They say that your hair is your crowning glory. True enough, gorgeous hair is an instant confidence boost. It can tell people a lot about you and we can express ourselves with the way we wear our hair.
Straight, long, or curly hair — whatever style you want is a reflection of your personality, self-esteem, and femininity. So it’s only natural that we make sure our hair game is on point.
Speaking of styles, the perfectly defined curls from the bold and unapologetic 80s era are now staging a comeback and are more alluring than ever in 2021.
The word perm is the shortened term for “permanent wave. It is chemically treated hair that breaks down the hair structure through a special formula and rebonds it into curly or wavy hair. It’s important to note that this process alters the hair texture completely.
This means that after bidding your straight hair goodbye, you would have to adjust to an entirely different hair care routine that’s suited for your newly permed hair to prevent dry and damaged hair.
With hundreds of products out on the market today, how exactly do you choose the best shampoos for permed hair?
To help you out, we’ve gathered the best shampoos specially designed to take your gorgeous new locks to a whole new level. After all, our hair is the crown we never take off.
So, if you’re interested to know more about it, keep reading.
Top 7 Best Shampoos for Perms
1. Orchid Bliss shampoo
Product Description
Keeping your hair healthy after your hair permed treatment takes time and effort. You’ll also need a hydrating shampoo for that.
This weightless and repairing formula from Orchid Bliss is great for frizzy permed hair as it will lock in hydration and replace lost proteins essential to rebuilding the hair, all while restoring moisture when your hair needs it the most—without weighing it down.
The best shampoo for permed hair must be a sulfate-free formula that helps prevent hair from stripping its natural oils. It contains neem leaves extract which is known to have regenerative properties that support healthy cell division and stimulate hair follicle growth and function. It also helps in countering hair thinning caused by pollution, stress, or medication.
Those who have colored hair will love this one because it is also a color-safe shampoo, making your color more vibrant while keeping it healthy and shiny.
Best for:
- If you have hair permed that’s colored, thin hair, and coarse, this one’s gentle enough for daily use.
Pros
- Revitalizes & strengthens hair
- Sulfate-free shampoo
- Best for frizzy hair
- Moisturizing shampoo
- Provides elasticity & softness
- Safe for color treated hair
- Contains high-quality ingredients
Cons
- Not for those who don’t like scented products
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
2. L’Oreal Series Expert Curl Contour Shampoo
Product Description
L’Oréal is a French personal care company that originated in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine. It is the world’s largest cosmetics company boasting a wide range of top-notch hair products with proven formulas and a range to suit all hair needs.
This nourishing shampoo Curl Contour from Expert Series is specifically dedicated shampoo for permed hair. It helps intensify and maintain shape for wavy and curly hair strands.
Its main feature is its Hydracell technology which combines glycerine, oil and a patented formula called Incell, which is designed to strengthen and reinforce the hair’s natural defenses while sealing the hair cuticles allowing the curls intact.
No wonder why it is trusted by hairdressers and tested by salons all over the world.
Best for:
- Thick curly hair
Pros
- Retains curls
- Nourishing and enhancing shampoo for curly hair
- Add volume and bounce
Cons
- Does not come with a pump
- Not intended for fine hair
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
3. Tree to Tub Gentle Argan Oil Shampoo And Conditioner
Product Description
Girls who love flaunting their permed hair will rejoice over this gentle pH 5.5 protection from Tree to Tub shampoo and conditioner.
As you may know, pH plays an important role in the strength of your hair. The higher the pH level, the harsher the shampoo is on your hair. Your hair and scalp’s natural pH should sit somewhere between 4.5-5.5 for strong and healthy hair growth.
Talking about scalp, you’d be glad to know that the soapberry in Tree to Tub is perfect for dry, sensitive, and flaky scalp.
For thousands of years, soapberries have been used to make natural hair care products. The plant is rich in saponin, which makes your hair soft, shiny, and lustrous when used regularly.
Other natural ingredients include aloe vera, shea butter, organic Morrocan oil, argan oil, and chamomile, which can all help moisturize hair.
Only the good stuff — which means there are absolutely no toxins, chemicals, and sulfates! It is also certified organic and is free of synthetic additives. In fact, it uses natural lavender essential oils to produce a calming and pleasing scent.
Best for:
- Best for fragile permed hair, Sensitive, Damaged, flaky, dry hair type
Pros
- Contains natural ingredients from organic balancing botanicals
- Free from chemicals
- Leaves hair soft and smooth
- Hydrate and moisturize hair
- Suitable for children
- Gently scented with lavender essential oil
- Vegan friendly
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- Cruelty friendly
- Provides bouncy curls
Cons
- For some, causes hair to grease
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
4. Garnier Fructis Curl Nourishing Shampoo And Conditioner
Product Description
The Garnier Fructis curl set contains shampoo, conditioner, and air-dry buttercream leave-in treatment. This set hydrates and nourish hair that delivers frizz-resistant for 24 hours.
The shampoo protects and prepares your hair for heat styling up to 446 degrees, works well in areas of 97% humidity and it builds lightweight, thicker-looking volume, and enhances natural hair movement.
Its ultra-rich moisture conditioner is also infused with glycerin and coconut oil. It is especially great for those suffering from dry scalp, itchiness, dandruff, and brittle hair. It is rich in vitamins B3 and B6, iron, and active fruit protein that can make your hair strands shinier, stronger, and healthier.
The leave-in conditioner is formulated with coconut, jojoba, and macadamia oil that gets to the core of the hair strands. This deeply hydrating formula is free of parabens and sulfate and works on the coarsest curls.
Best for:
- Dry curly permed hair
Pros
- Sulfate-Free, Paraben-free, and silicone-free
- Leaves hair soft and smooth
- Strengthens hair
- Curl enhancing shampoo
Cons
- Not for thick hair curls
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
5. Tresemme Flawless Shampoo And Conditioner for Curly Hair
Product Description
TRESemmé is an American brand of hair care products that started in 1947 in New York City. A phonetic respelling of the French word for ‘beloved’ TRESemmé has been a household name and is one of the leading hair care specialists.
The brand is committed to bringing the power of salon professionals into your hands by providing expert quality products to help you have that salon-gorgeous hair every day whatever your hairstyle may be.
This Flawless Curls shampoo and conditioner is no exception. Hydration is your best bet for curly hair and that’s exactly what the olive oil, coconut oil in this product is intended for.
It gives your hair the moisture it needs to detangle and fights frizz for strands ready to be styled into flawless curls, all without weighing down your ringlets.
Plus, it is formulated with vitamin B1 and vitamin E and uses an advanced curl hydration system that provides up to 7 times more hydrated curls.
Best for:
- Dry curly hair types
Pros
- Help define curls
- Best for frizzy hair
- Moisturizing shampoo
- Makes curls bouncy
Cons
- Consistency is not that creamy enough
- Contains sulfate
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
6. ColorProof TruCurl Curl Perfecting Shampoo
Product Description
Flawless-looking hair that’s permed and colored? Easy. ColorProof TruCurl curl perfection shampoo is an ultra-gentle and ultra-rich moisture shampoo that is created for chemically treated hair like perm treatment.
It delivers weightless hydration deep within without weighing curls down while its breakthrough hair technology called Chromaveil and Heliogenol ensures full-spectrum color protection. This means 96% color retention even after 10 washes and prevents your hair color from prematurely fading.
Formulated with Abyssinian, Camellia, and grapeseed oils, this powerful trifecta helps your hair achieve that bouncy, lively look straight out of a shampoo commercial. Abyssinian is perfect after a chemical treatment as it leaves the hair softer and more flexible, thereby reducing damage to the hair fibers.
Camellia deeply penetrates and stimulates increased hair cell activity which makes your hair grow more quickly, stronger, and inactive hair cells become active again.
Finally, there’s grapeseed which is commonly used as a deep moisturizer, sealant, shine enhancer, and heat protector from blow drying and flat ironing. These formulas work to clean hair strands and keep curls looking gorgeous.
When looking for a shampoo, it’s best to stay away from those that contain artificial fragrances. This ColorProof TruCurl Shampoo also contains natural ingredients such as verbena, basil oil, and tonka essence leaving your hair smelling fresh like sunny citrus fruits. Basil Essential Oil cleanses, refreshes, hydrates, softens, and strengthens the strands while Tonka bean has a powdery fragrance that is reminiscent of vanilla and almond.
Best for:
- All Curly hair types
Pros
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Contains natural oils
- Vegan-friendly
- Defines curls
- Paraben-free, Sulfate-free
- 96% color retention
- Moisturize and hydrate hair
- Suitable for all types of perms
- Do not weigh hair down
- Strengthen hair
Cons
- A little pricey
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
7. Strictly Curls Curl Defining Shampoo by Marc Anthony
Product Description
Celebrity hairstylist Marc Anthony embarked on a journey about three decades ago to create superior hair products that nourish, hydrate, and protect hair without frequent visits to the salon.
Today, the Marc Anthony team of style-makers and beauty lovers continues to live by its promise to deliver the best ingredients and the latest trends to create professional quality products.
This ultimate moisture shampoo Strictly Curls by Marc Anthony will keep your curly hair, frizz-free, coiled, and volumized by deeply cleansing hair while promoting strength and shine that’s soft to the touch.
Its formula lies in combining the best natural ingredients such as Vitamin E, coconut oil, shea butter and hydrolyzed silk, all guaranteed to bring out the best version of your permed hair.
Aside from that, this curl shampoo is also enriched with sunflower seed oil and aloe extract that redefine curls and help nourish the scalp.
Best for:
- Dry tight curls
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Defines curls
- Best for frizzy hair
- Repels humidity
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Make curls soft
Cons
- Some does not like its lemon scent
Interested? Click this link to purchase!
What to Look for When Buying Shampoos for Permed Hair 
1. Natural Ingredients
Natural ingredients in hair products can gently yet effectively help to impart vitamins, minerals, oils, and botanical extracts to the scalp and the hair follicles.
They can cleanse hair gently, promote hair growth, and keep your hair smooth without stripping hair’s natural moisture.
2. Glycerin
Your permed hair needs glycerin which is a humectant, designed to bring moisture in and retain it.
In hair products, glycerin works to draw moisture into your hair and provides a barrier to keep the moisture locked in.
3. Sulfate-Free
Sulfates may strip away too much moisture, leaving the hair dry and unhealthy and since curly hair dries out faster than straight hair, it’s just better to stay away from them altogether.
They can leave curls dehydrated, which can lead to breakage. Always choose a shampoo and conditioner that do not contain sulfates or parabens.
Final Verdict: Which One is the Best For Chemically Treated Hair? 
Styling our hair can sometimes be harsh. Especially if we’re talking about chemically processed hair such as perms.
While shampoo for permed hair is great among those with wavy or curly hair, it really depends on what works for your hair. It may be a matter of choosing the right formula, or how frequently you wash your mane and scalp.
Permed hair is more prone to dryness, frizz, and even breakage. This is the very reason why we think Tree to Tub Organic Shampoo is the best shampoo for permed hair.
The last thing your hair needs after a perm is more chemicals to weigh it down. Be warned though, this organic shampoo is quite on the pricey side.
But it is absolutely a great thing to have. It does not contain any toxins or synthetic ingredients. There is no parfum, sulfate-free, parabens, phthalates, additives, or chemicals at all.
Remember that with proper care and the right shampoo, you can keep your permed hair from further damage, saving you a lot of time and money in the long run.
And because good hair day matters, you should be able to flaunt and sway your gorgeous, healthy hair exactly as you please.
