I just had my hair colored. How long do I have to wait to have a perm? Thanks for any replys, Delpha

The color companies say to perm first then wait a couple of weeks to color. If you're doing a high-lift color or bleaching, they say to color first, then wait a couple of weeks and perm.

In actuality, hair doesn't improve with time, so all you're trying to do is get the perm (or the artificial color) to stabilize before you color (or perm) it.

Coloring is an oxidative process while perming is a reductive process. The two processes are opposites of each other. If you perm after coloring, you can strip some of the color out. The chemicals in permanent wave solutions are similar to the chemicals used in many color removers.

Many haircolorists prefer that you either color or perm, but not both. It's your hair, you decide. Good luck.