How often should you get a silk Press on natural hair?

However as I have mentioned before your silk press will normally last for approximately 2-3 weeks max. So here are 5 ways to make your silk press last longer.

1)  Keep Your Split Ends at Bay

Trim your ends regularly. When your hair has been straightened it’s easier to see those split ends so ensure that your hair is trimmed when you decide to wear it straight.

2) Opt for Flat Curls

Curling those layers of natural curls into bouncy curls will look majestic. Opt for a smooth, flat silk press with a light curl on the ends. It will be easier to maintain and less likely to revert as easily.

3) Use Less Products 

To keep your strands bouncy and silky, avoid using too much product, which will cause the hair to look weighed down.

4) Avoid Moisture

Try your best to avoid getting any moisture in your hair. The smallest amount of moisture and/or humidity in the air will have your freshly silk pressed hair looking frizzy and puffy.  In the shower, make sure you wrap your hair with a satin scarf and a shower cap!

5) Wrap Your Hair

If you’re not into the mood of keeping your hair down, secure your strands with a silk wrap. Keeping it wrapped will shield your mane from environmental factors like wind, humidity, or harsh weather which could potentially ruin your hair.

How long should a silk press last? The duration of a silk press depends on the type of silk press and how it was made. In this article, we’ll be talking about all you need to know about silk presses.

Silk press on natural hair is one of the best ways to straighten it. However, it is impossible for the press to last forever, so it has to come to an end at some point.

What is a silk press?

Silk press originated from original traditional press which involves the use of hot comb to press your hair and make it straight.  A silk press requires a flat iron to straighten hair instead of the hair comb in traditional hair press. 

The silk press gives natural hair a more relaxed look making it appear straight and soft.  Silk press is favored over other methods because it does not require grease but only an oil serum.

How to make a silk press last longer?

There are several methods to increase the longevity of your silk press. They include

Stylist appointment

As easy as doing a silk press is, it is better to have yours done by a professional. You might achieve an impressive silk press by doing it yourself at home but it is nothing compared to what a professional can achieve. Your hairstylist is probably more skilled since he or she has been at it for a while. Besides they also have a better vantage point which makes it easier.

Avoid getting it wet

If you love getting your air wet then silk press may not be for you. No matter how straight or perfectly done your silk press is, it becomes damaged on coming in contact with water.

Avoid touching it

You know how tempting it is to touch your hair after making it? Don’t do that with silk presses. Frequent touching leaves your hair less silky.

How often should you get a silk press?

A good silk press on 4c hair last for quite some time and you don’t have to worry about getting one frequently. Provided you take proper care, you only have to renew your silk press every four months. By doing it once in four months, you can avoid damage to your hair from heat.

Is silk press bad for your hair?

Silk press is safer in most situations, provided that it is done by a professional. Silk press reduces the risk of damage to your hair but in cases where heat is used there is a chance of heat damage. When done badly, silk presses can also cause hair breakage.

Conclusion:

To sum it up, silk press is really nice for your air provided that it is done properly. There various ways to have that straight natural hair but silk press remains one of the best.

The start of fall is an exciting time: the leaves change colors, PSL lattes return to Starbucks, and things get a little spooky. It’s a shift from all things hot, bright, and sunny to brisk, cozy, and moody. There's a particular community though, for whom fall signals an entirely different type of shift. For many women with natural hair, once mid-September hits and the temperature drops below 60 degrees, it’s officially the start of silk press season. 

The #silkpressseason has 20 million views on TikTok. The tag is filled with videos of women of color (mainly Black women) documenting their trips to the salon to get their hair silky straight. Yes, it's about getting a new hairstyle for a new season, but for a lot of naturalistas a silk press is also a step in their hair-care routine: Many naturals get them one or two times a year, specifically to do a length check and get a trim. 

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It's not exactly clear when it was decided that the fall and winter are the best time to press your hair bone straight, but the general logic here is that the lack of heat and humidity make it much easier for curly hair to stay straight after a silk press. Since a standard silk press costs around $150-$200 (at least in my personal, NYC-based experience), the girls want their money's worth.

Let's back up a bit: If you're unfamiliar, a silk press is the process of flat ironing (or silking) natural hair to its straightest possible state. The dilemma here is that the process can be potentially damaging to hair given the amount of heat needed to get natural hair bone straight. Combine that with some harsh, dry, cold weather and you've got the potential to wreak some serious havoc on your hair. 

So how do you join in on the silky fun, without frying your hair or leaving it vulnerable to harsh winter winds? Allure tapped five hair experts who, below, share their best tried and true tips for pressing even the coarsest hair types silky straight, without compromising health.

Meet The Experts: 

• Leigh Hardges, a licensed stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago with expertise in natural hair care and styling
• Larry Sims, hairstylist and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union.
• Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth, hairstylist & founder of NTRL by Sabs
• Lacy Redway, hairstylist who styles celebrities including Tessa Thompson and Laura Harrier
• Yolanda Lenzy, MD, board-certified dermatologist and licensed cosmetologist

How to Prep Your Hair for a Silk Press

All four stylists agree that the key to a healthy silk press actually starts before a flat iron goes anywhere near your head. “On shampoo days use a hydrating mask in lieu of conditioner,” Leigh Hardges, a licensed stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago with expertise in natural hair care and styling, tells Allure.  “Masks are more concentrated and more dense in consistency so they really help hold moisture in the strands.” Making sure your hair is as moisturized as possible before getting a silk press ensures the hot tools being used don't further dry out your hair. Most stylists will do a wash and condition during a silk press appointment, but feel free to request one if it's not usually part of your service. It may cost a bit extra at some salons but your hair will thank you for it. 

Sims, recommends the 5 Butter Miracle Masque because it "deeply penetrates the hair with super hydrating moisture before thermal styling." The Anomaly Bonding Treatment Mask, which uses quinoa and vegetable proteins to smooth frizz and help strengthen hair, won an Allure Best of Beauty Award as the best hair mask for kinky and curly textures. 

Flawless by Gabrielle Union - 5 Butter Miracle Masque

Flawless by Gabrielle Union 5 Butter Miracle Masque with Murumuru and Shea Butter to moisturize dry, brittle hair.

$10 at Amazon

DW shooting station

Anomaly Bonding Treatment Mask

$8 at Amazon

What to Expect at the Salon

If you're unsure what to ask for at the salon, Hardges notes that every silk press appointment should include a shampoo, conditioner (or treatment), blow dry, and style. Once you're past the preliminary hair prep, you can expect the first hot tool used to be a blow dryer because a good blowout absolutely has to precede a good silk press. "You want to make sure you get the cuticle as straight as possible during the blowout process so you can use less heat when flat ironing," Sims explains. Redway, a hairstylist who styles editorial shoots and works with celebrities including Tessa Thompson, recommends using (or having your stylist use) tools that will give you control over temperature and offer attachments to assist in your blow drying to minimize the overall heat placed on your hair — the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer with its wide tooth comb attachment is her top recommendation. 

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

$430

Courtesy of brand

Dyson Supersonic Wide Tooth Comb Attachment

$40

During the actual silk press, the way your stylist (or you) uses a flat iron also plays a huge role in straightening with minimal damage. This will be mostly up to your stylist, but if you choose to press your hair at home it's best to only do one pass with the flat iron over the hair's ends. "The ends of our hair are the oldest and most damaged part of the hair strand," Hardges says. "I will pass over the roots and mid shaft of the hair two to three times, but I avoid the last two inches of the hair until the final pass." Board-certified dermatologist and licensed cosmetologist Dr. Lenzy echos this by explaining that hair growth starts at the root of your hair, so the ends of the hair are "more prone to breakage." 

Arguably the most important product involved in a silk press is heat protectant; without it, you leave your hair even more vulnerable to the ever-so-dreaded issue of heat damage. As Dr. Lenzy explains, heat damage causes breaks in the hydrogen (water) bonds of your hair follicles. This can result in visible breakage, frizz, weakened hair strands, and if you have curls, loss of curl pattern.

Cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously explained to Allure that the best heat protectants contain ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil and VP/DMAPA acrylates copolymer, both of which "form a shield" to prevent that loss of water and moisture in the hair which can lead to heat damage. More familiar hair-care ingredients like aloe and argan oil can also help seal the hair cuticle and protect against direct heat from hot tools. 

The Mizani Heat Screen Heat Protectant Spray includes a VP copolymer, an ingredient that prevents heat damage according to King. The TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer is a personal favorite of Redway's that she uses often when doing heat styling on clients. 

Thermal Creations Heat Tamer

Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer for Hair Heat Protection Expert Selection Leave-In

$6.99 at Target

Courtesy of brand

Mizani Heat Screen Heat Protectant Spray

$24

How to Take Care of Your Silk Press at Home

Once you leave the salon with silky hair you'll most likely want to flaunt your new hair all over the internet — as you should. And since silk presses last about a month (depending on your hair type), you'll have plenty of time to do so. The one thing experts warn against after getting a silk press is reapplying heat. “My biggest don't is don't over iron your hair after you have received the service,” says Holdsworth, hairstylist & founder of NTRL by Sabs. "If your hair starts to curl up a lot it's probably time to get a fresh silk press. The goal is to avoid damage." Dr. Lenzy offers the same advice adding that reapplying heat to hair that hasn't been freshly washed can be especially damaging because "the hair will have oils and dirt in it…[if you're] applying heat to that you're just kind of baking those oils and dirt or product into the hair."

If you find you need to touch up just a small section of your silk press, Hardges recommends using a blow-dry styling brush on low heat to re-style any areas that are reverting. "A flat iron or curling can be used in a last ditch effort," she explains. "But be sure to use a heat protectant and a low heat setting."

The best way to get your silk press to last without reapplying heat is wrapping it when you go to sleep. "Invest in good sleep protection for your press, like silk pillowcases, hair wraps, and bonnets that offer protection to your hair overnight," Redway explains. Dr. Lenzy adds that cotton pillowcases can cause a lot of friction "which can lead to breakage" so she recommends silk pillowcases no matter what state your hair is in. 

The Slip Pillowcase helps mitigate bed head and friction which can help your silk press last longer while preventing breakage. The Evolve Satin Wide-Edge Bonnet was named the best hair bonnet in Allure's 2022 Best of Beauty Awards for its ability to smooth out edges while you sleep. 

Slip Silk Pillowcase

$89 at Nordstrom

Evolve Satin Wide-Edge Bonnet

$5 at Amazon

Tips for Styling Your Silk Press

Because silk presses can be hard to maintain depending on your hair type, how you style your silk press is essential to its longevity. If you're a fan of ponytails you may want to pause on the style at least until your silk press on its last leg, lest you end up with a dent that can't be undone. "The best way to remove a crease is to avoid creating one," Hardges warns. If styles that require a ponytail are an absolute must for you Hardges recommends using barrettes or non-crease ponytail holders (specifically, the ones that look like telephone cords). 

Channing Smith 

How Long to Wait Between Silk Presses

According to the experts, there is no hard and fast rule on how long to wait between silk presses, but you probably shouldn’t be getting them weekly as excessive use of heat will only make your hair more prone to breakage. If you wash your hair after a silk press and experience a lot of shedding or notice straight strands in contrast to your normal curl pattern, it's a sign you have heat damage. Dr. Lenzy recommends consulting with your stylist at the start of every appointment to determine if your hair is healthy enough for a silk press. "If someone is experiencing an excessive amount of shedding or breakage I would recommend avoiding a press," Dr. Lenzy explains. 

How often can I silk press natural hair?

How long does silk Press last on natural hair?

How long should I wait between silk presses?

Is silk Press healthy for natural hair?