Easy Hair Tutorial: How to Do a Silk Press

Just Michelle
by Just Michelle
4 Materials
$10
3 Hours
Easy

Today, I’m going to show you how to do a silk press at home. I’ll be doing this silk press on short 4c hair. Let’s jump right into it.

Tools and materials:

  • Heat protectant
  • Flat iron
  • Blow dryer
  • Comb
Sectioning hair

1. Section your hair

Section your hair to prepare it for blow drying. I like to work in sections because it makes it easier so you don’t miss any strands.

Applying heat protectant

2. Apply heat protectant

Apply heat protectant to your hair. This is such an important step because you don’t want heat damage. You need to protect your hair.

Blow drying hair

3. Blow dry your hair

Blow dry your hair. I work from the root up, so I make sure to get the roots and then work my way right up to the top to make sure I have an even distribution of straight hair.


I do this all over my hair, working in small sections so I don’t miss any spots. 

Progress shot

This is what one side of my hair looks like.


Look at the shrinkage from one side to the other! This is what you want to go for: A fluffy, blow-dry.


It should be easy to work with, so when you run the straightener through your hair, it’s not too difficult.

Twisting hair

4. Twist your hair out of the way as you work

I twist my hair to keep it out of the way as I blow dry, so it’s really easy to work with. 

Twists in Bantu knots

You can put it up in hair ties or use rubber bands, but I prefer to twist it around and make little Bantu knots.

Sectioning hair

5. Divide your hair into thin sections

Once you’re done blow-drying, divide your hair into really thin sections.

Straightening hair

6. Straighten your hair

Run a comb through your hair just before you straighten it.


This method is really good because it makes sure there are no knots or tangles in your hair before you straighten it, making the straightening more effective. 

Straightening hair

I do this for my entire head. It can be quite time-consuming when you first start, but I found the second half of my head to be so much easier to do.

Styling

7. Styling

Let’s jump into styling. I like to create curls with a flat iron by running it through my hair at an angle and curling it.


This creates these bouncy curls.

How to do a silk press: DIY silk press

How to do a silk press

Here’s the finished DIY silk press! I love the outcome of this hair, especially the curls.


Let me know what you think about this method down below!


More for hair content, check out my post on How to Do Box Braids on Short Natural Hair.

Suggested materials:
  • Heat protectant
  • Flat iron
  • Blow dryer
See all materials

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Comments
Join the conversation
 2 comments
  • EILEEN HOBKIRK EILEEN HOBKIRK on Feb 03, 2023

    What on earth is a Silk Press? Never heard of it.

  • Ginger Ginger on Feb 04, 2023

    A silk press is a method used by pressing the hair with a flat iron to make it silky smooth. All stylists use it and is heavily used at home too.

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