Perms can cost between $30 and $800. This iconic way varies a lot in cost thanks to the many perming methods and styles available. Everything from hair length, perm mode, and even the amount of pilus you want to perm tin touch the final price.

The perming process involves your hairstylist applying some chemicals to your pilus, using perm rods and heat to create the roll, then applying another chemical to help your hair concur its new shape.

It sounds simple, only the skill and knowledge needed to safely perm your pilus comes at a toll. Not to mention the many other methods out there that vary in results and price. The big hair you might remember from the '70s and '80s aren't the only looks you tin become from a perm. Modern perms can create loose waves and different curl sizes for a more natural expect.

This all raises 2 large questions: How much is a perm supposed to toll and how volition you know if you're getting the nearly value out of your appointment? With our guide, nosotros'll walk you through everything there is to know most perms, toll, and what yous tin can await before you lot book your perm date.

How much are perms for different pilus lengths?

Perms for short hair can cost $30 to $150, medium-length hair tin can cost $60 to $200, and perms for long hair can cost $80 to $400. Short pilus is the least expensive since it uses the least amount of product and the to the lowest degree amount of fourth dimension to prep and install the perm rods. On the other mitt, long hair requires more time, production, and attention to detail.

Hair length Perm cost
Short $30 to $150
Medium $sixty to $200
Long $eighty to $400

How long does your hair need to be for a perm?

Perms need a couple of inches of hair and so it can wrap around the perm rods to course your curls. Actually short hair can limit the styles you lot tin can reach. For example, long pilus is best if you want waves since yous'll have more hair to create them. Information technology's not easy to create soft waves with short pilus.

Are you a proficient candidate for a perm?

The all-time candidates for perms accept some length and good for you hair. The ideal pilus length and healthiness depends on your desired manner. Other factors, like your lifestyle, can as well help you decide if a perm can work for yous.

Hither are a few questions to answer to see if you're a good perm candidate:

  • How oft do you swim in chlorinated water? Chlorine tin can damage permed hair.
  • How often do you bleach or color your hair? Your hair may not be able to handle the chemicals from a perm if you've recently treated it with other chemicals.
  • Exercise you accept layers? You may need to grow out your hair or pay more for the extra endeavor needed to perm your different hair lengths.
  • What's your hair texture and length? Some pilus lengths and textures may need additional services before a stylist can requite you a perm.

When in doubt, ask your stylist beforehand so they tin accept a closer look at your hair and determine what they can realistically accomplish.

person with brown curly hair wearing a denim jacket and striped shirt, graphic tip explaining a person should get a stylist consultation to see if they're a good candidate for a perm

What are the dissimilar perming methods?

Perming methods include acrid, alkaline metal, digital, exothermic, dual action, and organic. These methods differ based on the types of chemicals used (if any), when they're applied, and how they affect pilus to create a curl. The complexity, technique, and tools needed for these methods also impact the cost. We'll cover these methods more than in-depth below.

  • Acid or hot perms utilize the acidic chemical glyceryl monothioglycolate to interruption downwardly the disulfide bonds in your hair. Heat is and then used to create your curls' shape. This method takes longer to set up and is gentler on hair than other methods.
  • Alkaline or cold perms use a lotion or solution with ammonium thioglycolate to course your curls without using estrus. Curls last longer with this method but aren't recommended for weak or thinning hair.
  • Digital perms rely on digital perm rods that let stylists to command the oestrus level. These are peachy for tight and defined curls, only the rods are expensive and come with a high appointment price.
  • Exothermic perms apply acrid or alkali metal to create chemical estrus. This opens the hair shaft and allows your stylist to curl your pilus. This method is great for hair that'due south resistant to other methods.
  • Dual-action perms first soften and smooth pilus before perm rods are applied. Your stylist will then use a weak alkaline solution to aid with the curling process.
  • Organic perms utilise natural oils and other non-chemical solutions to create curls.

How much are different perm styles?

Perm styles can range from $xl to $800. This wide range is thanks to the many different techniques and looks available. Styles like a spiral perm, embankment wave, and stacked perm all crave dissimilar techniques and come at very different costs. Nosotros've recapped the cost ranges of common perm styles below.

Perm mode Price
Root $xxx-$80
Spot or partial $30-$100
Volumizing $40-$150
Body wave $forty-$200
Beach moving ridge $40-$200
Stacked or multi-textured $forty-$250
Straight $30-$400
Spiral $45-$200
Weave perm $seventy-$110

There are many different types of perms, and some stylists use unlike names for the same blazon of perm. We'll become over popular styles below so you lot tin get an idea of what yous might like.

  • Straight perms will permanently straighten your pilus instead of curling information technology. This is sometimes called a opposite perm, Japanese straight perm, or a Korean magic perm. Your stylist volition use a solution to interruption down the bonds in your hair, flat iron it, so apply a neutralizer to help your hair agree its new shape. If y'all'd rather zero the chemicals, you can consider alternatives. For example, the cost of a silk press, a straightening service that doesn't use chemicals, is typically lower than a straight perm.
  • Screw perms create tight and bouncy curls of dissimilar lengths and sizes for a natural look. Stylists typically use a cold perm solution for this look.
  • Body wave perms create soft waves that aren't every bit bouncy or high maintenance as tight curls. Big rods are placed throughout the hair to create natural-looking waves.
  • Beach wave perms wait like to the tousled waves you lot get after a beach day. This look works dandy on people with long pilus who want something low maintenance.
  • Stack/multi-textured perms utilise a stack of perm rods to create your curls. This perm doesn't need much styling or maintenance and can starting time at the middle or ends of your hair.
  • Volumizing perms are achieved by taking the perm rods out before adding the neutralizer. This results in soft waves and more than volume. This wait typically lasts a couple of months at most.
  • Root perms use cold perming to perm hair at the roots and create book. It doesn't use as much perm solution or neutralizer compared to other methods, simply does require some maintenance. It works best on shorter hair since the weight from long hair can pull the roots straight.
  • Spot, partial, or apparently curlicue perms are keen if you take sections of thin pilus or want actress volume in specific spots. It's depression maintenance and tin work with tight or loose curls. You can achieve this look with either a hot or cold perm.
  • Weave perms requite you waves and torso throughout your pilus to give it more volume.

If you're still not sure nigh which blazon of perm you want, you can e'er bring in a few inspiration photos or select a few that you like from your stylist's portfolio. Your stylist should walk you through the process, whatsoever chemicals used, how information technology will impact your hair, and how much it volition toll.

What else can affect a perm's price?

On top of hair length, perming method, and style, other factors like your location and your pilus'southward current condition can bear upon your perm's final price. Check out these other factors you'll need to keep in mind while researching different stylists.

  • Location, similar if you alive in an area with a loftier price of living
  • Stylist's expertise volition come at a higher toll in exchange for the skills they've honed over the years
  • Type of salon, since higher-stop locations tend to have a higher price tag
  • Hair's current condition tin can also affect the price if your stylist needs to exercise additional services to prep your hair for a perm
person with perm rods in their hair with head hanging over sink in the salon, graphic tips explaining the factors that impact a perm's final price

How can I choose the best type of perm?

You lot can choose the best perm for you lot by looking at photos of the different types and past getting your stylist's recommendation during your consultation. Keep in mind that i person's perm may not turn out exactly the same on your own hair. Hair history, density, texture, and health all play a role in your perm'south final look.

How much is a perm for men or kids?

Men's and kids' perms can also range from $30 to $800, since the cost will still vary depending on factors like hair length and desired style.

How much are chemic perms in different states?

Chemical perms in item range from $45 to $120, co-ordinate to our internal appointment data. Southward Dakota has the most expensive average chemic perm cost while Mississippi has the least expensive.

This number differs from the overall average price of perms, since our data excludes non-chemical perms, sometimes called organic perms.

Country Average cost per appointment
SD $120
MA $119
NV $110
NH $105
NY $104
WA $100
TN $97
MN $94
CA $93
AL $93
SC $92
TX $ninety
AZ $89
IL $87
OR $87
WY $87
CO $86
MD $85
CT $85
DE $85
VA $84
NC $82
OH $82
WI $76
IA $76
ME $75
MT $75
FL $74
NJ $74
LA $73
GA $71
ID $71
WV $70
OK $69
KS $68
KY $66
MI $64
MO $61
PA $60
UT $58
IN $54
HI $53
AR $45
DC $45
MS $45
NE No data
NM No information
VT No information
RI No information
ND No information
AK No information

How long volition a perm last later an appointment?

Y'all can expect a perm to concluding anywhere from two to half dozen months depending on how fast your hair grows and how well you care for it. As your hair grows, your natural hair texture will brainstorm to show.

How can I make a perm last longer?

You can make your perm last longer by keeping it dry out during the start 48 hours, regularly moisturizing it, fugitive products and services that dry out your hair, and other things that help you take it easy on your pilus. Your hair will demand lots of moisture and nutrients to stay healthy and to retain your curls.

Here are a few tips you can follow to get the most longevity out of your perm:

  • Avoid washing your pilus for the first 48 hours after your appointment to avoid ruining your curls
  • Work regular conditioning into your routine
  • Deep condition your hair one time or twice a week
  • Wait into poly peptide treatments and pilus masks to give your hair even more than nourishment
  • Find hair intendance products made for permed or curly pilus
  • Avert sulfates , hair dye, and other products or treatments that can dry or further damage your hair
  • Don't wash hair in really hot h2o
  • Use broad-tooth combs to comb your hair
  • Dry hair with a diffuser instead of a blow-dryer
  • Become regular trims to get rid of harm and minimize breakage
  • Wrap your hair at night in a silk or satin scarf to minimize frizz

What are the benefits of getting a perm?

Perms are peachy if you love the thought of getting curls without spending hours using a crimper fe. Spot perms can potentially assist give people with curly hair some actress volume. Hither are a few perks of getting a perm:

  • Saves fourth dimension from manually curling your hair
  • Customized curls or waves that fit the look you desire
  • Hair gets more volume and trunk from the extra curls
person with light brown curly hair holding head down to dry hair with a blow dryer and diffuser attachment

What are the drawbacks of getting a perm?

Perms tin can damage your pilus, take actress attempt afterward to maintain, and require you lot to change other parts of your lifestyle to maintain your curls. Consider these cons while you're deciding whether a perm is a good movement for yous:

  • Perms dry out and damage pilus, thus requiring more than moisturizing and workout than you may already do
  • Some perm styles crave styling to look their best
  • Common cold perm solutions don't smell great
  • Yous may need to skip hair coloring and other hair treatments for a few months since your pilus is in a damaged state

Is it worth it to get a professional perm?

A professional perm is worth the extra cost since you're paying for your stylist's skill and expertise. A stylist can keep your hair prophylactic since they take feel treatment perming chemicals and tools.

They tin even advise y'all on the all-time blazon of perm for your pilus or give you communication if your hair isn't healthy enough for a perm. After your appointment, a stylist should also give you product and care recommendations to proceed your curls intact and your pilus every bit healthy as possible.

DIY perms tin can be disastrous if you don't have the right size rollers, don't know how to place them, don't take the correct perming solution, or if your pilus isn't strong enough to handle a perm. Yous'll need to do a lot of prep to understand how each method works and how y'all tin can potentially achieve your dream fashion. Information technology tin can as well exist tough to curl the parts of your pilus you can't hands see or reach.

person with light brown hair with hair rollers and clips all throughout their hair

This is not the service to skimp out on since excessive amounts of chemicals and heat tin harm your hair and scalp. You can also get stuck with a look that yous don't like if you lot or your stylist doesn't do a keen chore.

The cost ranges you notice hither tin can greatly differ from what yous might find in your search. Perms are a customized service and cost tin can fluctuate based on the combination of multiple factors. It's worth taking the extra time to inquiry unlike types of perms and local stylists before you lot sit down in anyone's chair.

To start your search, wait through reviews and prices in our community of hairstylists.