Pro-Perm Rods Offer Quality and Versatility

I recently broke my six-year moratorium on permanents for my hair. I just couldn't stand the bone straight stringiness of my baby fine hair any longer. I had to do something to make it look like I still had some hair. In the end, a permanent seemed like a good solution.

Since I couldn't afford a professional perm at $50 or more, I ended up giving myself a home permanent with Ogilivie for Color-Treated, Thin or Delicate hair. It proved to be a good choice.

However, because I wanted body more than curl, I couldn't use all of the perm rods I already had on hand. I needed to supplement them with larger rods than I once used.

When it comes to choosing the best in permanent rods, Pro-Perm is the brand to beat. They offer three different traditional perm sizes as well as two spiral curl kits. Because of that, there is bound to be something to fit just about anyone's needs.

The Traditional Kit #1 provides small rods that will deliver a tight curl. These rods are perfect for hard to wave and short to medium hair. They work well when a tight, curly style is desired.

The Traditional Kit #2 provides medium sized rods for a soft curl. The rod size here is what most women use at least throughout the top and crown sections of their hair. This kit is perfect for all hair lengths, but works particularly well on short to medium-length hair.

The Traditional Kit #3 provides loose waves and body. These rods are particularly good for relaxed styles on medium to longer hair.

The Spiral Kit #1 is made for loose spiral curls. It works best on medium-long to longer hairstyles.

The Spiral Kit #2 is for medium spiral curls. It also works well on medium-long to longer hairstyles.

Each Pro-Perm Rod kit contains between 36 and 45 salon quality permanent wave rods. The size and color vary depending upon the kit chosen. Cost varies from location to location but generally ranges around $5 to $6 per kit.

Kits can be mixed and matched to achieve a customized home permanent. For example, I use medium-sized rods at the top and crown of my hair but large rods everywhere else. My daughter, on the other hand, alternates medium and large spiral rods throughout her entire head to give her a relaxed, casual look.

I usually keep all three regular kit rods on hand so that I have the maximum amount of options available at my fingertips. That also provides between 108 and 135 perm rods to work with; meaning I can perm my daughter's and my hair at the same time if I choose to do so.

Pro-Perm rods are made of hard plastic that will stand up for many years. The shaft exterior will not collapse, which could result in uneven winding and a perm that isn't uniform.

The rubber extensions that attach the cap to the rod itself are made of heavy-duty rubber with plenty of tension. They will not stretch out, knot or crack. They usually last the life of the rod itself unless broken or turn by accident.

Tiny sure-grip teeth help hold the hair in place once it is wound around the rod so that the perm is uniform and accurate. They do not; however, pull or tear at the hair, causing breakage or unduly stretching the hair shaft.

Each kit comes with pictures of the hairstyles for which that kit is best suited. Instructions also explain how to use the rods properly in perming and give instructions for proper winding.

Here is my summary review.

Variety - 5 stars. I like that there are kits for both regular and spiral permanents.

Size - 4 stars. There should be an extra large rod for women who are seeking very loose, beachy looking waves.

Durability - 5 stars. These rods are durable. I've had many of mine for as long as 20 years.

Cost - 4 stars. These rods are inexpensive, especially when you think about how much use you will get out of them.

Quantity - 4 stars. The newer kits cost more and contain fewer rods (36 versus 45). That means it may be necessary to purchase multiple kids in order to get enough rods to do the job.

That is 22 stars out of a possible 25 for an average of 4.2 stars. That's pretty good, all in all.

If you use the Pro-Perm Rods as directed and follow the instructions that come with your home permanent to the letter, you will likely get the desired outcome. On the other hand, if you don't follow the instructions and do as you please, you could end up with a lot of frizz and an uneven curl. The choice is yours!

RATING SCALE:

5 stars = outstanding
4 stars = good
3 stars = average
2 stars = below average
1 star = poor