It is entirely possible to create dreads if you have a perm. In fact, most people who wear dread locks have naturally curly hair or a perm. The curl helps hold the style in place and does not affect the look of the dreads in any way. You can put dreads in your hair regardless of what type of perm you have.

On the Other: Perm Considerations

Perms cannot withstand the constant tension that the hair is placed under when it is styled in dreads. The dreads will pull the curl out of the hair, and may result in breakage. It is also very difficult to remove dreads without cutting them out. If you have plans of returning to your permed style after the dreads, the process could be challenging.

Bottom Line

You can style your hair in dread locks regardless of what type of perm you have. However, dreads put tension on the hair, which can result in irreversible damage. Always make sure that your hair is not extremely damaged before you style it in dreads. Putting dread locks in damaged hair can result in damage that is greater than the damage that is usually associated with dread locks. Keep in mind that dread locks are a long-term commitment, not a temporary style that you can reverse on a whim.

Source:

"Milady's Standard Textbook of Cosmetology;" Milady, Diane Carol Bailey, Margrit Attenburg; 2008