A Silk Press is a popular, chemical-free way to take Afro/ textured hair from curly to straight - here's how with BaBylissPRO ambassador Michelle Sultan.
"It seems like the word on everyone’s lips right now is ‘silk press’," explains Michelle Sultan. "And although it’s a technique that’s been around for decades, I believe it’s something that all stylists should have in their skillset."
Keep scrolling to see the BTS clips and video!
The Technique
On freshly washed hair, using correct heat protection, a hairdryer and flat iron, a silk press creates smooth hair that moves and isn't weighed down.
Start by sectioning freshly washed hair into smaller, manageable sections. Apply a heat protection and moisture spray (avoid heavy oils, as these will leave hair greasy and cause strands to separate).
Use the new FALCO hairdryer on the medium heat setting to remove water from the hair first, and then use the dryer's pik attachment to gently stretch the hair until it's dry and smooth.
Next, change the pik attachment to a nozzle, and use a round brush to smooth and stretch the hair, creating lift and body.
Once the hair is as smooth as possible with the hairdryer, use the new BaBylissPRO styler to further smooth smaller sections, making sure to use heat protection.
The STILISTA allows for smoothing without needing to go over the same section repeatedly (usually one to two passes are enough). Adjust the temperature accordingly; do not start on the highest heat setting. If needed, adjust based on hair type.
Key Products
NEW BaByliss PRO STILISTA
BaBylissPRO FALCO dryer (with pik and nozzle attachments)
Top Tips
1. Always work with freshly washed hair, and make sure you detangle the hair well before applying any heat to avoid damage.
2. The Pik attachment will remove all of the hard work for you... this allows for easy gliding before using the flat iron to press the hair.
3. This is called a silk press, so the hair should look and feel like silk. Do not use heavy oils or sprays, as they will weigh the hair down.
This is a collaboration between BaByliss PRO and Hairdressers Journal and first appeared in the September 2024 issue of HJ.
