The best silk procedure for natural hair | 5 tips to get amazing results every time! (2023)

FAQs

How do I get the best silk press results? ›

So for best results, wrap the hair every night with a clean silk or satin scarf, and reinforce with a silk bonnet to ensure that no hair slips out while you move in your sleep. If your hair begins to feel a bit dry and is in need of a moisture refresh, apply a small amount of oil throughout the hair before wrapping.

Applying heat to moist hair will fry your strands, leaving them frayed, frizzy and damaged. In order to straighten your hair to silky perfection, the pros at L'Oréal recommend you press in one-inch increments of hair. Starting at the root, slowly pass the iron through each section until it's the texture you desire.

Le'Ana McKnight of West Hollywood's Stylist Lee Studios, says, “One can receive a silk press every three to four months to maintain the health of their hair and to retain length without heat damage.” I spoke to McKnight and trichologist Sophia Emmanuel to find out more about the process.

"I always advise clients not to use any oils or heavy products before getting a silk press," Thomas says. "Clogged hair follicles are never good." So don't be afraid to let your hair breathe a little before heading in for your treatment—the results will be totally worth it.

“The saran wrap is going to shrink, and it's going to seal those frizzy ends, it's going to seal in those flyaways so that when you comb it back down, your hair will feel more moisturized and it'll have a silky or smoother finish,” English says.

Maintenance Tip #5: Avoid Humidity & Excess Moisture

If you're natural you probably know by now that reversion is no joke and the smallest amount of moisture and/or humidity in the air will have your freshly silk pressed hair looking a hot mess.

Add a few drops of an all-natural light oil to seal in moisture. We highly recommend using the VoiceOfHair PureFix Elixir oil.

After Getting Your Silk Press:

Avoid using holding sprays and gels in your hair. If you feel the need to refresh your hair, continue using your hair scalp oil and/or oil serum spray every couple of days.

Should I put oil in my silk press? ›

Tips to Doing a Silk Press at Home

Add a few drops of an all-natural light oil to seal in moisture. We highly recommend using an excellent and nourishing hair oil. Silk Pressing the hair with titanium flat irons, using one pass at a time. Cutting & styling the hair.

The next step—deep conditioning—plugs moisture back into the equation and results in that jaw-dropping silk press shine later on. “Hair must be well conditioned and hydrated before any heat process.

It's winter, which means it's the unofficial, official silk press season. You can get a silk press anytime of year, but the heat and humidity of summer makes it way too easy to sweat out the straightening treatment.

Let's be clear: you should not apply any oils or leave-in conditioners to your hair when prepping for a silk press. Why? This is because the oils will fry your hair as you apply the flat iron. This will also make your press look limp and greasy.

You can even apply a protein treatment when you first wash your hair after a silk press to help your curls bounce back.

A silk press flat iron has one main requirement: high heat. Most flat irons in the market have a heat range of 250 to 425 °F. You'll need a professional-grade tool capable of 420 to 450 °F to silk press hair. High heat is necessary to loosen tight coils and give straightened hair a smooth and shiny finish.

Starting as close to the root as possible, slowly flat iron your hair all the way to the ends to make each pass count. Repeat this on one-inch sections of hair, passing over each one with your flat iron until you have a silky-soft mane.

Amika's The Shield anti-humidity spray is one of Damtew's favorites because “it's super lightweight and helps combat both frizz and humidity, which is important for maintaining your silk press.” Additionally, she likes the Mizani Press Agent serum, which “helps lock in moisture and tames frizz while protecting the hair ...

Both Stevens and Kimble agree that a good heat protectant is critical to keeping your hair healthy in the heat-styling process, and Stevens says to be sure your hair is clean, dry, and oil-free before using a hot tool.

Do you sit under the dryer for a silk press? ›

The Process Step-by-Step

Next, I shampoo, condition, and detangle the hair and allow the client to sit underneath a hooded dryer for anywhere between two to three minutes. (This way we pre-dry your scalp, so we don't have to overwork your hair with a blow dryer.)

Once the hair is wrapped sit back under the dryer for 15 to 20 minutes to set the wrap. Finally unwrap your hair for a beautiful, full look.

How Often Can I Get A Silk Press? While heat protectant products are used to protect the hair, it's not a good idea to get a silk press regularly. Try getting a silk press every three to four months to maintain the health of your hair without causing too much damage.

How Often Should I Do A Silk Press? While it is recommended that you try to limit your usage of heat tools even if you apply minimal heat to the hair, you can always do a silk press once a month or every four weeks.

Advantages of a Silk Press are longer lasting straightness, especially if your hair is more resistant… but more direct heat so more damage. So if your hair isn't usually resistant to straightening, then the traditional Dominican Blowout (no flat iron) would be best.

Here's why: If the hair is dehydrated and the environment is humid, the hair will try to grab onto any moisture it can. This will cause swelling in the hair and the silk press won't last as long.

The main difference between a silk press and a flat iron is simple: a flat iron is a heat styling tool used to straighten hair, while the silk press is a technique that involves multiple tools, including a flat iron and a comb, to straighten the hair for a smoother and silkier finish.

Leaving the salon with a silk press is not the time to dive into the pool. It doesn't matter how straight your stylist got your hair; it will revert if it comes into contact with water. If you're wearing a silk press, stay away from water. Avoiding water includes the shower as well.

Is it OK to get a silk press every 2 weeks? ›

How Often Can I Get A Silk Press? While heat protectant products are used to protect the hair, it's not a good idea to get a silk press regularly. Try getting a silk press every three to four months to maintain the health of your hair without causing too much damage.

Leaving the salon with a silk press is not the time to dive into the pool. It doesn't matter how straight your stylist got your hair; it will revert if it comes into contact with water. If you're wearing a silk press, stay away from water. Avoiding water includes the shower as well.

After Getting Your Silk Press:

Avoid using holding sprays and gels in your hair. If you feel the need to refresh your hair, continue using your hair scalp oil and/or oil serum spray every couple of days.

This will help your silk press reach its full potential,” adds the stylist. “A deep-conditioning treatment should be on the hair for at least 15 minutes with a hot towel or a steaming cap, then rinsed off with cool water to seal the cuticle.

Let's be clear: you should not apply any oils or leave-in conditioners to your hair when prepping for a silk press. Why? This is because the oils will fry your hair as you apply the flat iron. This will also make your press look limp and greasy.

Is a Silk Press Better Than Flat Iron? It depends on your hair type and texture. Those with thick and curly hair may achieve better results with the silk press method. Meanwhile, a flat iron will suffice for those with thin and fine hair.

If you have fine hair, the highest temperature setting you should use on your flat iron for a silk press is 350 degrees. If you have medium hair, you can go up to 375 degrees. For coarse hair, set your flat iron to 410 degrees. Any temperature higher than this may lead to heat damage.

How Often Should I Do A Silk Press? While it is recommended that you try to limit your usage of heat tools even if you apply minimal heat to the hair, you can always do a silk press once a month or every four weeks.

The best thing you can do to protect your natural hair from heat damage during a silk press is to apply a heat protectant before styling your hair. This is a step you CANNOT skip. Heat protectants coat the hair and act as a barrier between your hair and the heat styling tools that you use.

Here's why: If the hair is dehydrated and the environment is humid, the hair will try to grab onto any moisture it can. This will cause swelling in the hair and the silk press won't last as long.