While scrolling TikTok a month ago, I stumbled across a video of someone talking about their Korean digital perm experience, and as someone who’s very low-maintenance with their hair, I immediately started looking for salons in Toronto that offered this service.
I came across this new luxury Korean hair salon in Toronto called PERFECT X HAIR, and of course, I booked my appointment right away.
If you haven’t heard of the Korean digital perm before, it’s a process that involves using heated rods connected to a machine, and it gives your hair effortless, natural waves.
Here’s a breakdown of my experience getting the Korean digital perm, including tips if you plan on booking your own appointment!
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If you’re interested in other beauty procedures, you might enjoy these posts:
What is a Korean digital perm?
The Korean digital perm is a semi-permanent hair treatment that uses chemicals and heat to transform your hair’s shape and structure.
Traditional perms typically use cold rods and can result in tighter curls, while a Korean digital perm uses special heated rods connected to a machine.
This process creates looser, more natural-looking waves and curls that hold their shape even after washing.
Something nice to know is that the chemicals used in digital perms are gentler than the ones used in cold perms, so they won’t dry your hair out as much!
The digital perm is also usually recommended most for people with longer and finer hair, so it was the perfect procedure for me.
My Korean digital perm experience at PERFECT X HAIR in Toronto
PERFECT X HAIR has only been open for around two months, and they’ve already got a glowing 5-stars on Google.
They’re known for their expertise in Asian hair types and offer a range of hair services, such as cuts, colour treatments (including balayage), and digital perms.
Their stylists are also experts in Korean hair trends, which is perfect if you’re looking for effortless Korean-inspired hairstyles!
Stepping into their contemporary salon is an absolute dream, with the sleek wall panelling and modern gold accents.
Oh, and the salon even offers free drinks with your service, which is a really nice touch!
The preparation
The digital perm technique has been super popular in Korea, and I love that we can get it done here in Toronto.
After a brief chat with my stylist, Katie, to confirm the style I wanted, she explained the digital perm process in detail.
The nice thing about getting a digital perm is that it’s very customizable, and Katie tailored my procedure to give me the exact look I was going for.
We started with a haircut to add curtain bangs and layers, as well as remove the dry ends of my hair.
The first step in getting a Korean digital perm is prepping the hair, and Katie started by washing my hair to remove any oils or product buildup.
She then applied two different cream solutions, which help to break down certain bonds in your hair and allow it to be reshaped into a new style.
The first cream solution was applied in the sink and washed after 5 minutes, and the second cream solution was applied in the chair and washed off after 10 minutes.
For the second round, a heater was also placed above my head to help with the process.
The digital perm process
Katie then sectioned off my hair and applied the digital perm rods, which were then connected to a machine that controls the temperature and timing of the heat application.
If you’ve been wondering why it’s called a “digital” perm, now you know why!
You can feel the warmth from the machine, but it wasn’t uncomfortable for me at all.
Katie checked on the rods a few times to ensure everything was going smoothly, and once they were removed, my hair looked like this (warning, jumpscare):
Don’t panic lol, because your hair won’t stay this way!
Katie used a flat iron to straighten the top of my hair, and loosened out my curls.
We then headed back over to the sink, where she washed my hair again, and applied a neutralizing solution to lock the pattern in place.
Final results
Once the digital perm process was complete, Katie blow-dried my hair and showed me how to style my new curls.
We started with a serum and curl lotion to enhance the curls.
She used a blowdryer with a nozzle to dry my hair up to 70% dryness, then instructed me to spin my hair while blowdrying the remainder.
The entire process took around 4 hours, and while it seems like a long time, it’ll definitely save me time getting ready in the long run.
My hair is also naturally thin, and the digital perm has given me so much more volume!
I’m so obsessed with how the final results of my digital perm turned out.
Aftercare and maintenance
While digital perms are meant to be low-maintenance, you still have to do a few things to make sure the curls last and look their best.
Firstly, Katie advised me not to wash my hair for at least 48 hours after the perm to allow the curls to fully set and avoid loosening them prematurely.
Curl lotion is important, and should be used every time you wash your hair.
I have to do the blow-dry and spin method every time I wash my hair, and if I air dry, Katie recommended still using curl lotion and spinning my hair.
Even with these small changes to my routine, it’s a lot less time consuming than having to curl my hair (and having those curls fall out right away).
Is the Korean digital perm worth it?
I’m obsessed with my Korean digital perm, and as someone who’s extremely low-maintenance with their hair, it’s honestly a saviour.
I’m not good at curling my hair and I don’t like spending time on it, so having a digital perm saves me so much time!
One of the most common questions people have about digital perms is how long they last, and Katie mentioned that with proper care, my curls should last around six months to a year.
Of course, everyone’s hair is different, and things like hair texture and how often you wash it can affect how long your digital perm lasts.
Something to also keep in mind is that if you have dyed or bleach hair, or have previously gotten your hair dyed or bleached, the digital perm likely won’t hold well in your hair.
I’d highly recommend visiting PERFECT X HAIR and had such a wonderful experience getting my digital perm with Katie.
You can visit PERFECT X HAIR at 5195B Yonge Street in North York!
I also have a video all about my experience if you’re interested.
Have you gotten a Korean digital perm before? Are you planning on getting one? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
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