[Dejibo]

I have been growing out my hair for a while now, and decided that it was time to get that perm. it would make things so much easier, and styling would be a breeze! just fluff and go. I went to the local salon,and the girl did a wonderful job. Amazing I was so pleased! I waited a full 2 days to wash it. I wanted to be sure it was set.

One week later, I have loose, barely noticeable curls when wet, and fluff when dry. 10 days out and the perm is 90% gone!

I called the salon, and they brought me back in for a free wash, and evaluation. They felt really bad that it didnt take. They told me that being on MS medication can cause this to happen! usually about a week into the perm, it just falls out.

They offered to reperm it, but warned me about how damaging that can be. I chose to leave it alone. I am going to just let it fall out. They told me that the medicines I am on would require a very strong perm for it to take, and I chose to not burn up my hair.

I got my money back for the perm, and a gift card for a free hair cut when I am ready to come back. I was happy they were willing to take care of it, but upset that MS robbed me of yet another thing in my life!

I have nice hair. its not like I will suffer by not having curly hair, but it would have been something nice just for me. MS ticks me off!

[Kitty]

Did they know you have MS before they gave you a perm? I've never heard of MS meds causing a perm not to take....but I've never researched it, either, so it's entirely possible. Seems like if they knew you took those types of meds they would have said something to you before giving you the perm. At least they were fair about it and refunded your money. It's been years since I had a perm. I think I was in my 20's and I got a spiral perm. Wow! Talk about curly!

[barb02]

I used to get perms about every four months. I have tried to have perms three times since my dx, and only one took. And it only lasted about two months. I have given up since the last time I tried the right side of my head was burning.

[Foggy Brain]

Yes, ladies, it is sad but true about how MS drugs, among other medications, affect perms. I mentioned my MS to several stylists here in town, and no one would attempt a perm because of the medications I was on.

Oh, and it seems true about adding color to your hair; I had a stylist add reddish hightlights to my hair and they were gone in about two weeks! Now, taking color out (blonde highlights, bleach) seems not to be a problem as I had this done several weeks ago.

[Erin524]

I've always had a problem with hair dye actually staying in my hair. Long before I had MS or had been on any of the MS meds.

The guy who cuts my hair tells me it's because of the bits of white/gray hair that I've got on my head. I get that from both my parents. My dad's hair went gray when he was 23 or 24 (right around the time my sister was born...coincidence?) and my hair was going gray already by the time I was 17 or 18yrs old. I think I get it from both my parents because my mom has two nieces who both have their hair graying in the same area where mine is. One colors her hair, and the other one doesnt. My sister has the same gray pattern in her hair and she doesnt color hers either.

I tend to just get my hair colored two or three times a year. It's expensive and I hate the smell of the chemicals or the itchy sensation from it. Plus I dont want to fry my hair. I dont think I've had my hair colored but once since I quit stabbing myself with Copaxone last summer.

I'm thinking about getting my hair colored once winter lets up a bit and it's not such a pain to drive to the place where I get my hair cut. He's almost all the way downtown, but he's been cutting my hair since I was 10, and the only one I trust to touch my hair.

He tells me that he has to mix two bottles of color to do my hair because the color just wont take. Hopefully now that I'm not stabbing myself with needles of C anymore my hair will cooperate more.

[kicker]

I get my hair colored ver 6 weeks, at 54 I am gray and grow white caps when I let too much time go between colorings, get red (hard color to keep I hear), did Rebif for 2 years, some Novantrone and hair seemed and always seems fine. I don't baby my hair, but thecolor sticks. My stylist uses Nexxus, it does not stink and maybe that's the difference.

[Dejibo]

They did know I have MS, before they permed me. The stylists dad had PPMS in the early 70s and she remembered all the horrible meds they experimented on him with. She asked about meds before she permed me. She told me that since I have had many perms in the past, and did well, this shouldnt be an issue, but time would tell.

The owner of the salon said its always worth a try. Some folks on this type of med cant hold a perm for a week, and others surprise you and do beautifully. She will mark my card that while I am on this stuff, dont waste my money.

it really was beautiful for a few days! I loved it. I am just mad that MS took yet another peice of me! unexpected and upsetting. I have calmed a bit since. I guess I will just have to leave it long and put pretty jeweled peices in it.

I wish I had taken my pic before it fell out.

[karousel]

Dejibo that was great that they refunded your money and gave you a free hair cut. What a way to take care of a customer!

[kats]

This is so funny that you guys are talking about perms and coloring your hair. I just returned from a hair cut that finally got rid of all the fried ends of my hair due to a bad perm a while back.

Since I have a few white hairs around my face (ok, more than a few) she suggested I try some highlights/lowlights. Should I mention that I'm on Copaxone? I had no clue that it would matter. She wants to do balayage which is supposed to look more natural. I'd feel a little funny mentioning the MS at a hair salon but I guess it'd be better to know beforehand. I'm so glad you guys are here! I hope everyone's well

Kathy

[Erin524]

Originally Posted by kats

This is so funny that you guys are talking about perms and coloring your hair. I just returned from a hair cut that finally got rid of all the fried ends of my hair due to a bad perm a while back.

Since I have a few white hairs around my face (ok, more than a few) she suggested I try some highlights/lowlights. Should I mention that I'm on Copaxone? I had no clue that it would matter. She wants to do balayage which is supposed to look more natural. I'd feel a little funny mentioning the MS at a hair salon but I guess it'd be better to know beforehand. I'm so glad you guys are here! I hope everyone's well

Kathy

Hope your color takes.

I'm probably going to go get some fresh color next week, as long as the MS behaves. (I'm feeling a bit more MSish today for some reason...stupid right hand is going numb to match the left...argh!)