Silk press 2021: How to semi-permanently straighten your natural hair

Silk press 2021: How to semi-permanently straighten your natural hair

Haircare is one of the most important aspects of beauty. As such, women are always looking for new ways to make the process smoother and more long-lasting. That’s where the silk press comes in as a way for women to avoid the hassle of stressful hair care methods and the stress that comes with wrestling with their natural hair.

Several women have already tried out the super trendy silk press and completely fallen in love with the fact that it is so efficient without requiring any chemical treatments whatsoever. It’s also pretty straightforward and lasts for a long time, from a few weeks to months, if you take care of it properly.

After years of damage from using chemical treatments, and sometimes ever over-straightening hair, the silk press is the most attractive option for many women, especially those with very coarse natural hair. In this article, we will answer all your questions about this procedure, including the one you’re most definitely curious about: how is this different from hair straightening?

What is a silk press?

A silk press is a modern take on the 90’s way of straightening hair, which usually involved a lot of oil and heat, which usually ended up damaging a lot of women’s hair. This method is better though, as it offers a lot of positives and with so few negatives.

Using the right technique, products, and temperature, this procedure will give your natural hair a much-coveted relaxed look without causing damage to your hair.

 

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How is it done

The procedure for carrying out a silk press isn’t complicated at all, but there are four steps to conquer before you can walk out of the salon with your straight, shiny hair. The four steps are a thorough hair wash, deep conditioning, blow-dry, and silk press.

    1. Hair wash: First, your hair is thoroughly washed to get rid of the dirt that could be in your hair and on your scalp. This is a very important step, especially if you plan to keep this hairstyle for up to a month.
    2. Deep conditioning: After washing your hair, it will need to be deep conditioned to add moisture to your hair. This is incredibly important because of the amount of heat that will be applied to your hair.
    3. Blow drying your hair: During this step, your hair will be coated with protective oil and then blow-dried. This is a very crucial step; if your hair is properly blow-dried, then you will need less heat application when it’s time to silk press.
    4. Silk press: This is the last step in this process. Using a hot comb or a hair straightener, your hairstylist will gently split your hair into small sections and apply heat until your hair is completely straight. Afterward, you can trim the ends and style as preferred.

How long does the effect last?

Unfortunately, this style does not last forever. You’ll need several visits to the salon to maintain the hairstyle, especially if you don’t use the tips below to protect your hair. Several hairstylists have said that for many women, the style will only last for two to three weeks. However, if you’ve worn this hairstyle more than a few times, it is highly likely that you’ll be able to go for longer without needing a salon visit.

 

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How to protect your hair after the procedure

To get the most out of this hairstyle, it is important for you to take note of certain things you must do to ensure that your hairstyle stays in place for as long as possible. A couple of those tips are outlined below:

  • Protect your hair at night – To ensure that your new hairstyle lasts as long as possible, you’ll have to protect it as much as you can. Pin it into place every night and then wrap your hair in a bonnet before you go to sleep.
  • Stay away from water – You can’t have any swimming sessions for as long as you have (and want to keep) your silk press. This is why you need to ensure that your hair is thoroughly clean when the silk press is made in the first place. Once your hair is exposed to a little water, your hairstyle will immediately be ruined.
  • Stay away from heat and places with high humidity – If you want your hairstyle to last, then you’ll need to stay away from heat. Applying more heat to the hair strands can make it stiff and ugly, while humidity and outdoor heat can cause your hair to absorb moisture and become frizzy.

Difference between a hair straightener and silk press

Some people are skeptical about this process because they think that hair straightening is the same as a silk press. The simple difference between these two things is that one is a tool and the other is a treatment.

A hair straightener is one of the tools used by some hairstylists for silk presses while a silk press is a process that uses a flat iron, among other things, to make your natural hair straight and shiny.

Conclusion

There are many options when it comes to getting straight and shiny hair, with some of them involving chemical treatments. However, few are as pain-free and straightforward as a silk press. It also lasts for almost a month, depending on how well you take care of it. It’s easy to see why this hairstyle is quickly becoming a favorite among women with coarse natural hair.