Perm & Straightening Lunar Calendar
The traditional best days for a perm, a relaxer or a straightening treatment by the Moon. Virgo days are the classic choice for a result that is even and holds; two signs are best avoided.
How to time a perm by the Moon
For chemical work on hair, lunar tradition looks first at the sign the Moon is in and only second at the phase. One sign is singled out as the best, one gives a much stronger curl than usual, and two are days when a set is said not to hold.
Waxing vs. waning Moon
- Waxing Moon (growing): Hair is said to take up a treatment readily, as it does colour. A good match with a favourable sign.
- Waning Moon (shrinking): Still workable on a good sign day. Expect a slightly softer, less lasting result.
The sign matters more than the phase here. A Virgo day on a waning Moon is still preferred to an ordinary day on a waxing one. The New Moon is a sensitive reset, and better to wait.
The Moon's sign: the deciding factor
The sign the Moon is in decides how the curl or the smoothing takes:
Tips for a perm that holds
- Best of all: the Moon in Virgo, the traditional sign for perms, relaxers and straightening.
- The Moon in Leo is said to give a tight, strong curl. Choose it if that is the look you want, and skip it for a loose wave.
- Avoid Cancer and Pisces, when hair is said to go limp or unruly and the set drops quickly.
More lunar beauty calendars
These are traditional lunar-beauty associations compiled and reviewed by our editorial team: offered for interest and fun, not as medical, dermatological or professional advice. Moon sign, phase and lunar day are computed from real astronomical positions. Explore more in our lunar beauty calendars.