Can African-Americans use any type of perm product?

Yes. Generally speaking, perm products may be used on all hair types, depending on the hair's condition. Chemically, a curl product and a conventional alkaline permanent wave have the same active ingredient: ammonium thioglycolate. The difference is that most curl services call for that first "loosening" application of thio (the "rearranger") before applying the waving lotion.