How long does a Korean perm last, and how to care for it

What decides how long a perm lasts

There is no fixed number. These points change the result:

• Type of perm. A digital or heat perm and a down perm behave differently from each other.
• Hair condition. Healthy hair usually holds a shape better than bleached or very damaged hair.
• Hair length and growth. New growth at the roots has no curl, so the shape looks different as hair grows. A root perm or a down perm is often refreshed sooner than a full-length perm.
• Styling and care. Heat, rough brushing and strong shampoos shorten the life of a wave.

When a general lifespan is needed, we use a hedge: often 3–6 months. The designer confirms what is likely for your hair.

The first days

The designer gives exact instructions at the salon, and these are general rules that often apply after a perm:

• Ask when you can wash your hair for the first time, and follow that advice.
• Avoid tight ties, clips and hot tools until the designer says it is fine.
• Do not brush the hair hard. Use a wide-tooth comb.
• Expect the curl to look tighter at first and to relax over the following days.
• Sleep on a soft pillowcase if you can, and avoid going to bed with hair that is still very wet.
• If a part of the perm looks wrong, contact the salon early, not weeks later, so the designer can look at it.

Daily care that helps a perm last

• Use a gentle shampoo and a conditioner or mask on the lengths. Avoid pulling at the curls when you wash.
• Dry gently. Press the hair with a towel, then let it dry partly in the air. If you use a dryer, use a low heat and a diffuser or a gentle setting.
• Use a light styling product made for waves or curls, in a small amount.
• Keep heat low. Heat tools can loosen the wave and dry the hair.
• Trim dry ends so the shape stays neat.

Signs it is time to refresh

You may want to return when the curl at the ends has relaxed, the roots look flat from new growth, or the hair feels dry and tangled. Hair that grows quickly shows this sooner. A salon can often do a new perm on the lengths, a root perm or a down perm, depending on what has changed.

On the WENEED Haeundae menu the standard perm starts from ₩75,000, the root perm is ₩80,000 and the down perm starts from ₩20,000. See the Korean perm price page for every item. Prices depend on the designer, length and condition.

When to add a treatment

Perms use chemicals, so hair often feels drier afterwards. Care items on the menu include a basic hair clinic at ₩89,000, Drama care (드라마 케어) at ₩140,000 and the Tiara repair clinic (티아라 복구) at ₩180,000. Ask the designer whether a treatment helps your hair and when to add it. See the hair clinic treatment page.

We make no promise that a treatment will make a perm last longer. It can improve how the hair feels, and the designer advises on timing.

Visit details

WENEED Haeundae is open every day 10:00–20:00. It is at Room 251, 2F Sejong World Plaza Building B, 814 Haeundae-ro, 71 m from Jangsan Station Exit 5. The route to the 2nd floor is by stairs only. For the types of perm, read Korean perm types explained.

Frequently asked questions

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