How To Silk Press Your Natural Hair

For most people with type 4 or type 3 natural hair, shrinkage is a constant, but sometimes, you just want to rock straight hair to switch up your look. One way you can get that straight shiny look on your natural hair without using a relaxer or texturizer is by doing a silk press. If you are thinking of getting a silk press for your natural hair or looking for hair care tips for your new silk press, then keep reading!

What Is A Silk Press?

A silk press is basically using heat tools like blow dryers and flat irons to give your natural hair a straight silky look. With a silk press, your strands feel and look like it was relaxed or texturized. Your hair transforms from looking shrunken to straight hair all day!

Because of shrinkage, oftentimes, it is difficult to know how long your hair is, but a silk press straightens your natural hair and helps you know your actual hair length. In addition to this, a silk press helps you add some bounce and shine to strands.

Is A Silk Press Bad For My Hair?

I'm sure that you were a bit skeptical when you read that a silk press involves using heat tools. We all know how heat tools can cause damage to our natural hair; from split ends to dry hair, hair breakage, and hair loss. Not to worry, a silk press will not damage your hair as the heat application is usually minimal. However, It is always best to use a heat protectant before you apply heat to your hair during a silk press.

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.

How Long Will My Silk Press Last?

Well, your silk press should last for about one to two weeks if you:

Avoid getting it in contact with water or steam as this may cause it to return to its natural state, and
Tie a silk scarf over your hair before going to bed
Don't apply styling products to your silk pressed hair

Remember, a silk press is only a temporary hairstyle; it will not last forever. If you'd like to wear a straight look anytime your want and with little maintenance required, our collection of virgin straight wigs is a great choice.

How To Silk Press Your Natural Hair

There are two ways you can do a silk press on your natural hair:

You can visit a hair salon to get it done professionally, or
You can do it yourself at home

If you chose to do it yourself at home, You should ask either a family member, neighbor, or friend to help you out. This is because you will need that extra help for straightening the back section of your hair.

To achieve a silk press at home, this video tutorial by Cassandra Olivia is very helpful.

What you need

Detangling brush
Blow dryer
Flat iron
Tail Comb
Hair shears
Heat protectant/oil
Hair hold
Hair shine spray (optional)
Edge control (optional)

Step 1: Section and detangle your hair

Start with freshly washed hair
Using a tail comb, part your hair into sections and detangle each section with your detangling brush.

Step 2: Blowdry your hair

Next, apply your heat protectant on each section and dry with the blow dryer.

Step 3: Silk press your hair

When your hair is thoroughly dry, part it into smaller sections and then straighten it with a flat iron.
To avoid heat damage, you should use your flat iron at a low setting and only run the flat iron twice over the hair, from roots to ends.
Repeat for all sections of your hair.

Step 4: Trim your ends

After straightening every section of your hair, use your hair shears to trim the ends. This will make your hair look nice and neat.
Also, if you have not trimmed your hair in a while, this is a perfect opportunity to get rid of those weak ends. I recommend that you trim about ½ inch of your ends; a little goes all the way.

Step 5: Curl or feather the ends

With your flat iron and comb, curl or feather the ends of your hair. Whichever way you want the ends of your hair to look is all up to you!

Step 6: Spray your hair for some shine

Spray your hair with a hair hold to keep the style in place. You can also spray on some hair shine spray to make that silk press shine! In addition to this, you can use some edge control to lay your edges.