Treatment FAQ

what is a silk press hair treatment

by Elisa Friesen Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A silk press hair treatment is a hair straightening solution that involves using the traditional blow-drying and straightening techniques without using any chemicals that could alter the natural pattern or structure of your hair. A silk press is a temporary hair straightening treatment, as it does no chemical alteration to your hair.

A silk press is a method of straightening natural curls sans a chemical relaxer. Instead, this hairstyling technique uses a blow-dryer and flat iron to smooth out the hair. While it's easy to think that a silk press for natural hair is the same as a traditional press and curl, this style ups the ante.Apr 11, 2022

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How to achieve a silk press on natural hair?

If you're looking for a temporary, chemical-free way to straighten your hair, let us introduce the silk press. This salon treatment is an ideal way to give curly and natural hair all the benefits of a straightened, relaxed look, without the harsh chemicals …

How to do a silk press on damaged natural hair?

Jul 27, 2021 · Everything You Need To Know About Silk Press Hair Treatment Step 01: Cleanse with a nourishing shampoo. To begin with the silk press hair treatment, first wash your hair to get rid... Step 02: Detangle and apply leave-in conditioner. After shampoo and conditioning, the next step is to free your hair ...

Can a silk press damage your hair?

A silk press is a method of straightening natural curls sans a chemical relaxer. Instead, this hairstyling technique uses a blow-dryer and flat iron to smooth out the hair. While it’s easy to think that a silk press for natural hair is the same as a traditional press and curl, this style ups the ante.

Is silk therapy good for hair?

Oct 22, 2021 · A silk press hair treatment is a hair straightening solution that involves using the traditional blow-drying and straightening techniques without using any chemicals that could alter the natural pattern or structure of your hair. A silk press is a temporary hair straightening treatment, as it does no chemical alteration to your hair.

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What does silk press do to your hair?

“A silk press makes natural hair very straight, shiny, silky, and soft,” says hairstylist and colorist Chrissy Zemura. “It gives a lot of body and movement without using a relaxer or the chemicals that straighten hair.”Jan 14, 2021

How long does a silk Press last on natural hair?

about two weeksThe beauty of a silk press is that it doesn't last forever. Thomas says you can expect the results to last for about two weeks—or until your next wash day or whenever your hair gets wet (whichever comes first).Sep 11, 2020

Is a silk Press just straightening?

A flat iron can be used on its own without products — though adding in a protectant or serum is highly recommended — and a silk press uses a flat iron among other tools and products to straighten the hair. This process often goes in an order similar to this: wash, blow dry, cut, then press (via Byrdie).Sep 18, 2020

Is a silk Press the same as keratin treatment?

This treatment should not alter your curl pattern. If your hair is permanently altered then usually this means you have some sort of heat damage or you have used a treatment that contains formaldehyde. The Keratin Treatment is about a 3 hour process, while a Silk Press takes just up to an hour to complete.

Is a silk press better than a relaxer?

Chemical relaxers are more convenient in that they last longer and they are water proof which means less time worrying about the weather or putting a cap on in the shower! Silk Press is the better option if you are worried about using chemicals or want to keep your hair natural.Nov 15, 2019

Is silk press the same as flat iron?

Silk press is a styling technique, a process that involves different products and tools, including a flat iron, whereas a flat iron is but a heating tool with two plates. Silk press brings more movement and shine to hair, whereas a flat iron by itself might make hair a little stiff.

What is the difference between a silk press and a press?

While it's easy to think that a silk press for natural hair is the same as a traditional press and curl, this style ups the ante. Silk press hair is all about applying less heat to your strands to give your mane movement, body, and a shiny finish—sans the weighed down look a standard press and curl can provide.

What's the difference between a blowout and silk press?

"With blowouts, your service is usually done with a round brush and blowdryer." Done this way, the blowout gives a fluffy and voluminous effect. "With a silk press, the flat iron is the star of the show," says Bennet. "Your hair is dried straight with a blowdryer and paddle brush.Dec 12, 2018

Can you do a silk press at home?

Plus, if you're new to this and don't use the right tools, you also run the risk of heat-damaging your hair. But if you want to try a silk press at home, you can get a damage-free, salon finish — as long as you have the right tools and remain patient.Apr 12, 2021

Is a silk press worth it?

There's no denying it, if done correctly, your hair will look amazing. The silk press is a hair straightening technique that doesn't involve chemicals and, if done correctly, can achieve results that are more impressive and potentially less harmful than relaxers.

Is a silk Press a relaxer?

A silk press is a method of straightening natural curls sans a chemical relaxer. Instead, this hairstyling technique uses a blow-dryer and flat iron to smooth out the hair.Apr 11, 2022

Why is my silk Press Puffy?

The smallest amount of moisture and/or humidity in the air will have your freshly silk pressed hair looking frizzy and puffy. In the shower, make sure you wrap your hair with a satin scarf and a shower cap! If you're not into the mood of keeping your hair down, secure your strands with a silk wrap.Jun 4, 2018

What is the best way to dry hair after deep conditioning?

Heat protectant + blow drying. "After the deep conditioning treatment is rinsed out, the hair is blow-dried using a heat protectant," says Thomas. This is typically done in small sections with a concentrator nozzle attachment and a brush.

What is the final step in straightening hair?

"The final step is using a flat iron to straighten the hair," says Thomas. Working in small sections, the newly straightened hair is polished and perfected. "The result is smooth, bouncy hair with a glossy finish," she says.

How to get rid of hair build up on scalp?

1. Detangle + washing. "First, the hair is washed with clarifying shampoo to remove any product build-up from the scalp," says Thomas. "Next, the hair needs to be deep conditioned. Stylists can either perform a steam treatment or cap treatment with heat from a hooded dryer.

Does heat damage hair?

Here's the honest truth: All heat styling does some damage to your hair. However, as far as curly and natural hair straightening methods go, the silk press process is the least likely to cause damage.

Can keratin damage natural hair?

The strong chemicals in relaxers can leave your hair feeling dry, brittle, and prone to breakage; they can also permanently alter the structure of your hair, eliminating the possibility of returning to your natural curl pattern anytime soon. Keratin treatments, on the other hand, are less permanent but can still cause lasting damage to your curl pattern and sometimes involve problematic chemicals like formaldehyde (which is a suspected carcinogen—yikes!).

Can you use silk press on hair after a beach vacation?

If you have a beach vacay coming up...maybe wait. This is a temporary treatment that will fully reset as soon as your hair comes into contact with water. If you have a vacation coming up where you plan to swim, it might be wise to wait until after you've returned to try a silk press.

Does silk pressing hydrate hair?

That's because silk pressing is only done occasionally, it steers clear of harsh chemicals, and it uses nourishing, heat-protecting products throughout the process to hydrate your hair and shield it from as much heat damage as possible.

What is silk press hair treatment?

Okay, we’ve spoken enough about how great silk press hair treatment is, but we know you have a lot of questions. For starters, what is silk press hair? It is a chemical-free hair styling technique for curly, coily and kinky hair types. The treatment involves the use of a blow dryer and flat iron to straighten your hair and give it a silky look.

How to do a silk press hair treatment

Silky, smooth hair is easier to get than ever before, that too without the use of chemicals and relaxers. If you are ready to flaunt silky, smooth hair, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get it right.

Step 01: Cleanse with a nourishing shampoo

To begin with the silk press hair treatment, first wash your hair to get rid of dirt, oil and other impurities from the hair and scalp. Use a sulphate-free shampoo with moisturising ingredients that will control frizz, add shine and tame unruly strands. Ensure that your curls are extra-clean, but not too dry.

Step 02: Detangle and apply leave-in conditioner

After shampoo and conditioning, the next step is to free your hair of knots and tangles. For this, use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb and gently detangle your hair. Do this after you’ve soaked all the excess water with a soft cotton towel or t-shirt. When your hair is still damp, but not dripping wet, apply some leave-in conditioner on it.

Step 03: Apply heat protectant

Silk press hair treatment is done using two heat styling tools and your hair will be exposed to heat for a long time. To get silky, straight hair minus the damage, you need to spray some heat protectant on your hair. This will minimise the damage and ensure your strands don’t end up looking brittle and dry after the treatment.

Step 04: Section and blow dry

To begin with the blow drying process, first divide your hair into two even sections. Secure the top half with a hair clip, then split the lower part into two more sections, clip that too. Now put on the concentrator nozzle on the mouth of your hairdryer and start drying your hair with the help of a brush.

Step 05: Apply serum and section again

As mentioned before, the whole idea of a silk press hair treatment is to leave you with silky and shiny mane. For that, you need to add moisture to your hair using different products. After blow-drying your hair take a frizz-controlling, smoothing hair serum and apply it all over.

WHAT IS A SILK PRESS?

First things first, it’s time to answer the obvious question: “What is a silk press?” A silk press is a hairstyling technique that uses a blow-dryer and flat iron to straighten your hair without a chemical relaxer. While it’s easy to think that a silk press for natural hair is the same as a traditional press and curl, this style ups the ante.

HOW TO DO A SILK PRESS

Ready to flaunt a smooth and silky mane? Keep reading as we walk you through the proper steps on how to do a silk press like a pro!

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR SILK PRESS

Now that you have a stunning silk press to rock, you don’t want all of your hard work to go to waste. Keep reading for a few tips to add to your hair care routine.

What is a Silk Press?

A silk press hair treatment is a hair straightening solution that involves using the traditional blow-drying and straightening techniques without using any chemicals that could alter the natural pattern or structure of your hair.

Who Can Get a Silk Press?

A silk press can be done on any hair, regardless of the type, color, or thickness. However, this treatment is most effective for natural hair. If you style your hair with a chemical product, a silk press treatment will be more or less ineffective for you.

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Silk Press?

A silk press hair treatment may look too expensive or too cheap, depending on the other item on your comparison table.

How Long Does a Silk Press Last?

A silk press isn’t a permanent hair straightening treatment, so you shouldn’t expect the results to stick forever. On average, you should have your straight hair for about one or two weeks after the silk press treatment.

Silk Press Advantages and Disadvantages

Up until this section, the silk press hair straightening treatment has been portrayed in a positive light. If you’ve tried some hair straightening solutions previously, you should know that you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t do some damage to your hair.

How to Silk Press on Natural Hair at Home

If you want to avoid paying the premium to a stylist for a silk press treatment, you may consider a DIY silk press treatment at home. In this section, I’ll guide you through the process of doing a silk press at home to gain experience and save some money.

How to silk press natural hair?

To silk press natural hair, you'll need a flat iron and some leave-in conditioner. First, shampoo your hair a few times to remove any dirt and oil. Then, condition your hair. When you get out of the shower, apply a leave-in conditioner to protect your hair from the heat of your flat iron.

What is silk press?

A silk press is a straightening technique that doesn't require chemicals. Deep conditioning makes the process easier, and choosing a good quality flat iron means you can do small sections in one pass, minimizing heat damage.

How to get moisture back in your hair?

Condition your hair. Using a wash-out conditioner is important because it helps add moisture back to your hair. Lather the conditioner in well, and then rinse until the water runs clear. Choose a conditioner made specifically for hair pressing. These conditioners have added silk to smooth out your hair.

How to get rid of a sprite in your hair?

Before beginning, you need to remove all the dirt and oil from your hair. Lather in a clarifying shampoo and rinse it out, and then repeat the process to ensure your hair is thoroughly clean.

How to keep hair from getting hot on flat press?

A leave-in conditioner adds moisture to your hair, and it also helps protect against heat damage from the flat press. Separate your hair into sections, and spray it in before blow drying each area. Alternatively, use argan oil instead of a leave-in conditioner.

How to steam hair at home?

At home, use the heat coming up from a hot shower to help steam it. If you don't want to stand in the shower, wrap your hair with a towel for 20 minutes, which helps the conditioner set in. ...

How to make your hair not hang down?

Wrap it in a silk scarf at night. Start by brushing out your hair. Then, wrap a scarf around your hair in a circular motion until it’s no longer hanging down. A paddle brush is helpful for this technique. Tie your hair up in a scarf before you go to sleep each night.

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With chemical relaxers being permanent, heat straightening is the next best option, and according to social media, a silk press is the way to go. This temporary treatment is so popular, it’s currently a breakout search on Google Trends, has over 3 million posts on Instagram and the silk press hashtag on TikTok boasts around 325 million views.

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When a chemical relaxer is applied to natural hair it lifts the hair cuticle, penetrates the cortex and breaks the bonds that make it curly, to leave it permanently straight. In comparison, a silk press is essentially a very thorough process of flat-ironing.

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What is silk press?

What Is a Silk Press? “The procedure has been around for a very long time, but the name came from a play on words: pressing the hair with a flat iron to make it silky smooth,” explains Zemura. “It is temporary and hair will revert back to its natural state.”.

How long does silk press last?

Here’s the good news: after all that, Zemura says that your silk press can last “with proper care” up to two to three weeks. But as with any straightened style, you need to factor in the weather. “It all depends on a person’s lifestyle and the climate,” she says.

Does silk press make hair shiny?

If you regularly flat iron your naturally curly hair at home then you know all about silk presses, a temporary hairstyle that takes those results and elevates them to glossier—and yes, silkier—heights. “A silk press makes natural hair very straight, shiny, silky, and soft,” says hairstylist and colorist Chrissy Zemura.

Does washing hair before silk press make it less oily?

Naturally, this means washing your hair will get rid of the style, too, though Zemura points out that “you receive a good wash before your silk press” and 4a through 4c curl types are less likely to feel oily compared to 3c and below.

Is heat protectant a non-negotiable?

While Zemura notes that refraining from packing on too much product is “the secret to achieving a lightweight silk press,” she still says a heat protectant is “non-negotiable” since it shields hair from heat tools, and that a light hydrating mist “gives the hair a natural shine and hydration without weighing the hair down.”.

What is silk press?

A silk press is a modern-day take on the press and curl (a ‘90s way to straighten afro hair that traditionally used lots of oil and heat). It gives natural hair the appearance of being relaxed and doesn't use harsh chemicals. It’s all about the technique, temperature and the products.

What conditioner does Mimi use?

After washing, Mimi used a deep conditioning treatment, the Avlon Affirm Moisture Right Nourishing Conditioner, to add the moisture back into my locks. Not only did it help to nourish and strengthen my hair, it smelt like pure heaven - that unmistakable salon product scent.

Where is Mimi Et Mina?

To my sheer delight, I found Mimi Et Mina, a luxury boutique black hair salon in the heart of Notting Hill, London that offers silk presses. Founder and head stylist, Mimi Koné has styled hair for the likes of Lorraine Pascal, Sarah-Jane Crawford, and Imman Hammam so I knew my locks were in good hands.

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