How to tell if perm softening is complete; don't just follow the time on the instructions.

You can't just rely on the time stated on the perm solution instructions for softening. I used to wait 12 or 15 minutes as well, but I ended up with curls that weren't tight enough on coarse, thick hair, and hair that became frizzy on bleached hair. Later, I started focusing more on the state of the hair strands: whether they bounce back when stretched, whether the arc is stable after wrapping…