One of the most popular styles today is the silk press. Almost everyday someone asks me questions about silk press such as “What is a silk press?” how long does a silk press last?” “Does a silk press damage your hair?” “How to do a silk press at home?” If you’ve ever had these or any other questions about a silk press, you’re in the right place because today I am going to discuss How to Achieve the Prefect Silk Press and Everything You Need to Know.
Credit: AtlantaStylist @HairByChantellen
Credit: AtlantaStylist @HairByChantellen
What is a Silk Press?
A lot of people wonder, just what exactly is a silk press. Most people think it is the same thing as a “press and curl”? Well, not exactly. An old fashioned press and curl would require the use of an oil based substance (my grandmother used Blue Magic back in the day) to apply to dry hair before applying the hot comb. The heat from the pressing comb, combined with grease/oil would help straighten the hair. However, the problem with this is that it leaves the hair feeling heavy, stiff and downright greasy! Yuck! Today, many stylists are opting for a silk press, in which titanium or ceramic flat irons are use to “silk out” the hair or straighten it.
Credit: AtlantaStylist @HairByChantellen6
However, just applying the flat irons to dry hair will not give you the results that you want with the silk press.
Tips to Doing a Silk Press at Home
To get your silk press right there are eight important steps that you’d need to take. Take these steps to achieve the perfect silk press.
- Washing hair with a clarifying shampoo, followed by a hydrating shampoo
- Hydrating the hair (with either a steam treatment or hot oil treatment)
- Deep conditioning the hair (with either a conditioning mask or deep conditioner)
- Rinse the conditioner out of your hair
- Add a few drops of an all-natural light oil to seal in moisture. We highly recommend using the VoiceOfHair PureFix Elixir oil.
- Blowing out the hair while wet (getting the hair very straight)
- Silk Pressing the hair with titanium flat irons, using one pass at a time.
- Cutting & styling the hair
The key to getting the hair silky is applying moisture back into the hair before straightening it. If you have moisture in the hair, you don’t have to work as hard to straighten it. However, this is a step many many people, even stylists, skip, which may result in heat damage on your hair.
Having the Right Process and Product
Getting the silk press right is not only about using the right process but also the right products. Also, sometimes if your hair is not as tightly curled you don’t need multiple pass throughs with a flat iron. Some of the products that are best used are the VoiceOfHair Elixir. Now you know how to achieve the perfect silk press.
This article was first posted on March 3, 2015 and updated on February 2, 2021.
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How do you add moisture back into the hair?
Applying a leave in (like Silk Hydration’s Leave-In) before blowdrying.
Step 2 is steam treatment/ step 3 is deep condition. What product is used in step 2?
I think you can combine Step 2 &3 by Applying a deep conditioner and then sitting under a hair steamer. The heat from the steamer opens your cuticles for the product to absorb so it makes no sense to me to steam hair and then deep condition.
Sou cabeleireira a qui no Brasil amei esta maravilha de produto .que faz milagre nas madeixas.e fantástico .onde posso encontrar .quero muito ter aqui no meu salao .aguardo amciosamente por uma resposta.o brigada
Followed all steps in doing a silk press on my daughter’s hair but it still came out puffy and frizzy. She so badly wants her hair straight and silky but dont know what I’m doing wrong can you help.
After getting a silk press, what products can be used daily to keep the look fresh and beautiful?
I have natural hair and I’m not sure if I’m managing it right. What advice can you give me on how to manage natural hair? What are some good products I can use?
Hi there, check out this article by @TheCurlyCloset http://voiceofhair.com/4-essential-products-for-maximum-natural-hair-growth/. She also has a YouTube channel where she chronicles her journey since big chopping 2 years ago!
You should try the Karmin hair straightener, is amazing! 🙂
hi my name is satoria and i wanted to ask….could you still do the same job that you do on everyone else’s hair if the hair is uneven?
Hi Satoria, to get a polished and healthy look the hair would have to be trimmed so that it holds a style.
Can you recommend a titanium flat iron?
What would you recommend to someone with natural hair and a heritiary bald spot approximately 4″ X 6″in the crown of the head. The hair on the back of the head is 6+ inches long and half grey.
hey. i would love to do a silk press but i was wondering if there are natural products to use as substitution for the heat protectant and the leave in. probably coconut or castor oil?
Great article and shouts out for promoting the salon. The correct name for the salon is Bella Dama.
Thank you!
How do I maintain the silk press? When it starts to looks frizzy?
One of the best ways to maintain the silk press when it starts to get frizzy is to actually prevent it from getting frizzy/sweat out. I recommend a light natural oil on day 3 or 4 of your press to help it last longer. Then I wrap it after I apply the oil and it seals in the moisture.
Which products do I use for SILk press look
Hi I had my hair silk pressed, and I washed my hair after two weeks, the front if my hair, came back to it’s natural curls, but the back of my hair, remained straight as a pin,it was never straight like that when I relaxed it,does this mean my hair is damaged by the heat, do I have to cut off my hair??? or will it take sometimes ti get back to it’s natural curls
Hi Michelle, it sounds like if your hair is not reverting back to it’s natural curl pattern it is in fact heat damaged. If you’ve deep conditioned already (and maybe even tried a protein treatment) and your hair is straight still then the only solution is to cut off the damaged part and wait for it to grow back. I know how much that sucks…trust me I’m going through the same thing. In the meantime avoid heat styles and try to do roller sets, bantu knot outs and other protective styles to give your hair a break. Hope that helps!
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Nice job done.
I’m Ella
My hair is always dry and not growing long
Is there something l can do to make my hair longer.
Hi Ella,
Our Purefix Elixir Oil would be great for your hair! It is formulated to moisturize your hair along with promote hair growth! It is an all natural product (no chemicals or alcohol) and you have access to view all of the ingredients used at https://voiceofhaircare.com/pages/ingredients If you have dry hair try using the LCO method – where you first apply water or a leave-in
conditioner (L), then applying a cream product like a styling cream (C) and then followed by
the hair elixir oil to seal it in (O).
Maravilhosos os tratamentos cabelos e cortes!
obrigada Maria!