A dread perm can be one of two things: 1) a very kinky perm given to straight or non-afro hair to make it more frizzy - hence, easier to dread, or 2) perm solution that is applied to hair that has just been dreaded to fry the hair into the dread and keep them from coming apart. Dread perms are a tricky thing. If done correctly, they can give you instantaneous, good looking dreads, but if done incorrectly…well, a lot of damage can be done, often irreversible.