How long does a spiral perm last?

Perm is short for permanent, and hair that's been permed will remain curly until it's grown out or cut off. But both spiral and regular perm curls tend to loosen over time. If you're looking for very tight, bouncy curls, you may want to have the process refreshed every six months to one year. Not paying attention to perm aftercare can mean your curls don't set as uniformly as you'd like, but washing your hair straight after a perm won't completely undo it.