove the perm's effect. However, if you really hate your perm, the solution might be a bit more drastic.

Trimming Your Perm

Trimming can be done at any time you want. Experts recommend getting a trim every 6 to 8 weeks to maintain the health of your hair, but if you decide to get rid of your perm, you can do it sooner. Trimming up to an inch and a half from the bottom of your hair can help remove the permed portions and reveal your natural, un-permed hair.

The process involves carefully trimming the permed parts of your hair down to a point where only your new, un-permed growth remains. This will help you get a more natural look while the new hair grows in.

Completely Removing a Perm

Removing a perm completely is a more definitive solution but requires a more dramatic step. If you truly want to get rid of your perm and start over with un-permed hair, you will need to cut off everything except the new growth.

This can be a bit uncomfortable, as it means losing all of your styled hair, but it’s the only surefire way to ensure that your hair returns to its natural state. After this drastic trim, you can choose to have a permanent removed or go without one, depending on your preferences.

Important Considerations

Remember, trimming a perm can be an effective temporary solution to getting rid of some of the perm's effects. However, it won't completely remove the chemical changes that the perm has inflicted on your hair. The perm solution itself can sometimes be reapplied to completely remove the perm from your hair.

It's also worth noting that trimming can cause hair to appear to have more bounce and movement because it removes the weight and volume of long, permed hair. However, the perm itself will still be present in the hair shaft, so it might return if new growth continues to be permed.

Conclusion

In summary, while a trim can help manage a perm and make it less noticeable, completely removing a perm requires a more drastic measure. If you’re serious about getting rid of your perm, cutting off the permed parts and relying on new, un-permed growth is the best option.

You can get your hair trimmed any time you want, but make sure to communicate your goals to your stylist. They will be able to help you achieve the look you desire, whether it's getting rid of a perm or maintaining a natural hair texture.