The time a client's perm started to process way too fast

I was doing a perm in my chair last Thursday, and the solution started to get hot after only 8 minutes. I rinsed it out immediately with cool water and used a deep conditioner for 15 minutes to try and salvage the hair. Has anyone else had a perm over-process this quickly, and what's your go-to fix?

3 comments

3 Comments

paulw531mo ago

Yeah, a perm getting hot that fast is a major red flag. You did the right thing with the cool rinse and deep conditioner. I always keep a bottle of neutralizer on hand for emergencies like that, to stop the process dead in its tracks. Did the hair feel gummy or stretchy after you rinsed, or was it okay?

adams.uma1mo ago

My last perm attempt was a total science experiment. Ended up with hair like overcooked spaghetti. Gummy is an understatement.

anna4911mo ago

Honestly, it's like that with a lot of things now, stuff just seems to work faster and hotter than it should. Paulw53 is right about the neutralizer, that's a solid backup plan. I've seen it happen with box dye too, just goes way too quick and you're left trying to fix a mess. Makes you double-check every step before you even start.