Textured Hair? Here’s Why The Silk Press Technique Will Be Your BFF

Blowouts are bae. It’s amazing how a fresh and bouncy blowout has confidence-boosting powers, don’t you think? But, here’s the catch — if you’ve got even the slightest hint of textured hair, especially in hot and humid weather conditions like India, the blowout tends to wear off a lot quicker. The result? A poofy mess reminiscing a once-perfect hairdo. That’s where silk press swoops in to save your bad hair days. This viral hair styling technique has made quite the buzz globally for its ability to straighten natural and textured hair, without the use of any chemical relaxers and excessive heat. But what makes it different to a blowout and regular hair straightening? We dive in.

In this article

What Exactly Is A Silk Press?

Sorry to disappoint, but a silk press doesn’t involve any fancy pressing machines (as the name suggests). Simply put, it is a sandwich method of styling natural hair. “It is a hair straightening technique commonly used on natural hair, particularly for individuals with curly or slightly frizzy hair,” explains celebrity hair and makeup artist, Shraddha Mishra. “This method results in smooth and shiny hair. It straightens the hair without the use of chemicals and helps in maintaining it for a longer period.”

The name is simply a play on words — pressing your hair between the tongs of a hair iron for that silky smooth result. Just like a blowout, silk press hair is temporary too, lasts until your next wash, and will eventually return to its natural shape. The technique is especially suited for those with coily, curly, kinky, or thick wavy hair, as it allows your locks to hold the style better and for longer.

The Process Of Getting A Silk Press

1. Prep - A clean and conditioned canvas is often the way forward for silk press hair! This is done by using a clarifying shampoo that helps exfoliate dead skin cells and removes product buildup, dirt, and other impurities, followed by a hydrating shampoo to instantly add a boost of moisture to your locks. Next, a deep conditioner is applied to ensure hair is thoroughly nourished — this smoothens any split ends, adds shine and softness, and prevents hair from frizzing up.
2. Blow Dry - Once the hair is well prepped with a heat protectant, it is blowdried to ensure all traces of water and moisture are dry. A moist scalp can unravel the styling of a silk press and therefore utmost care is taken when doing so. The key to a good silk press lies in a good blowout — the idea is to get the cuticle to be as straight and smooth as possible so that less heat is required when using a flat iron. A paddle or a round brush is used to smoothen the hair during the process.
3. Flat Iron - Next, it’s time to lock in the shine. A flat iron is used to evenly straighten the hair section by section, roots to end. This is done once or twice per section to achieve a sleek look while keeping the heat at bay.
4. Finishing Touches - A lightweight serum or oil is added to the hair to boost the shine and softness, and to tame any frizz or flyaways.

The Benefits Of A Silk Press

1. Doesn’t cause a permanent change or damage.
2. Improves and maintains overall hair health.
3. Makes everyday styling easy.
4. Increases longevity of styling, especially for curly and textured hair

Blowout Vs Hair Iron Vs Silk Press: The Battle

If you’re one to experience bad hair days often, then make note, you’re not the only one. Whether it’s finding your fringe doing the splits at midday or witnessing your hair go from stylish and sleek, to poofy and unmanageable in the blink of an eye, the hair Gods aren’t kind to everyone. For times like that styling tools are your heroes. From blow driers to hair irons to now, the silk press, there are so many to choose from. But is one better than the other?

All of them aim to achieve the same end goal — soft, smooth, silky, and straight hair. How they manage to achieve it for each hair type, however, is very different. “A regular blowout adds some volume to your hair and usually stays nice for a few days, but a silk press is a mix of blow drying and flat ironing, which gives you that smooth, shiny look. Plus, it lasts longer than just a blowout,” says Mishra.

Essentially, a silk press combines the best of the two worlds and harnesses the heat and hold of a blowdry, along with the even styling of a flat iron (paired with the right hair care and styling products) to leave you with healthy, shiny, straight hair that is longer-lasting.

A Bite Of History

Before the earlier versions of the silk press people used pullers that would help relax and loosen curls and coils, after which hot combs became a hot choice around 1920. Eventually, chemical straighteners and relaxers became popular for looking for a more permanent solution—after all, spending hours combing out the curls only for them to unravel wasn’t feasible for many.

Finally, in the early 2000s women took control of the narrative and started embracing their natural hair, curls, coils, kinks, and all. This resulted in fewer women opting for hair-damaging chemicals, pushing the need for something more long-term yet safe and effective for curly and textured hair. Alas! Versions of the silk press were born. The modern-day silk press is actually very similar to the 20th-century pressing comb and the 90’s ‘press and curl’.

Silk Press: After Care

1. Avoid harsh brushing or combing of the hair.
2. Avoid heavy creams or hair products as this might take away the shine from the hair
3. Wrap your hair in the night with a satin cloth to maintain the style and prevent tangles.
4. ⁠Keep your hair tied up during activities to minimise exposure to humidity.

Silk Press: A Game Changer For Textured Hair

For the longest time ever, those with textured and curly hair always fell behind in the shadow of other hair types. And, one of the biggest hairstyling concerns when styling hair has always been hold and longevity. Opting for something more permanent also means doing permanent damage to the hair’s natural texture. Silk press addresses these two concerns without any permanent damage, making it a game-changer for people looking to frequently or occasionally style their hair sans giving on the texture entirely.