How to Choose a Perm Lotion for Damaged or Coloured Hair

Quick answer: For damaged or coloured hair, choose a perm lotion labelled for damaged, sensitised or tinted hair. These are milder than lotions for "resistant" or "healthy" virgin hair. Do a strand test first, even out porous ends with a pre-treatment, check the curl every few minutes, and never leave the lotion on longer than needed. Be extra careful with heat on digital perms. Heavily bleached hair is high risk and often shouldn't be permed at all.

Match the lotion strength to the hair

Hair condition	Look for a lotion labelled…	Notes
Healthy, coarse or resistant virgin hair	Resistant, R, EX, or Healthy	The strongest option. Not for coloured or damaged hair
Normal, untreated hair	Normal or N	Standard strength
Coloured or tinted hair	Tinted, colour-treated or coloured hair	Milder. Watch the ends, which are often more porous
Damaged or sensitised hair	Damage, S, or Mild	The mildest option. Shorter processing, check curl often
Heavily bleached or breaking hair	Usually don't perm	Strand test first. Treatment and trimming are often the safer choice

Each brand names its strengths differently, so always read the pack. XINGWEI, for example, labels its perm lotions Healthy, Damage or Mild right on the pouch.

Cold perm vs digital perm on damaged hair

• Cold perm: the hair is wound on rods and the lotion is applied without hot rods. It's usually the gentler choice for coloured or slightly damaged hair, giving springier, defined curls.
• Digital (hot) perm: the hair is softened first, then wound on heated rods. XINGWEI's digital perm systems, for example, process at 80–100°C. It gives soft, loose, natural-looking waves, but the heat adds stress, so damaged hair needs a damage-strength lotion and careful timing.

For help choosing rods, papers and scalp protection, see Which perm rods for digital perm?

Steps for perming damaged or coloured hair safely

1. Assess the hair. Do a wet stretch test (see our bleached and damaged hair guide) and ask about recent colour, bleach and rebonding.
2. Strand test on a hidden section with the lotion you plan to use.
3. Pre-treat porous ends, so the lotion processes evenly. Art*s Collection Kera-LPT Treatment can be used as a pre-treatment before a chemical service.
4. Choose the right strength from the table above, and never use "resistant" lotion on coloured hair.
5. Check the curl often. Unwind a rod every few minutes, and rinse as soon as the curl has formed.
6. Neutralise fully, following the timing on the pack.
7. Care afterwards. Use gentle shampoo and a moisturising mask. Landuo Elastin Silky Cream is a post-perm setting emulsion with Elastin and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, to help define and maintain curls.

Perm lotions for damaged and coloured hair at NX

• Venash Cold Waving Perm System: a two-step cold perm (System 1 lotion and System 2 neutraliser), suitable for normal, resistant and tinted hair. It conditions and protects hair during perming. NX is the sole authorised distributor of Venash Professional in Malaysia.
• XINGWEI X-Wave Cold Perm (Damage): a two-part cold perm formulated for damaged hair.
• XINGWEI D-Curl Perm Lotion (Damage): a fast curl perm system for damaged hair (5:1 mix), with or without heat.
• XINGWEI X-Creator Perm Lotion (Damage): a dual-purpose system for curl or straightening services on damaged hair.
• Also stocked: XINGWEI Protein Curling Perm Lotion (Damage and Mild), Impres Permanent Wave for Colored Hair, Wella Vitawell, and L'Oréal Professionnel Curlia.

XINGWEI was formerly known as Dishirou. See the full Perm collection.

Frequently asked questions

Can I perm bleached hair?

It's high risk. Lightly highlighted hair can sometimes be permed with a damage-strength lotion after a strand test. Heavily bleached hair is often too weak and may break. Treatment and trimming first is usually safer.

Can I perm coloured hair?

Yes, with a lotion made for tinted or coloured hair and a strand test first. Perming can lift or shift the colour slightly, so many stylists perm first and colour a week or two later.

Can I perm hair that has been rebonded?

Rebonded lengths have already been chemically processed and are usually too weak to perm safely. Discuss it with your stylist. Often only the new regrowth can be permed. See our rebonding breakage guide.

How do I make a perm last on damaged hair?

Avoid washing for the time your stylist recommends, use gentle shampoo, condition well, use a curl-setting product, and avoid heavy brushing and heat.

Where can I buy professional perm lotion in Malaysia?

Browse the Perm collection at NX Hair & Beauty Supplies, visit our showroom at T-063, 3rd Floor, Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur, or WhatsApp +60 16-297 6299 for salon trade pricing. We deliver nationwide.

Perm lotions and neutralisers are professional chemical products for trained hairdressers. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions, wear gloves, and carry out a strand test before use. Do not perm hair over a broken or irritated scalp.