Are you craving sleek, straight strands of hair? Or you’re just looking to take a much-needed break from taking care of your curls all while long? Look no further, the silk press is the style for you! This styling technique involves the use of heat to achieve a smooth, shiny finish, without too many procedures and harsh chemicals.
A silk press can be a great way to show off your hair’s length, add bounce, and enjoy a change from your usual routine. And this is especially true for type 4 hair. But as we know, heat damage is real, so achieving a perfect silk press on type 4 hair requires specific steps and very careful attention.
In this article, we’ll give you silk press 101; we’ll walk you through the process, from prepping your hair, we’ll share with you everything you need to create your own silk press style at home, as well as the techniques and processes involved. Let’s go!
Hair prep is the tea, bread and butter when it comes to a silk press. Make sure you’re starting with freshly washed hair that has been conditioned, deep conditioned, and thoroughly detangled.
Deep conditioning before a silk press is like putting on a shield for your hair. It helps to infuse essential moisture into the hair, strengthening strands, and making them more resilient to the heat styling process.
After your hair prep, the next step is to part the hair into smaller sections and twist or braid them down to ease the silk press process.
Next, apply your blow-dry spray and use your blowout brush or dryer to stretch the hair. Blowing out your hair before a silk press reduces the risk of damage as your hair is already pre-stretched and will not require that much heat or that many passes with the straightener to get it to your desired finish.
After blow-drying, section off your hair using a rat tail comb, and use your hair clips/bobby pins to hold the parts down. Work in small sections to straighten the hair, going in with your straightener to do a few passes at the bottom, and two passes down the length of the hair.
Rinse and repeat the process around your whole head of hair. When you’re done straightening your whole head, go in with the mini straightener to straighten your edges as the bigger flat iron may have missed a few spots.
After straightening, apply your Biosilk shine serum, part your hair as desired, and lay your edges if required. And there you have it! A sleek, bouncy silk press!
With the right approach and products, you can achieve a beautiful, bouncy silk press on your type 4 hair. Remember, heat protection is key throughout the process, and too much heat can be detrimental to the health of your hair. Always use your heat protectant and try to stay away from putting your heat settings too high. If your hair feels dry or brittle, take a break from heat styling and focus on deep conditioning.
Embrace the unique versatility of your natural hair, and enjoy the rest, ease, and confidence that comes with rocking a silk press!
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