Silk Press and the Natural Hair

A silk press is done for natural hair only and doesn’t require the use of a hot comb; a ceramic flat iron is used instead. Find out what else Content contributor- Mojisola Yewande has to share bout “New” and improved ways to care for your natural hair.  
A silk press is an upgraded version of what a hot comb does to natural hair. It is a modern day press and curl that makes natural hair look like it has been relaxed, making it shiny, silky, straight and soft.
As opposed to a traditional press and curl where grease is used to help get the hair straight, no grease is used with a silk press although, a serum can be used to add shine without weighing the hair down. 
Steps to follow when silk pressing

1. Cleanse

The first thing to do is to clarify the hair before proceeding to shampoo and conditioning. You need to remove all dirt, oil, and residue from the hair making it clean and ready to receive moisture

2. Deep Condition

It is best to deep condition the hair, this will help prevent heat damages. Use a leave –in conditioner to moisturize and detangle

3. Use heat protectant

Before you heat style your hair, use a heat protectant serum to prevent damage. You can use lightweight products such as Shea butter, jojoba oil or coconut oil in place of the serum

4. Blow drying : Tension method

Use a rubber brush or your fingers down the mid-shaft of the hair to the ends for a smooth result, while blow drying section by section

5. Flat ironing : Chase method

Flat iron your hair using the chase method; run down the hair in small sections with a fine-toothed comb or detangling brush while pressing with the flat iron. This method helps prevent the need for multiple passes with the flat iron while still achieving optimum sleek hair
Use a light oil or mist to finish the style and give your hair a healthy looking shine. To maintain this style, use a silk scarf to wrap your hair at night.