And it is interesting to note that once such a perm is applied, the black chick can no longer wash her hair or get it wet, or she will lose that perm.
Not quite, Chris. Step aside and let a brotha blacksplain it to you.
A perm is a chemical straightening process that leaves nappy hair 'permanently' straight. It is impervious to water, and doesn't wash out. Eventually, like hair dye, it does grow out.
Hot pressing is the older, more traditional method of straightening nappy hair. After pressing, the hair must be kept dry, or it will curl again. Also, pressing generally only lasts a few days, then needs to be redone.
Hmmm, I don’t know, but I suspect that you are correct.
I dated a black lady for 7 years. She wore her hair straightened and pulled back into a pony tail.
She had this process done to her hair with lye, as I recall, and it seemed pretty uncomfortable to her. After it was done, she would not let it get anywhere near water. I tried to get her to go to the beach with me and she was just no. No, boy, no.
But, at the same time, her sister also used to get her hair done similarly, but then she would have it pressed into very unusual patterns, and I tell you that this girl was even more averse to water. If it was raining outside, and she was inside, she was mad, because the increased humidity would start messing up her hair.
Me, I just shave my head. As soon as my hair gets long enough that I have to pick up a comb to fix it, I shave it all off. Da heck wit’ it!
But yep, I think you are right, and I appreciate very much the blacksplain. I don’t want to be a dummy! <3