Achieving a flawless, sleek silk press on 4C hair takes some skill and without a doubt, practice. Curious to learn? In this article, we’ll guide you through a step-by-step process to attain a beautiful silk press while maintaining the integrity of your 4C hair texture.
A silk press on 4C hair goes beyond being just a hairstyle; it showcases the versatile nature of 4C hair as it transforms from those beautiful curls to unveiling a glossy and sleek mane while still honoring and embracing your unique texture.
Now, let’s delve into the key steps on how to master the art of achieving a perfect silk press on your 4C hair.
How To Do a Silk Press in 4C Hair
Step 1: Start with Cleansing
It all starts with clean hair which sets the stage for a smooth straightening process.
Further, this ensures the hairstyle stays neat, clean, and healthy while rocking it.
Use a sulfate-free clarifying shampoo to get rid of all dirt, grease, and build-up on your hair. Gently massage the sulfate-free clarifying shampoo into your scalp. The massaging action not only cleanses your scalp but also stimulates blood circulation, promoting a healthier environment for your hair to thrive.
Pay extra attention to the roots and ends of your hair, ensuring every strand is treated to the clarifying goodness. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, allowing the shampoo to wash away any dirt, grease, or build-up.
Step 2: Deep Condition
As we all know, heat causes immense stress to the hair; therefore, deep conditioning protects your hair from excessive heat damage while restoring moisture as well. Additionally, after you wash the hair with a clarifying shampoo, which strips some natural oils, deep conditioning brings back the moisture it craves for a shiny silk press.
Apply the deep conditioner on damp hair, massaging it from the scalp towards the ends. Cover the hair for 30 to 45 minutes to yield maximum results from the treatment.
If you love home remedies, consider using a DIY deep conditioning hair mask with nourishing ingredients such as Avocado, Fenugreek, Mayo, honey, among others. This natural blend can provide extra moisture, further enhancing the silk press results.
Step 3: Gently Detangle
The next critical step in preparing to do a silk press on 4C hair is to gently detangle your hair. This helps prevent knots and tangles that can make blow-drying challenging. Pressing tangled hair will only lead to breakage.
Take your time when detangling; gently run your fingers through your hair, feeling for any tangles, and remove them.
Why use the fingers to detangle? Finger detangling is preferred because it’s more gently on the thus significantly reducing the chances of breaking your hair. Read this article to learn more about how to detangle 4C hair without breaking it.
Detangle your hair in sections to make it easier and ensure you have covered all sections. You may also opt to use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your 4C hair, just ensure you are very gentle.
Step 4: Apply a Heat Protectant
Heat protection products create a barrier that absorbs and disperses the heat, ensuring your strands stay strong, smooth, and shiny, even after a fierce battle with the flat iron. So, think of heat protection as your hair’s loyal sidekick, always ready to step in and save the day during the silky-smooth transformation of a silk press
Using heat protection during a silk press is like giving your hair a superhero shield. Imagine your hair as a delicate flower, and the flat iron as a powerful sun. Heat protection is like a magical force field that shields the hair from the intense heat.
Step 5: Section the Hair
Divide your hair into smaller sections before blow drying. This allows for efficient airflow and reduces drying time. It minimizes exposure to excessive heat and prevents knots and tangles as you blow dry.
Step 6: Blow Dry
The beauty of a Silk Press lies in how well you blow-dry the hair. Ensure there is no moisture left on the hair as we need completely dry hair before hitting the flat iron. When blow drying start from the roots to the ends, stretching the hair as much as possible to keep it straight.
Step 7: Flat Iron Using Minimal Passes
Flat iron should be done minimally as too many passes will actually damage your hair. Do it slowly and steadily. The flat iron should be on a low heat setting to protect your strands from extreme heat.
Here is a visual tutorial by LaDonna for those who prefer video. She must be doing something special because the results are beyond beautiful!
Step 8: Apply a Light-weight Serum or Oil
Light oils such as grapeseed, argan, or jojoba are recommended because they make curling the hair easy, enhancing volume, and providing long-lasting hold.
Serums are essential for smoothing any frizz and enhancing shine to your curls. Who wants greasy hair while wearing this beautiful style?
Step 9: Trim and Style
Silk press works best with trimmed hair. Trim the hair evenly at the ends getting rid of any split ends. Trimming gives the hair a bouncy, neat look. Using a curling iron, start from the roots working slowly to the ends creating the coils and curls that we all admire.
To keep the Silk press in place, spray your hair with holding products. Do not forget to also spray hair shine to give it a glow. Use edge control to lay the edges.
The beauty of silk press is the versatility of styling. You can rock the Classic silk press, Flicked ends, Layered silk press, and deep waves. You can even silk-press colored hair!
Step 10: Maintain
A well-done silk press can last up to 2 weeks depending on how to maintain it. Avoid or minimize exposure to water or steam by wearing a shower cap when bathing or swimming.
Water causes the 4C hair to shrink losing the Silk press appeal. Cover your hair with a satin/silk scarf when sleeping to maintain the style. Never apply any other styling products to silk-pressed hair as this makes the hair greasier.
How Long Does a Silk Press Last On 4C Hair?
On average, a well-executed silk press can last anywhere from one to 2 weeks on 4C hair. To maximize the lifespan of your silk press, consider the following tips:
- Wrap your hair at night: Before you go to bed, wrap your hair with a silk or satin scarf to protect it from friction and preserve the sleekness.
- Avoid Moisture: excessive exposure to humidity or moisture can revert your straightened hair back to its natural state.
- Use a shower cap: Sounds obvious but it’s always good to be reminded, use a shower cap to shield your hair from steam and moisture. This extra layer of protection helps in preserving the silk press.
- Avoid excessive styling: Limit the use of heat styling tools and other styling products to reduce the risk of damage and maintain the silkiness.
- Touch-up your silk press: For an extended silk press, consider a touch-up with a flat iron on the roots or areas that may have lost their smoothness.
How Often Should 4C Hair Be Silk Pressed?
There are varied views on how often to silk press 4C hair but in our view, silk pressing 4C hair should not be done too frequently. To prevent breakage, it’s best to limit silk presses to at most 3 times a year.
The frequency ultimately depends on your personal preferences and how well your hair responds to the process.
Keep in mind that your 4C hair requires extra care, and allowing sufficient time between silk presses helps maintain its natural strength. Ultimately, listen to your hair’s needs and adjust the frequency accordingly.
