Do Curly permers HAVE to use activators?

[CharUK]

I'm not sure if you can help.

I'm wondering if it's absolutely essential that people who sport a curly perm, use activators?

I really can't stand half of them, but things like surge motion oil 9 etc moisturize my hair just fine, i'm wondering if these types of moisturizers are enough?

xx

 

[CharUK]

BUMP

 

[Nonie]

Curl activators are very moisturizing and so are quite a treat for hair that's been permed. And they enhance the curly look, which is what you're going for when you get a curly perm (jheri curl). So I'm not sure why anyone would not want to use them. If it's the "juice dripping factor", then perhaps you could just use less of the activator or mix it with the gel. What I do remember is my hair grew like weeds when I had a curly perm, and from what I've read, the extra moisture from activators had a lot to do with it.

 

[CharUK]

THanx for replying, yes, its the slimy texture I can't stand, especially as I acheive curls with the oils i've been using lately. I was just wondering if it was imperative that 'activator' was to be used.

I may alternate between activator and oil to see if I can get the balance right.

xx

 

[Nonie]

Hey Char, I don't know how far you are from Manchester but if you can make it to Wow! Hair Design (I think that was the name) the hair stylist there, Frank Bisson, is da bomb! He had "created" this curly perm that was not slimy or sticky and it was never overprocessed. I went to him when my hair was breaking like crazy and he put a halt to that. He used to work in labs that make hair products before he started doing hair and so was quite a guru. And he is the "Doctor" on the Help page of one of the hair magazines in the UK -- which is how I found him. He had a curly perm like me when I went to see him and his was not sticky or slimy. Plus it was so well done that if you pulled his locks they would spring right back to their original position, not stay hanging down like my overprocessed ones would. His clientele included Americans who'd fly all the way to his salon to get there hair done and I was not the least surprised after visiting his salon. Actually if I could, I'd do the same.

I used to ride a train from the wee hours of the morning for about 6 hours from Wales to make it to my 9:30 am appt, so that does give you an idea how very impressed I was with his work. I highly recommend paying him a visit if you can, if only to find out how you can stop having a slimy curly perm. You won't regret it, I promise.

(PS And if you do go, please give me your feedback.)

ETA: Oh, and I think you will be OK using oils as long as you do have some "moisture" in there. Frank was a big fan of Nexxus products which I believe have water as an ingredient and so are great moisturizers. And now that I think of it, he recommended I use Nexxus products and none of them were activators so there's your answer. I think alternating like you plan to do should work. Just remember, oils without water do not really moisturize so you've gotta have some type of moisture in the mix.

 

[CharUK]

Thank you so much, sounds very exciting!! I'm going to try and find his details

xxx