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A silk press is a temporary straightening service for Afro hair. The service starts with a shampoo and condition, then a blowout and ends with the hair being straightened with a straightener.
Maintaining a silk press at home can feel impossible. Between the humidity, sweat, and oil from your scalp, the hairstyle that looked so good in the salon can feel like it only lasts a day before looking frizzy and dull. While the longevity of your silk press depends on factors that may be out of your control, there are some steps you can take to maintain the style so it lasts weeks instead of days.
- Use Heat
My number one tip for maintaining a silk press is to use a good quality hair straightener! There is nothing wrong with heat tools as long as they are used responsibly. A hair straightener will smooth your hair after your salon visit and help you keep the style for a longer period of time. Be sure to only focus on the areas that have started to frizz up and don’t go over the same area more than once. I recommend our TAUPE TOOL Silk Press Straightener. The titanium plates have nano technology and you only need one pass to straighten the hair. The less passes on the hair, the better. Visit this link to purchase your Silk Press Straightener.
- Consider a Texture Release
If you are interested in primarily wearing your natural hair straight, I recommend considering the Texture Release treatment. A Texture Release is a heat-activated process that uses amino acids to temporarily loosen curls. It is a fantastic alternative to a relaxer, especially if you want to maintain your natural hair texture in-between silk presses, and it becomes much easier to control frizz while wearing your hair straight. A Texture Release must be done in a salon, by a professional. Luckily for you, we offer this service at TAUPE! You can book your appointment with us.
- Get the Right Products for Maintenance
Using the right products on your silk press can extend your style for weeks. While you don’t want to weigh your hair down with too much product, I do recommend a wax stick (such as the KeraCare wax stick we sell at our salon) to smoothe the hair, dry shampoo to soak up excess oil at the roots and a very light oil for your ends.When used sparingly, these products go a long way in keeping your hair as impressive as it was the day you left the salon. It’s very important to pick products that are not water-based; if it is primarily listed as an ingredient it is likely to revert your silk press.
- Protect your Hairline
When it comes to maintaining the look of your silk press, your hairline might be the most important part. Even if the rest of your hair is silky straight, if your hairline starts to get frizzy, it can make the style look old. Make sure you protect your hairline from water so that the short hairs don’t get wet and revert back to your afro texture. I recommend wearing a headband when you’re washing your face and wearing a headband when you’re exercising or participating in any movement that could work up a sweat. Keeping that area dry is key.
- Protect your Hair at Night
I recommend wrapping your hair to maintain your silk press. This keeps the hair in place, which reduces the chance of getting frizz from the friction of cotton bedding. You can also maintain your style by sectioning and pinning them into curls or using a silk roller. Regardless of how you choose to wear your hair at night, I recommend either wearing a satin-lined or silk-lined bonnet or scarf to sleep or sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase. This further reduces frizz-causing friction and also prevents the hair from getting dry.
While humidity is often inevitable in warm climates, applying these tips will help extend your silk press so you can enjoy it for a longer period of time.
Thank you for reading. If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to contact us.
