Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 22/11/2006 16:33:11

Title: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: neilep on 22/11/2006 16:33:11

How does a hair perm work ?

What make s a straight hair retain it's new wavy or curly shape ?..is it really Permanent ? or will it fizzle out after months ?

...but what has happened to the hair ?..and..is it reversible ?..and if it reversible does it return the hair back to it's original state or is it re-permed straight ?


...to help you...I have spent literally.....minutes ........creating this diagram !!


[diagram=11_0]

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: daveshorts on 22/11/2006 20:57:47

A hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which is made up of very long polymers. These polymers are occasionally joined together with crosslinks, which stop the molecules moving past one another. (the red blobs)
[diagram=12_0]
The position the hair was in when these crosslinks were formed will set what shape it will be.
[diagram=13_0]
There are (at least) 2 types of cross link in hair:
Hydrogen bonds - these can be remade by making your hair wet, and are why if you flatten your hair after a shower it will stay that way till it rains on the way home.
Sulphur bonds - these are a lot stronger and are made as you hair grows and can only be remade with temperature and or exciting chemicals. These are what a perm are breaking and remaking.

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: Karen W. on 22/11/2006 21:10:12

SO THATS HOW THAT WORKS COOL! My Perm is almost gone and this last one turned out kind of fuzzy unless I set it with steam rods! Why is that!

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: elegantlywasted on 23/11/2006 05:29:12

When I was 13 I got a perm for grade 8 graduation, my hair is still curly, 6 days before my 22 birthday... go figure

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: Karen W. on 23/11/2006 05:40:18

YOU mean it wasn't curly before and it has been ever since. Oh, LOL wait a minute you were thirteen.. Thats perfectly normal, Its not the perm, You hit puberty at that age, Like when a boys voice changes.. It is common for straight hair to become curly at puberty when it has never been curly before.. That has happened to many of my friends in my 46 years here on this planet I would hazard to guess you have some naturally curly family members somewhere! I love curly hair!

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: elegantlywasted on 23/11/2006 05:44:04

great so i got this horrible hair and boobs all because of some stupid hormones... crap.


there were supposed to be slight tones of sarcasm in the post, very subtle, mighta been hard to detect (just throwin that out there)

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: Karen W. on 23/11/2006 07:02:02

Yes indeed, LOL!

Title: Re: How does a hair perm work?
Post by: AnnaSmith on 16/10/2018 05:00:39

I am not so familiar with the perm, but I found something useful for getting perfect hair perm. Actually, I would like to do hairstyle of today's hot fashion. Most people are talking about: balayage vs ombre. It seems that many do not know the exact difference between them since they seem very similar.