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The first question everyone asks after getting a perm usually revolves around when is it a good time to shampoo. Looking for shampoo for permed hair means looking for a product that will keep your hair looking refined and sleek. So it’s crucial to find the best of the best.
What’s the Best Shampoo for Permed Hair?
When you first get a perm, you want to avoid washing your hair until it’s been at least 48 hours. But when it’s time to start shampooing again, you want to make sure you have something nutrient-rich and hydrating. That way, your perm stays fresh longer.
We’ve done the hard work for you and found the best shampoos on the market for your permed hair.
Our Top 7 Picks:
- Best Overall: L’Oreal Paris EverCurl Sulfate-Free Shampoo
- Best for Sensitivity: Framesi Color Lover Curl Define Shampoo
- Best for Oily Scalp: Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo
- Best for Organics: Hask Argan Oil Repairing Shampoo
- Best for Frizz Control: Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo
- Best for Damaged Hair: Pure Nature Argan Oil Deep Hydra-Nourishing Shampoo
- Best for Price: Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Coconut Shampoo
Sometimes choosing a good shampoo feels like a dizzying endeavor. How do you know which one is best with so many options out there? With this handy list, you can make an informed decision and pick the best shampoo for your nice permed hair.
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Why You Need Shampoo for Permed Hair
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When you first get a perm, the last thing you want to do is wash your hair. After the chemical treatment, your hair’s texture changes physically. Getting wet can undo all the hard work your hairdresser just did for you.
But once the right amount of time has passed, you need to have good shampoo ready to go to keep your hair healthy and your perm looking great. Believe it or not, a good shampoo can make all the difference in how well your perm holds up.
When you have your hair permed, it’s weaker and more prone to damage than usual. In this state, harsh chemicals can be hazardous to your hair. Staying away from those and finding shampoos with natural ingredients is necessary.
One of the primary reasons you need a good shampoo after you get a perm is that your hair will be extremely dry. The chemical treatment from the perm dries your hair out, so a good, hydrating shampoo will help combat those adverse effects.
Sometimes using multiple types of shampoo will help keep your perm looking fresh and feeling good. And you don’t want to wash your permed hair every day. But having trustworthy shampoo on hand will make the maintenance routine much more manageable.
Read Next: How to Care for Permed Hair
Best Shampoo for Permed Hair: Top 7 Picks
After a perm, your hair is going to need extra special care. Regular shampoo probably won’t do the trick. If you want your perm to last and look its best, then check out one of these options that we’ve found.
1. L’Oreal EverCurl Shampoo
- Great for all hair types
- Lightweight, deep clean feel
- Masterful curl definition
- Some customers don’t like the smell
- Some customers say ineffective for thick hair
When you’ve just had a perm and need something hydrating, look no further than this masterpiece from L’Oreal. The EverCurl shampoo is delightfully lightweight and curl-defining, making it excellent for perm survival.
This shampoo is completely free of sulfates, which means it’s gentle on your hair and helps keep your curls looking fresh and sleek. Since this stuff has coconut oil, you can trust that it’s richly hydrating to combat post-perm dryness.
And it smells fantastic. Customers love this product, especially customers with curly hair. Many boast that nothing works as well for them as L’Oreal EverCurl.
2. Framesi Color Lover Shampoo
- Specially treated with quinoa and aloe vera
- Pleasant orange scent
- Combats frizz and dandruff
- Some customers displeased with the packaging
- It may not work on every hair type
The Framesi Color Lover is an excellent shampoo for your permed hair. Made for curly hair, this even works fantastic on color treatments. This shampoo is highly moisturizing and infused with quinoa and aloe vera for maximum hydration and curl definition.
Returning customers keep coming back to this shampoo because it makes their curls look great and healthy.
They also love the feel of their hair after using Framesi. Most customers boast that you’ll never want to go back after you start using Framesi Color Lover, and we’re inclined to agree.
3. Nexxus Hydra-Light Shampoo
- Silicone free
- Made with Deep Sea Minerals
- Excellent for oily hair
- Not all customers love the scent
- Some customers say shampoo leaves hair lifeless
Customers who use this shampoo love it. Especially those with fine and oily hair have found this to be the best option out there. It also works great on frizzy hair, making it great for post-perm hair.
It will help fight the dryness that creeps up after a perm treatment. This lightweight shampoo will leave your hair feeling fresh, clean, and bouncier than usual.
Enriched with Deep Sea minerals help infuse your hair with lasting moisture. You don’t have to worry about heavy residue or flat hair with Nexxus. It gives you all the life and zest you could want for your hair.
4. Hask Argan Oil Shampoo
- Alcohol, paraben, and sulfate-free
- Highly restorative
- Natural ingredients
- Some customers report hair loss
- Any customers dislike the smell
The biggest downside of the Hask Argan Oil shampoo is the side. While some customers love it, many others report it being unpleasant. Besides that, this shampoo is excellent for cleansing and repairing your hair after a perm.
It helps protect against breakage and makes your hair soft and hydrated. One of the best things about this shampoo is it’s rich in omega fatty acids and vitamin E, which help revive and restore your hair to its former glory.
Free of all the bad stuff – sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and gluten – this shampoo is genuinely one of the best that you can find.
5. Davines LOVE Shampoo
- Great for coarse hair
- Citrus scent
- Ultimate frizz control
- Customers report packaging issues
- Some customers dissatisfied with the results
Davines LOVE Shampoo is an excellent shampoo option regardless of your hair type. It works great on all textures and is highly moisturizing. The pleasant citrus scent is a favorite among most customers, and the intensely hydrating properties make this a shampoo to adore.
This shampoo will help control your frizz and fight dry hair, but it’s going to increase your shine as well.
You’ll feel like a champion after using this shampoo. Some customers were less than satisfied with the overall result of use, but most folks who use this swear they’ll never go back to a different brand.
6. Pure Nature Argan Oil Shampoo
Pure Nature has created a profoundly hydrating shampoo infused with rich argan oil straight from Morocco. It’s also filled with vitamins and antioxidants that help repair damaged hair.
It’s hard to go wrong with an ingredient list that excludes things like gluten, parabens, and sulfates. And argan oil is always a winner for coarse, dry hair.
Customers love this shampoo for its protective properties and how it helps repair damaged hair. Great for all hair types, this shampoo is a particularly effective post-perm wash. It will keep your hair light and hydrated, looking its finest at all times.
7. Shea Moisture Coconut Shampoo
- Great for thick, curly hair
- Nourishes the hair follicle
- Helps maintain a healthy scalp
- Can cause oily hair for people with thin hair
- Can strip natural oils if you use it every day
Shea Moisture constantly puts out great products that don’t cost too much. You can find an excellent product for a reasonable price that does what you need.
This hydrating shampoo is excellent for curly hair in particular, and it will help you perm keep its bounce and shine for months. The coconut and hibiscus smell make this shampoo exceptionally pleasant to use, and it’s made with ethically-sourced ingredients.
Customers love this shampoo for its great smell, its super-hydrating properties, and how their hair looks and feels after using it.
Finding the Best Shampoo for Permed Hair
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There are a lot of variables when considering which shampoo you should get for your permed hair. Finding the right kind is essential to keeping your hair healthy and shiny. So knowing what to look for before picking your product will help you narrow your decision.
No Sulfates
Generally, you want to avoid shampoos that have sulfates and parabens. These chemicals help with preserving shampoo, but they tend to do severe damage to your hair. Avoiding them when your hair is weak and damage-prone after a perm is especially important.
Hydration Is Key
Another side effect of a perm is that your hair will dry out excessively. And if you don’t have a good, hydrating shampoo, your hair can damage easily. Looking for shampoos designed explicitly for rich hydration will help keep your hair healthy after your perm.
Scalp Nourishment
After getting a perm, you want to make sure you take good care of your scalp. Many shampoos out there boast that they’re hyper-moisturizing, but then they dry your scalp and leave your skin irritated. Find a shampoo that promises scalp nourishment as well as excellent hair care.
Lightweight
Thick, heavy, greasy hair never feels good. And after you get a perm, you especially want to avoid shampoos that weigh you down. Finding a lightweight shampoo that gives your perm a little extra bounce will leave you looking and feeling superb.
Look for Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is something like a magical occurrence in nature because it seems to work in just about everything. Aloe vera is an excellent way to keep your permed hair bouncy, curly, and hydrated. Fortunately, there are lots of great shampoos out there that include aloe vera.
Look for Argan Oil
Another great natural ingredient you should look for in your shampoo is argan oil, which is rich in vitamin E. It’s deeply hydrating, and it helps repair exceptionally dry damaged hair. After a perm, your hair is more prone to damage, so finding a good argan oil shampoo will help restore your hair and keep it healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Now that we all know a little bit more about the best shampoos for permed hair and a few key things to look for let’s examine some of the most common questions out there when it comes to shampooing and your recent perm.
Is shampoo good for permed hair?
Yes, shampoo is excellent for your permed hair. Because your hair is more vulnerable after a chemical treatment like a perm, you need something that will nourish it and bring it back to life after your perm. A good shampoo that you can use regularly will help you do this.
Will shampoo ruin my perm?
Certain shampoos and conditioners will loosen your perm and make it more relaxed. However, there are a great many shampoos out there that will complement your perm and keep it healthy. Looking for those will keep your perm intact.
How much should I shampoo my permed hair?
You should wash your hair somewhat frequently after a perm, anywhere from every three days to once a week. You can ask your stylist for advice specific to your hair. Then find a good hydrating shampoo to incorporate into your hair care routine.
What if my perm looks frizzy?
Sometimes your hair dries out a lot after a perm, and this can lead to a really frizzy look. This can also happen if you don’t wait at least 24 hours to wash it after your perm. Finding a good shampoo with frizz protection can help remedy the unpleasant frizziness.
Will coconut oil help my permed hair?
Coconut oil is incredibly versatile, and one of the things it works exceptionally well on is your hair. After a perm, coconut oil could help soften and strengthen your hair without relaxing the curls. Shampoo infused with coconut oil is especially helpful.
So, What’s the Best Shampoo for Permed Hair?
There are a lot of great shampoos out there for your permed hair. We like the L’Oreal Paris EverCurl Sulfate-Free Shampoo and think it’s the best overall. But there are plenty of options to choose from, so you should be able to find exactly what you need.