BEST SILK PRESS REGIMEN ..questions & answers welcomed :)

outspokenwallflower said:

Pressing oil/creme users, do you apply a bit to your whole hair or use the TEENIEST BIT to each section? I want to specifically target my new growth and am wondering if i should just apply the pressing creme to my whole hair or just a smidge (and I really mean, taking a teeny bit, rubbing it between my fingers and spreading a bit onto the new growth). What's an effective method for you?

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Get the hair clean. I recommend clarifying [then following up with a moisturizing poo of course]: You want the hair to be as clean as possible, as any dirt, film, or residue left on the hair will cause your strands to lack body and shine. Buildup is also the culprit behind stiff, dry hair.

Rinse out the conditioner WELL. You spent all that time making sure your hair was clean, pay equal attention to ensuring you have rinsed your conditioner out thoroughly. Any conditioner left on your hair will coat the strands with a waxy film and shorten the "life-span" of your freshly pressed tresses.
Places to pay close attention to: The nape area, the crown, and the area slightly behind your temple.

Detangle thoroughly: Pressing hair that is matted/knotted and/or tangled not only causes unnecessary hair loss, but it also takes away from your desired results. Hair that is detangled well before pressing is sleeker and shiner because you didn't subject your strands to excess mechanical manipulation by continuously raking a pressing comb through your hair.

Cool shot after blow-drying: Utilizing the blue or cool button after blow-drying will seal the cuticles making your hair shiny and easier to manage.

Use the right pressing comb for your hair type: This is important to ensure you get an even press without having to pass the pressing comb through your hair more than necessary [I usually do two passes]. Finer hair requires a pressing comb with teeth that are closer together, and thicker hair requires a comb with teeth that are spaced further apart.
Coarse thick hair with regular density? Try this comb
Coarse thin hair with regular density? Try this comb
Coarse thin hair with a heavier density? Try this comb
Coarse thick hair with heavier density? Try this comb
When pressing the hairline and nape area; use a pressing comb suitable for the texture/density of the hair. Kizure also makes a temple pressing comb specifically for those areas. The teeth are very close together ensuring you get an even press.

Temper the comb well: Probably one of the single most important pieces of information to remember. Tempering the comb ensures that your comb will hold the required amount of heat and will hold it evenly. This is important as combs that are unable to hold heat will have a hard time getting your hair straight. This usually results to you placing your comb back on the heat source for more heat. - It isn't that you need more heat, you need your comb to retain the heat and it needs to be distributed evenly along the comb so that your roots are just as straight as your ends.

You only need to temper a comb once. To do so, place the comb on a heat source [either the stove or the hair oven] for about 6-8 hours. If you use Kizure irons/combs they are pre-tempered so it saves you the hassle.


If the comb is smoking, there is an issue: Steam is ok, smoke isn't. Smoke usually signifies a pressing comb that hasn't been cleaned thoroughly or hair that has excess product residue. Pressing your hair with a dirty pressing comb or hair that is filled with product residue will not only cause your hair to have that "pressing comb odor" but will also take away from the finished look. Your hair may appear dull, stiff or lack body.

Do not add oil: Oil can really be your arch nemesis to free flowing hair filled with body and shine. If you are looking for moisture, you can opt for using a leave-in conditioner. If you are looking for shine; making sure your hair is completely clean, rinsing out conditioner with cold water and using a cool shot after blow-drying helps out immensely for increasing that shine factor. Tried all of the above but you still lack shine? Try a clear cellophane treatment or even a shine serum for instant gratification.

One inch sections: Ensuring that you get a nice even press means starting off with workable sections. I press sections of hair no bigger than one inch. While it may take longer using smaller sections, it extends the life of your press by lowering the chance of reversion.

Clean combs after each use: Pressing clean hair with dirty combs not only transfers residue to your strands, but it can also leave a very distinct smell behind that is hard to remove without shampooing. If you have shampooed your hair thoroughly and properly cleansed your combs, there should be no smell left behind on your tresses after pressing.

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One of the must have items that should be on every natural girl's list (if she presses her hair of course) is the Heat Tester by Golden Supreme. This can literally save you from irreversible heat damage due to using temperatures too high for your hair's texture. All you do, is hold your pressing comb over the heat tester's sensor, and it gives you a temperature reading (the lights indicate the temp of the comb). Boy how I wish I would have had this puppy about a year ago. Here's the claim from the manufacturer's website:

Gives reliable temperature range whether working on fine hair, processed hair or coarse hair.
10 lights to indicate heat range, low, med. high.
Permits the stylist to determine the exact temperature needed in styling any type of hair from fine hair to hair that's been damaged from over treatment by chemicals to long and heavy coarse hair.


This is one of my tools that I use EVERY TIME I press. Some chica's use the "paper towel method" of testing their pressing comb on a paper towel prior to using it, if the paper towel turns brown/tan, then the comb is too hot. Now this method may not always be reliable because the comb may still be too hot for your hair type, even though it did not turn the paper towel tan/brown.

I have very coarse hair, and I use the medium - low indicator, this ensures that every single time the pressing comb touches my hair, it will be at the proper temperature. I think this is an indispensable tool, when you consider the benefits. This may also help a lot of you out there that want to press your hair, but are afraid of using heat improperly.

Golden Supreme's Heat Testers are available "on ground" in professional beauty supply stores. However, if you don't find one in your area, you can always order them online via Golden Supreme's website (retails @ $80.00).

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6 Techniques For Easy Breezy Blowdrying

If blow drying your tresses is giving you the blues, try employing one [or hopefully all] of these methods for a hassle free styling experience. Improper blow drying techniques can lead to brittle, dry, and lifeless hair! The key to using heat without "heat damage" is using it in moderation, as utilizing proper techniques.

+ Do not blow dry sopping wet hair! Blow drying hair that is dripping wet will lead to dry, damaged hair. Carefully towel dry hair in sections using a microfiber towel prior to blow drying. When towel drying, be sure to "squeeze" not rub to avoid breakage and unnecessary tangles.

+ Use a heat protectant! I always use a heat protectant when thermal styling, and I swear by Aveda Brilliant Damage Control. Good heat protectants have proteins that bind to your hair shaft that acts as a barrier to prevent heat damage.

+ Watch your heat setting! I normally blow dry on low heat with a high power setting. Kinky hair has a tendency to be a little on the drier side, so blow drying on high heat should really be a no-no.

+ Blow dry hair until 75% dry, then sit under a dryer to dry the remainder of your hair. I prefer this method versus blow drying my hair until it's 100% dry because it makes for much softer hair. Another plus is that you cut down on the amount of direct heat that is applied to your hair. This technique is also beneficial to those have been less than successful at air drying. Blow drying first gives your hair that "smooth" appearance, and drying under a hooded dryer the remainder of the way gives your hair the soft "air dryed" feeling [minus the crunch or kink factors]

+ Hold the blow dryer 5-6 inches away from your hair when blow drying. Again, the key here is to avoid heat damage. Holding the dryer too close to your hair can also lead to issues with your scalp as well [dry, flaking].

+ Detangle thoroughly before attempting to blow dry! Hair should be soft, smooth, and free of tangles prior to blow drying. This is the time to break out that heavy duty seamless comb [I recommend Mason Pearson], and Fermodyl 619 if your hair is prone to tangles.

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sugarwater said:

http://moptopmaven.blogspot.com/2010/05/6-techniques-for-easy-breezy-blowdrying.html

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mzhotniz86 said:

BUMPING because i want to know what updated products are being used to get that swinging shiny silk press. I know the process is to clarify >moisturizing shampoo> deep condition > light leave in?> blowdry (this is where i would like to know what product to use, what kind of heat protectant?) >flat iron (do i use more heat protectant? What kind to make it shiny?). I dont want to weigh the hair down with oil & product but i also dont want dry dull hair. Hmmm

If there is an updated thread on this already please let me know. Thanks yall!

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mzhotniz86 said:

BUMPING because i want to know what updated products are being used to get that swinging shiny silk press. I know the process is to clarify >moisturizing shampoo> deep condition > light leave in?> blowdry (this is where i would like to know what product to use, what kind of heat protectant?) >flat iron (do i use more heat protectant? What kind to make it shiny?). I dont want to weigh the hair down with oil & product but i also dont want dry dull hair. Hmmm

If there is an updated thread on this already please let me know. Thanks yall!

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shortdub78 said:

Design Essentials silk essentials! They have a nice leave-in/blow dry lotion as well. Use lightly, then apply the silk! And you have to use high heat. On my hair, I use 415 degrees with one pass. Using the comb chase method, is just like using the pressing comb. Oh and you need to do the most straightening with the blow dryer. The flat iron shouldn't do most of the work.
Do you plan on being heat trained? I use heat often as a relaxed head, and heat styled monthly as a natural.

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Chicoro said:

@mzhotniz86,
Here are a few things I have found helpful and interesting.

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...est-straightening-method.353011/#post-7505695
(post #24 by zzirvingj) Naturals: What is your best straightening method is title of thread

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...ing-thing-updates-w-pics.354535/#post-7506863
(pics and process explanation again of zzirvingj results)


https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...et-for-perm-straight-hair-in-one-pass.431336/

(Great video with silky, swinging hair!!!)

(Video by Patchouli people reference for Deep Moisture before straightening)
(Video by Patchouli showing other people's results)

(Silky press video)

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...r-with-my-sedu-flatiron.155775/#post-12672291

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/cannot-get-hair-straight-flat-ironing.375807/#post-8084549
(post #9)

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mzhotniz86 said:

Thanks love! Yes im going to start heat training when that new growth bush kicks in lol. Im gonna check these products out bc i love design essentials thanks!

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