For more of the Cut’s favorite fashion, beauty, and home finds, sign up for the weekly Cut Shop Newsletter.
I’ll start by saying this: I’m a firm advocate for Black women doing whatever they want with their hair, regardless of what that looks like. Some are “natural-hair warriors,” while others, like myself, are silk-press savants who, despite loving their kinks and curls, prefer to wear their hair in a straightened state (almost) 365 days a year. I’ve been rocking mine since I was 8 years old. I’m 30 now.
If you didn’t know, a silk press involves much more than simply straightening one’s hair. It typically includes the use of different hot tools, like a flat iron, a hot comb, or a thermal brush. It also means turning up the heat to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for a smoother, silkier finish that’s meant to last two to five days longer. Much like braids or twists to others, it’s become a no-fuss hairstyle that helps take some of the guesswork out of getting ready each morning.
From the time you’re ready to wash your hair to when you’re doing your preferred outdoor hobby, I’ve found an arsenal of hair-care products, tools, and accessories that minimize the overall damage. You’re welcome.
So, you want to maintain your silk press?
➼ Best silk-press hair-care products
➼ Best hair tools for a silk press
➼ Best silk-press accessories
.
Best Silk-Press Hair-Care Products
I dye my hair black every few months. Rather than risk the health of my locks or get bogged down with touch-ups, I opt for Pallure’s temporary pigmented mask between salon visits. Made with quinoa extract and sweet almond oil, its semipermanent yet nourishing formula is guaranteed to give you rich, unfaded color for up to 20 washes. (I use Jet Black, but it comes in eight other shades.) The fact that it’s hydrating is just an added bonus.
A good clarifying shampoo is a key part in the silk-press process as it allows for a clean slate. Ouai’s Detox shampoo is made with apple-cider vinegar to completely remove product buildup, dirt, and oils. The formula is infused with the brand’s signature floral scent.
Scalp dryness is quite common for silk-press wearers. Adding Black-owned brand HBH’s Rejuve Shampoo helps reduce flaky flare-ups. It’s made with willow bark, bakuchi oil, and aloe to invigorate the follicles and promote a healthy scalp. The result? A refreshing, tingly sensation.
One hill I’ll die on is that the thing separating a good silk press from a great one is how shiny its appearance is. This is one of the reasons why L.A.-based brand Babe Original’s Glossy hair treatment has become an essential step in my wash routine. It’s meant to be used after shampoo and in lieu of conditioner (though I cheat and finish with a conditioner for ample hydration since my hair is on the thicker side).
Keeping the strands of my hair nourished while being routinely primped and prodded by my hot tools is mandatory. This conditioner by the Ouai is a blend of marshmallow root, keratin, shea butter, and avocado oil. Even better is that this cocktail of ingredients leaves your hair smooth and frizz free. And while it pairs well with any one of the brand’s shampoos, it will work just as well with the other products in your lineup.
I fear the hype is true: K18’s molecular mask is as good as the reviews suggest. But you already knew that since the Cut Shop team has raved about this product, too. Suitable for all hair types, the mask helps reverse the damage done by heat, chemical services, and bleach and color. After I wash my hair, I apply at least three pumps of product into my hand before rubbing them together until it has a white cast.
Every six weeks or so, I use Color WOW’s Supernatural treatment on my wet hair to help achieve a “waterproof look” and protect my silky, straight hair from humidity. In a now-viral video, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton showed just how the product works by placing droppers filled with water on naturally curly hair that’s been flat ironed.
A heat protectant is absolutely necessary. Leave it to Tracee Ellis Ross and her brand, Pattern, to give the curly girls a lightweight formula infused with a blend of crambe abyssinica seed, jojoba, and sunflower oils, which won’t make my straight hair too greasy. As instructed, I use this before blow-drying and then again before I straighten my hair for optimal protection.
My hairstylist of three years, Marq, of H2Salon in Brooklyn, recommended I use Aveda’s Brilliant balm to help combat flyaways and unnecessary frizz from the moisture in the hair. This is particularly useful if I plan to spend the day outdoors during the warm-weather months; I never go to the pool or beach without having it on hand.
Dry shampoo is a game-changer when it comes to extending the life of your silk press, especially one without a white cast like this one from MoroccanOil. The rice starch instantly cleans your scalp of the built-up product by absorbing the oils without leaving your hair with a powdery residue or diluting the rich, dark color.
.
Best Hair Tools for a Silk Press
A brush with boar bristles helps minimize breakage during the blowout process while offering a little bounce and body. So, I’ve opted for one with a 1.5-inch barrel. Not to mention, as Pattern points out, other benefits of buying a boar brush include keeping your hair clean, longer as it breaks down buildup while moving around oils to prolong the inevitable greasy look.
Every Black girl I know has a “rat tail” comb with thin teeth for a secure grip. This standard version from Sally’s Beauty supply store (identified as #20) is flexible and durable, which helps prevent any unnecessary snagging and tangling throughout the styling process. The tail-like handle also helps you create clean and straight parts, which will elevate the silk press even further.
If you find yourself using a few different hot tools (aside from the flat iron) to straighten and style your hair into a silk press, then the Dyson Airwrap is absolutely worth the investment. The classic blow-dryer nozzle helps me stretch out my curls from the scalp. I then go back in with the barrel-brush attachment to smooth out any remaining kinks. The styler is hot enough to get your hair straight but gentle by approach, so as to not put too much heat on your hair.
One key difference between a silk press and someone simply straightening their hair is the use of the hot comb for a silkier finish. I’ve had a version of Gold N Hot’s pressing tool in my arsenal for more than two decades, and to say that it’s durable would be a massive understatement. It’s fitted with quick, adjustable heat settings and detangling teeth with a 24-karat coating to help reduce damage. After drying but before straightening my hair, I give my edges a full comb through to smooth any remaining curls.
I prefer a titanium flat iron for my hair, considering a higher heat is necessary for a silk press. However, editorial hair stylist Cheryl Bergamy explained that titanium plates heat up rather quickly and, if not used properly, can damage the hair shaft even more.
.
Best Silk-Press Accessories
As someone who’s rather particular about hair clips, I could wax poetic about the Gator Grip design for hours. It’s made with a rubber caged silhouette to hold large sections of textured hair firmly in place. I use these clips to separate my hair into sections before blow-drying and then again when I’m ready to flat-iron it.
Even though I wrap my hair and sleep with a bonnet, I always sleep on a silk pillowcase just to be safe. It helps increase skin hydration and decrease the appearance of fine-line wrinkles. Skin-care benefits aside, silk pillowcases are reported to reduce frizz and breakage, and I like to have a backup in case my hair wrap slides off in the middle of the night.
One thing about me: I never leave my apartment without at least one claw clip in my bag. Rather than tying my hair in an elastic scrunchie and risking creases, I’m quick to twirl my strands up into a slightly disheveled chignon during outdoor activities. This reduces breakage and adds the slightest curl to my ends, which gives the appearance that I’ve styled my hair instead of trying to keep it out of my face.
My expansive baseball-cap collection exists in part because of how well a hat can conceal my silk press at a moment’s notice. I always have one of these sporty hats in my bag just in case the weather gets a bit temperamental.
I have a disdain for umbrellas. I think they have an inherently flawed design. As a very chic alternative, I’ve opted for a vintage plastic rain bonnet, which is completely effective, even when faced with Dublin’s windy storms. The key is sealing the sides to prevent any moisture from getting inside the cap.
Working out with a silk press requires extra care and attention. So that I don’t sweat it out in the process, I will be sure to flatten my edges with this Luxtreme headband from Lululemon. (Gymshark’s always sold-out version is another favorite.) It’s made from a moisture-wicking material that dries quickly and smooths my hair.
At the end of the day, I make sure that I wrap or “tie up” my hair to keep the silk press in place while I sleep. While some use durags, others, like myself, prefer a square silk scarf in a handkerchief style. I top it off with my satin bonnet to ensure the scarf is secured.
