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Perm Fundamentals
Aneta Dąbrowska1h 12minMedium

Perm Fundamentals

A course on the fundamentals of perming for hairdressers. Aneta Dąbrowska explains the chemistry behind the treatment and shows how to achieve a modern, natural curl that builds volume and enhances the haircut.

Result and process

  • Perm Fundamentals - photo 1
  • Perm Fundamentals - photo 2
  • Perm Fundamentals - photo 3

About the course

Perm Fundamentals is a course that demystifies the chemistry and technique behind one of the most transformative treatments in the salon. This isn't a return to the tight 80s curls - it's a modern tool for building volume, adding texture, and holding shape for clients with straight, hard-to-style hair. The course shows how to work with intention through the chemistry to achieve a natural, dynamic curl that enhances the cutting line rather than overpowering it.

Aneta Dąbrowska guides you through the entire process step by step, starting with the fundamentals - hair chemistry and the role of disulfide bonds. On a model with a modern, asymmetric cut, she shows how hair diagnosis (thickness, porosity, colour history) dictates the choice of lotion and technique. You'll see how different rod directions and sizes build volume and movement exactly where the shape of the cut demands it, turning a flat hairstyle into a composition full of life and energy.

In the course you'll see

  • Chemistry from the ground up - the role of disulfide bonds, amino acids, and lipids in the perming process, and why understanding them is key to predictable results
  • Full pre-treatment hair diagnosis - how to assess coloured, lightened, and natural hair, and when to decline the service (e.g. after keratin straightening)
  • Creative rod winding - how to mix sizes and directions (including the herringbone technique) to achieve a natural, dynamic curl tailored to a specific haircut
  • The key role of the compress - why a 10-minute warm water rinse before neutralization is a critical step for both safety and curl quality
  • Two-stage neutralization with hydrogen peroxide - application on the rods and after their removal for full fixation of the new hair structure
  • Aftercare rules - why clients can't wash their hair for 48 hours and which products to use to keep curls bouncy and healthy
  • Final styling on very wet hair with a diffuser - how to bring out maximum curl without frizz and show the client the real result of the treatment

After this course, you'll stop treating perming as a risky, outdated treatment and start using it as a creative tool for permanently changing hair texture. You'll learn to work with intention through the chemical process and choose winding techniques to give your clients hairstyles full of volume and movement that style themselves.

What you will learn

  1. 01How perm chemistry works and the role disulfide bonds play.
  2. 02How to correctly diagnose hair and recognize contraindications for the treatment.
  3. 03How to choose and mix rods to creatively build volume and movement.
  4. 04How to correctly perform the key stages: the compress, lotion application, and neutralization.
  5. 05Why you shouldn't be afraid to work on coloured hair, and how pigment behaves.
  6. 06How to advise clients on the right aftercare following a perm.

Before you start

This course assumes you already have:

What's inside

Full access with the course
  1. Perm Fundamentals - The chemical basis of the treatment0:58

    01The chemical basis of the treatment

    Hair is made up of amino acid chains that connect through disulfide bonds.

  2. Perm Fundamentals - Watch out for heavy metals in the hair4:09

    02Watch out for heavy metals in the hair

    If a girl comes in with green hair, we don't perform the treatment on that hair.

  3. Perm Fundamentals - Key point - even section tension12:40

    03Key point - even section tension

    The hair tension must stay even the whole time. Everything must be combed out evenly.

  4. Perm Fundamentals - Mixing rods for a natural effect21:44

    04Mixing rods for a natural effect

    We don't wind all the hair with the same rod size. That's simply not an option.

  5. Perm Fundamentals - Does a perm wash out colour?26:09

    05Does a perm wash out colour?

    Once the fixer is applied, everything goes back to normal - the pigments bind back into the hair.

  6. Perm Fundamentals - Two-stage neutralizer application50:09

    06Two-stage neutralizer application

    We apply it to the rods twice - after five minutes we remove the rods and add more product.

  7. Perm Fundamentals - Perming after keratin straightening55:37

    07Perming after keratin straightening

    I wouldn't perform a perm on hair that's had a keratin straightening treatment.

  8. Perm Fundamentals - Correctly drying curly hair58:49

    08Correctly drying curly hair

    Before drying, the hair needs to be very wet, dripping - we don't rub it with a towel.

FAQ

Which clients and hair types is the technique shown in this course suited for?
This technique is ideal for clients with straight hair that's difficult to shape. Aneta Dąbrowska shows how to create a modern curl that builds volume and enhances the haircut - which also works well for trendy men's styles.
Does the course cover contraindications for perming?
Yes, Aneta Dąbrowska explains in detail when you should decline the treatment. She covers cases of decolourized hair, hair after keratin straightening, hair with heavy metal buildup, and health-related contraindications such as oncological treatment.
Is this technique safe for coloured hair, and will the colour change?
Yes, the course shows how to work safely on coloured hair. Aneta explains that the pigments remain in the hair, and once the fixer is applied, the colour returns to normal - so there's no need to worry about it changing.
What rods and tools are needed for this technique?
The course uses traditional rods in various thicknesses to achieve a natural effect. You'll also need end papers to protect the tips, a lotion applicator, cotton, and processing caps.
Does the course teach modern waves or tight, strong curls?
The course focuses on achieving a modern, natural effect. Aneta shows how to use different rod sizes and winding directions (such as the herringbone technique) to create dynamics, lightness, and even soft waves.
Will I learn how to advise clients on hair care after the treatment?
Yes, the course covers the key recommendations. You'll learn why hair shouldn't be washed for 48 hours, and which ingredients (proteins, ceramides, lipids) aftercare products should contain.
How long is the full video?
The video course is 72 minutes long and shows the entire treatment process step by step, from diagnosis and chemistry, through winding, to final styling.

Details

Duration
1h 12min
Season
Season 1
Hair length
Medium

Educator

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Aneta Dąbrowska

Aneta Dąbrowska

Educator · 2 courses

An educator who believes that the more you know, the more questions you have. Aneta Dąbrowska continuously develops her skills at leading academies and international courses. In her courses, she focuses on a fundamental understanding of chemical processes and hair structure, teaching how to translate that knowledge into precise cutting and coloring techniques, from perm waving to modern haircuts.

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