When the leaves change color, there’s a bit of cold in the air. The season is heralded by the age-old custom of silk pressing, which dates back to the 1890s. Celebrity hairdresser Sabrina Porsche explains how to use a flat iron for a smooth finish and a heated comb for the roots of this approach, which effectively manages tight coils without using chemical relaxers.
Expert hairstylist Tippi Shorter notes that a correctly done silk press may last up to two weeks, depending on the weather, unique hair types, and how often you style it. Preserving its brilliance requires avoiding dampness. Frizz can result from humidity-induced swelling, so that a rainy meeting may mean goodbye to the silk press. Shorter suggests taking preventative steps, such as using a hat to protect hair from moisture.
Hairdresser Edwards concedes that weather is unpredictable, even with treatments to counteract its effects. However, shower temperature is one variable that may be controlled. According to Edwards, hot showers should be avoided since steam might damage the silk press.
While it’s essential for health, exercise presents difficulties for a silk press. Sweat poses a hazard to the natural condition of hair. In response, Porsche and Shorter advise using a scarf to preserve stretch even in the event of moisture and maintaining taut and flat hair throughout the activity. In this case, gym wraps made of fast-drying, sweat-wicking cloth are handy.
Overnight preservation of smoothness necessitates calculated steps. Before going to bed, Edwards suggests straightening your hair with a wrap or curling it with pin curls. A satin or silk scarf keeps the hair in place while you sleep.
With touch-ups, moderation is essential—shorter cautions against using heat too often as it might cause breakage and damage. Touch-ups should only be performed once or twice in the silk press’s lifetime, if at all. Heat should never be allowed to build up, and protective clothing should always be worn.
Moreover, regular silk pressing adds to heat training, which lengthens the wear-time of the style. Shorter claims this procedure results in more extended wear and a more robust look.
