Natural Curls Vs. Perm: What’s The Difference?

Have you ever walked down the street and seen a woman with glorious, bouncy, healthy curls and wondered, “Is that a perm, or is that natural? If it’s a perm, can my hair get that too?”

Perms nowadays have become so sophisticated that, when they’re done right, it can be hard to tell if it’s a perm or if it’s natural. In this post, we’ll talk about perms, what makes a good one, and how to spot the difference between natural curly hair vs. perm hair.

What Is a Perm? (And Should You Get One?)

A perm, also known as a permanent wave, is the process of chemically altering the structure of your hair from straight to curly.  Despite the name, a permanent isn’t forever. Most perms last between three and six months.

To create a perm, a stylist wraps hair around rods, also called perm rollers, and applies a chemical solution that changes the hair’s texture. You can also do an at-home perm with a purchased kit, though the results might not match what you’d get at a salon.

People use perms and perm rollers of different sizes and materials to create everything from tight uniform ringlets to soft and subtle waves.

Is a Perm Bad for Your Hair?

Compared to other hairstyles (like bleaching), getting a perm hair treatment is relatively benign. However, the process can weaken already dry or damaged hair. If your hair is damaged or brittle, you should avoid perms until you’ve restored your hair to a healthier state.

Related: Difference Between Spiral Perm and Regular Perm

Natural Curls Vs. Perm

As perms become more and more evolved, it can be tough to spot the difference between a perm and natural curls. Hairdressers will make curls in different lengths and sizes to give it a more natural look. However, you can usually spot a perm with a few tell-tale signs.

Uniform Curls

People still have the option to get what’s called a “regular” perm, which is where all of the curls are the same size and same shape. Uniform curls are usually an indicator that someone has gotten a perm and doesn’t have naturally curly hair.