Silk Press Hair: Everything You Need To Know About It

A silk press is one specific temporary hair straightening technique for natural, Afro-textured hair. It is the safest way to straighten your hair without using any chemical products. It is the new and improvised version of the press and curl technique. This technique is all about using the right tools at the right temperature with suitable products.

If you want to achieve shiny and sleek hair without causing any damage, you must try this technique. This article explores the benefits of the silk press, how it works, and how you can do it. Keep reading.

What Is A Silk Press?

Silk pressing involves hair straightening with a hot iron and oils. The process also includes using heat protectants and deep conditioning products to minimize damage and give you sleek and shiny hair that looks natural and relaxed. Silk press focuses more on adding body to type 3 and 4 hair types without damaging the natural curl pattern.

Did You Know?

The silk press technique dates back to the early 1900s, when women started using metal combs heated on a stove to straighten their hair.

There are many reasons to ditch the chemical relaxers and switch to silk pressing. They are discussed in the next section.

The Benefits Of Getting A Silk Press

With a silk press, all the curly-haired folks out there can live their dream of trying out a straight hair look that falls ever so perfectly without actually damaging their curls permanently. It offers the following benefits:

• No Chemical Damage: Silk pressing does not involve using any chemicals and relaxers. It uses only natural oils, deep conditioners, and protective hair serums for smoothening the hair.
• Ensures Healthy Hair: Permanent straightening may damage the hair and affect the natural curl pattern. However, silk pressing does not cause permanent damage to the hair structure.
• Change Of Look: Silk pressing is the easiest way to change your look. It is not as time-consuming as permanent straightening. Also, it can act as a trial period before you permanently straighten the hair.
• Low Maintenance: There is no rigorous after hair care routine or process for a silk press. The only primary “maintenance” you have to do is avoid water as the hair will revert to its original form. Wrapping your hair in a silk cloth during bedtime helps the result stay longer.
• Easy To Style: All curly and frizzy-haired people know the struggle of finding different ways to style their hair and not just tie it all up in a bun. After silk pressing, the hair becomes manageable and shiny.

Every time you see someone running their hands through their smooth flowing hair, you cannot help but wish you could do that too. So, waste no time and silk press your hair. Scroll down to know more about the steps involved in silk pressing.

How To Do A Silk Press

1. Cleanse With A Shampoo: Cleanse your hair and scalp with a clarifying or deep cleansing shampoo to remove product buildup, dirt, grease, and gunk.
2. Deep Conditioning: Protecting the hair is key in the process of silk press. Apply a deep conditioner to hydrate your hair.
3. Smoothing Heat Protectant: To prevent heat damage, apply a heat protectant to the hair. It will help protect your hair up to 450 degrees of heat.
4. Blow Dry The Hair: Blow drying helps straighten the hair before ironing, reducing the possibility of heat damage. To make the process easier, use a blow dryer with a brush attachment.
5. Use A Light Serum Or Oil: Apply a lightweight serum or a thin layer of any lightweight oil to the hair to lock in hydration. This step also adds shine to the hair and shields it from heat damage.
6. Trim Your Hair: Trim all the split ends so that your hair looks healthy.
7. Straighten The Hair: Section your hair and straighten each section with a flat iron or a hot pressing comb. You may make smaller sections to avoid running the hot comb or iron through it more than once.

Knowing how long a silk press will last is essential. Since it is easy for all this hard work to be ruined, it is better to have the following days planned.

How Long Does A Silk Press Last?

It depends on how you maintain your hair and scalp. Ideally, a silk press can last for around 2-3 weeks. However, the time may vary, depending on aftercare, sweat accumulation, humidity, and other factors.

Active people who work out regularly should not let the sweat stay on their scalps more than a day. The salts and toxins in sweat can be bad for the scalp and hair growth.

When exposed to water, the straightened hair regains its natural pattern within minutes. Even excess grease and sweat accumulation on the scalp may alter the silky texture after a silk press. If you have an oily scalp, the oil accumulation will start affecting the hair texture sooner than a dry scalp.

While silk pressing is relatively safer than chemical straightening, it may cause damage. Read on to understand how.

Is Silk Press Damaging To The Hair?

It depends on the technique and how heat is applied to the hair. Silk pressing is the least damaging process for natural hair. However, to prevent damage, following the right technique is crucial.

It is better to consult an experienced hairstylist for better results. If you are doing it at home, protect the hair before the procedure.

Avoid holding the hot comb or iron on the hair section for long to prevent burns and breakage. Also, maintain a good interval between sessions to prevent permanent damage.

Since silk pressing is a process with the least amount of damage, you must be wondering if it will suit your hair type. Find out in the next section.

Who Can Have A Silk Press?

Silk press is suitable for Afro-textured, type 4 and 3 hair types. However, those with thick, coarse, and frizzy hair can also try silk pressing for smoother and manageable hair.

Now that you know your untamable hair can be tamed with a silk press, we bet you cannot wait to give it a try. Let’s have a look at some of the easiest and most effective silk press hairstyles.

Silk Press Hairstyles

1. Classic Straight Silk Press

This is a timeless style where natural curls are straightened using a flat iron to achieve a smooth, sleek look. It emphasizes the hair’s length and showcases its natural shine.

2. Silk Press With Curls

After straightening, use a curling iron to add soft curls or waves to the ends. This style combines the elegance of straight hair with the playful bounce of curls.

3. Voluminous Silk Press

Add volume to your silk press by backcombing the hair at the crown. This creates a voluminous, lifted look that adds sophistication to the hairstyle.

4. Silk Press Bob

Transform your silk press into a chic bob hairstyle by trimming the hair to a shorter length. Bobs are versatile and frame the face beautifully.

Before you try these hairstyles, find out the best products you will need for the ultimate result.

What Are The Best Silk Press Products?

• Clarifying Shampoo: A clarifying shampoo cleanses all the product buildup and dirt out of the scalp and hair.
• Deep Conditioner: Opt for deep conditioners containing nourishing oils and plant butter for extra hydration.
• Heat Protectant and Serum: Pick a lightweight serum or heat protectant according to your hair type.
• Blow Dryer and Hot Iron: The kind of blow dryer and hot iron you have does not matter as long as it works. It will be ideal if you have ones with temperature control to help maintain even heating.

If you are doing silk pressing at home, you will need some help. And there is always a chance of something going wrong. Hence, it is better to consult a hairstylist and get it done at a salon. Find out the cost of a silk press in the next section.

What Is The Cost Of A Silk Press?

It can cost anywhere between 50$ and 100$, depending on the salon you visit and the expertise they offer.

Even if you decide to go the easy way and visit a professional, the silk press process needs thorough aftercare.

Maintaining A Silk Press: A Few Tips

• Keep your hair away from water as much as possible. The minute your hair comes in contact with water, it all goes away.
• Avoid getting the scalp oily or sweaty. If you like working out, you might want to take some extra precautions to keep the scalp dry.
• Wrap your hair with a silk cloth when sleeping. Cover it to protect it from sunlight and other pollutants.
• Use hair styling products sparingly to avoid product scalp buildup and weighing your hair down.
• Avoid using straighteners and heat styling tools to prevent heat damage.

Tamara, a blogger, shares her experience of getting a silk press for her naturally curly hair. She writes, “I know a lot of ladies are concerned about damaging the natural curly pattern of the hair. I’m not excluded (i).” She continues to share her process, “I deep condition the hair with my favorite deep conditioner and comb it through with my wide tooth comb in the shower. I ring out the excess water and cover it with a plastic cap. Sit under the dryer for about 15-20 mins. Finally, rinse the excess conditioner and let air dry. Or plait into a big twist or two braids.”

Quick Tip

Sleep on a silk pillowcase to limit friction and prevent damage to your silk-pressed hair.

Since you now know all the good things that could come out of a silk press, you should also be aware of any side effects it may cause.

Side Effects Of Silk Pressing The Hair

1. Heat Damage: Heat damage is not really a concern in silk pressing. However, frequent silk pressing and wrong techniques while using hot tools may cause heat damage and hair breakage.
2. Grease Buildup: Doing a silk press means not washing your hair for a week. During this time, your scalp will produce natural oils. The hair will also be subjected to pollution, which adds to the dirt buildup.
3. Could Increase Split Ends: Frequent silk pressing may cause split ends.

Infographic: A Step-By-Step Guide To Do A Silk Press

Achieving a flawless silk press look requires following specific steps properly. A silk press is one of the safest ways to straighten hair without any chemical products. Check out the infographic below to better understand the steps you should follow to achieve salon-worthy, smooth hair.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a silk press like a perm?

No, silk press and perm are not the same. While silk pressing is a temporary hair straightening technique, perming is a chemical treatment done to alter the natural texture of hair.

Why is my silk-pressed hair puffy?

Moisture or humidity in the hair may cause your silk-pressed hair to appear puffy.

Is a silk press the same as a flat iron?

The silk press is a hair styling technique that uses a flat iron, a hair styling tool, to straighten hair.

What is the best oil for a silk press?

Natural oils work best for the silk press to nourish hair without weighing it down. You can use argan, jojoba, almond, and coconut oils as a hair serum.

Can I brush my silk press?

Avoid brushing your hair after the treatment. Excessive brushing can increase oil production and affect the Silk Press look.

Can I get a silk press every two weeks?

It is not recommended to get a silk press treatment done once every two weeks as it may cause heat damage to your tresses.

What season is best for the silk press?

Dry months of fall and winter can give a long-lasting Silk Press due to the dry atmosphere.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Martine LangsamCertified Trichologist

Martine is a certified trichologist with over 7 years of experience and a California licensed cosmetologist. She is also an established senior stylist with over 36 years of experience. Her interest in healthy hair and lifestyle led her to trichology.   She has a small clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she helps people achieve healthy scalp and...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

 

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru. Her passion for writing and editing and her background in psychology help her create content that...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends. Her passion for and understanding of all things related...more