Korea is known for its innovative beauty treatments, and the ‘root perm’ is trendiest one on the internet right now – with over 69 million views on TikTok.

Many of the videos on social media were filmed in South Korean salons, but the products and techniques used to get the look are all also available elsewhere. “Big voluminous hair has been a huge trend recently and root perms offer a simple way to achieve a lifted and stylish look without having to get a blowout every week”, says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Guy Tang. The popularity of root perms goes hand in hand with the rise of low-maintenance beauty: People are opting to get beauty treatments with long-lasting effects a few times a year to cut down on their daily beauty routines. Root perms — which can require two to five hours spent in a salon chair once every two months — fall into that category.

Instead of having to prime your hair with a heat protectant, use a dryer brush, and set it with rollers – “root perms eliminate using products every day to add fullness at the roots which cuts down on styling time,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Sophie Gutterman.

Beauty influencer Ava Lee recently shared her experience getting a root perm at a salon in Korea, and the comments were filled with questions. Some wanted to know exactly what a root perm is, while others were eager to know if they could get the treatment stateside. We reached out to a few experts to answer all those questions about root perms, plus how much it costs and what is involved in the process.

Meet the experts:

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What is a root perm?

A root perm (also known as a root lift or root wave) is much like a traditional perm: It uses the same type of chemical product to alter the hair’s structure, but instead of creating allover waves or curls, this treatment only targets the roots or the upper portion of the hair, typically from the scalp. “The technique is used to add volume, lift, and texture to the hair at the roots, giving it a more voluminous and styled appearance, but requires much less maintenance than traditional perms,” says Tang.

Seoul MyeongDong, hairstylist and owner of ParkJun BeautyLab in South Korea, says the root perms first started gaining popularity in Korea about 10 years ago. But in the past few years, the hair treatment has been gaining more attention globally as more tourists visit the country and return with more voluminous hair.

Who can get a root perm?

Anyone who wants more volume at the roots. “It's a versatile technique that can be tailored to different hair lengths and types, making it accessible to a wide range of clients,” says Tang. Those with fine or flat hair looking to add natural-looking volume at the roots will see the biggest benefit.

MyeongDong does advise against getting a root perm if your hair is damaged from colour or previous chemical treatment to avoid further damage.

What is involved in a root perm appointment?

A root perm appointment starts with a consultation. Tang recommends coming in with your hair air-dried so stylists can properly assess your natural texture. “It's important to discuss how often the client is willing to maintain the hair, what their personal styling and hair-care routine looks like, and discuss realistic expectations for post-appointment maintenance,” says Tang. There’s no need to wash your hair before the appointment either; you’ll get a full wash and condition after the treatment.

Once the client and stylist are aligned, the rest of the appointment follows these steps:

Step 1: Hair is sectioned and the hairstylist applies a specialist perming solution to the root area. The stylist determines the number of sections based on the density of the client’s hair.

Step 2: Once the perming solution has been applied to each section, the treated sections are wrapped around perm rods or curlers, with clips to secure them in place.

Step 3: The perming solution and rods are left on for varying durations of time depending on the desired level of curl or wave. The longer the solution stays in the wavier the results will be. The average time is about 20 minutes.

Step 4: The stylist removes the perm rods and rinses out the perming solution, then applies a neutralizing solution to set the new shape.

Step 5: Lastly, the hair is shampooed, conditioned, and styled.

Once you leave the salon stylists warn against getting your hair wet for at least 48 hours to avoid disturbing the results of the perm.

The stylists we spoke to highly advise against trying this treatment at home. Anytime you are applying chemicals to your scalp and hair, it’s best left to the pros. That said, you no longer have to catch a flight to get a root perm. Any hairstylist who does perms could do this treatment, but you're more likely to see it on the menu in Korean salons.

How long does a root perm last?

The longevity of a root perm can vary depending on factors like hair type and maintenance. “On average, a root perm can last anywhere from two to six months depending on the hair type,” says Tang. He recommends going for a touch-up when you start to see new growth at your roots. Regardless, that’s a lot longer than even the very best blowout.

This article originally appeared on Allure.

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