3 Natural Ingredients to Relax Your Perm Curls

Sometimes a perm leaves you with hair that’s curlier than you wanted, or is dry, frizzy, or unmanageable. You can loosen your perm curls at home with remedies using natural ingredients.
The chemicals used to permanently curl your locks actually change the physical structure of your hair, according to an expert review. But whether it’s done at home or at the salon, perms don’t always have perfect results.
You won’t be able to completely undo the chemical alterations caused by a perm, but these solutions can add moisture to your hair and loosen tight, dry curls.
Olive Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil features beneficial antioxidants, including vitamins E and K, according to the Independent. And the fatty acids in olive oil can coat and nourish damaged hair, protecting it from breakage and frizz and restoring a healthy sheen to hair that seems rough and dry.
There are many hair-care products that incorporate olive oil, but you can also use it straight from the pantry. Work only one or two tablespoons into your hair, concentrating on your ends and avoiding the scalp. Repeat once a week, or less often, to reap the benefits of this inexpensive, natural product.
Egg and Avocado
Many stylists and experts turn to protein to repair the damage caused by the sun, dyes, and chemical perms, according to MedCare. Protein masks provide even deeper nourishment than a standard conditioner: Applying protein directly to damaged hair can help restore your hair’s structure and lock moisture back in.
Egg and avocado, two especially wholesome ingredients, are rich in protein and healthy fats. To combat your dry hair, create a combination of equal parts egg and avocado. The natural oils found in avocado help replenish your dry, damaged locks. Allow the mixture to remain for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing it out with lukewarm water. Apply the mixture after shampooing your hair each day for at least three to four days, or until you begin to notice an improvement.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Both permed hair and naturally curly locks suffer from a common issue: frizz. Frizzy hair is dry and unmanageable, but you can help tame your frizz with an apple cider vinegar hair rinse.
According to Today, rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar replenishes your dry, frizzy locks. This acidic product can also help reduce dandruff, which is partially caused by microorganisms living in the scalp, and strip away excessive hair products.
You’ll want to dilute your vinegar for use with your hair. Mix one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup of water and use it to rinse after shampooing. Vinegar can dry your hair out, so consider following it up with a hair mask treatment or leave-in conditioner.
- Frontiers in Medicine: Mechanisms of Impairment in Hair and Scalp Induced by Hair Dyeing and Perming and Potential Interventions
- The Independent: Why You Should Immediately Start Putting Olive Oil in Your Hair
- MedCare: 5 Best Protein Treatments for Stronger and Healthier Hair
- Today: What Does Apple Cider Vinegar Do for Your Hair? Experts Weigh In on Its Various Benefits

Sanober Pezad Doctor, MD
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Sanober Pezad Doctor is a double board-certified dermatologist and internationally recognized leader in integrative and holistic dermatology. She is an anti-aging and regenerative medicine specialist and the founder of AGEnesis and Baby SkinWise.
She earned her MD in dermatology, venereology, and leprology and a diplomate of national board (DNB) in dermatology. She is board certified in anti-aging and regenerative medicine from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). She's also a trained clinical homeopath through the Center for Education and Development of Clinical Homeopathy (CEDH).
Sanober is the founder of AGEnesis: The Holistic Aging Blueprint, a science-backed, multidimensional protocol for healthy skin aging, and Baby SkinWise, the world’s first audiovisual skincare guide for parents. She also hosts the YouTube channel "Healthy Aging with Dr. Doctor," where she delivers educational content on evidence-based skincare, hair health, and integrative health practices.
Sanober is a medical school gold medalist and recipient of multiple national and international awards. She is also the chief dermatology medical advisor for emerging clinical research in integrative skin and hair health, with more than 50 published scientific articles.
Sanober is a proactive, compassionate medical practitioner with a thorough understanding of overall mind-body-spiritual wellness. She's also a key advocate for the healthy aging movement. She's a simple mommy to the core and strongly believes "prevention is better than cure." She's on a mission to make you and me into the healthiest version of ourselves.

Jaimie Zinski
Author
Residing in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Jaimie Zinski has been writing since 2009. Specializing in pop culture, film and television, her work appears on Star Reviews and various other websites. Zinski is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in history at the University of Wisconsin.