A silk press has become my go to natural hair style. Winters in New York are silk press season for me because the weather is so cold and dry.
When I first went natural, I was scared to put any heat on my hair out of fear of heat damage. Gurus on social media made me believe if I dared put a flat iron on my hair, I would lose my curls forever. With time and research, I realized that silk presses could actually be a protective style and help me retain length — if done properly. In the last six months, I’ve done four silk presses and have no heat damage. Each time I’ve gotten it done, I’ve been able to keep the style for a full month without having to reapply heat at all.
Here are my tips are stretching a silk press for a month:
Prep your hair for the silk press.
The foundations of a long lasting silk press start with your prep. The health of your hair is most important so I would advise against getting a silk press if you’re experiencing any sort of damage or breakage. Before straightening my hair I always do an Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector treatment. Most of the time I arrive to the salon with Olaplex No. 3 in my hair and my stylist washes it out and deep conditions my hair. Don’t skip this step! I credit Olaplex for why my silk presses are always shiny and last long and my curls revert with ease.
Another product I use is the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask. Whether I’m getting my hair done at the salon or doing it myself, after washing, I smooth this on my hair before blowdrying and straightening. I don’t do Olaplex and K18 at the same time but consult with your stylist on what’s best for your hair.
Use a light weight oil.
Before straightening, I use an oil like Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil to protect my hair from heat and to get the sleekest, shiniest result possible.
Protect your hair at night.
How you wear your hair to bed plays a huge role on how long your silk press will last. If I got a bone straight silk press, I wrap my hair with a silk scarf and then wear my Grace Eleyae Satin-Line Cap (Slap) on top. I usually get some beach waves or loose curls when I get a silk press, so I’ll pin curl it or do a few flat twists, wrap it with a silk scarf, and wear the Slap on top. In the morning, my hair is quick to style.
Protect your hair in the shower.
When my hair is straight, I don’t just wear a shower cap in the shower. I take really hot showers, so I wrap my hair with a silk scarf, put on my Slap, and then put on a shower cap.
Use an anti-humidity spray.
If it’s a rainy day or I’m going to be doing a tough workout, I’ll lightly spray my hair with Oribe Impermeable Anti-Humidity Hair Spray. I got married in Antigua, on the beach, in extremely hot, humid weather. My hair remained perfect because of this spray!
Wear a sweat band when working out.
Skipping a workout because of my hair is not an option for me. I admittedly sweat a lot, so when working out, I’ll slick my hair back in a bun and wear a GymWrap snuggly around my hairline. After my workout, I let myself dry off a bit before removing the band and I have no frizz!
Use dry shampoo.
You don’t want to go a full month without cleaning your hair and scalp in any capacity, especially if you work out. I’ve been using Amika Perk Up Plus Extended Dry Shampoo to keep my scalp clean. It has a nice smell, too!
Oil and moisturize your hair and scalp.
I know a lot of people say to not weigh your silk press down with too much product, but if you want it to last a month, you need to maintain the moisture. I oil my scalp with Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil or Curly Proverbz Fenugreek Elixir. The Curly Proverbz oil is also really moisturizing so I’ll add a few drops on my hair as well, concentrating on my ends. I also use like a quarter sized amount of As I Am Double Butter Cream on my hair if it’s feeling very dry.
Silk presses can be a low maintenance, long lasting style with the right routine and products. Let me know in the comments how you maintain your silk press!
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