Microbraids can be very drying since the added hair absorbs a lot of moisture from your own hair. At some point, your hair will stop responding to the heat, whether it’s straight or not. You can generally expect more volume with a Dominican Blowout than a silk press. For one, the mandatory rollersetting step in a Dominican Blowout adds more volume to the end look.

Silk presses work on 4C and all other thick and curly hair types. If you’re concerned about whether your stylist can work with your hair texture, ask if they’ve had experience with doing a silk press on 4C hair. Any photos from their portfolio or even recommendations from loved ones with similar hair types can help you get a better idea of their experience. Stylists use different types of brushes and attachments while blow-drying. While every stylist has their preferred hair dryer, the Dyson Supersonic holds up to the hype of cutting drying time in half and controlling heat flow to minimize damage. It also offers a selection of styling attachments that make it physically easier to get the blowout job done on different hair types and textures.

Ahead, I reached out to Kerry Joly, a NYC-based hairstylist, to get all the deets on the styling process. Hey guys,I needed a little break from all of my new growth so I decided to give myself a DIY Salon silk press! If you have shorter hair, Bennett tells clients to use flexible curling rods or a comb and hair pins to curl strands into place and add a bit of jaiho token volume. The perfect solution to recover your damaged hair, Extreme Repair, acts deep in the fibre, recovering the hair from root to tip. Remember to use keratin products with a nutritious diet to increase protein production and improve the health of your hair. First off, there is absolutely no connection between any of these treatments and a relaxer service.

For example, your appointment may be longer if you’re getting a full cut and style. Even if you weren’t planning on getting a haircut, now would be the perfect time to consider trimming your split ends. This is also the step where you can get any curls or waves styled in your hair. Once your stylist is done, you’ll be left with silky-smooth hair with lots of body and volume. You can also look into pre-poo treatments to give your hair extra protection and nourishment. You’d incorporate pre-poo after the clarifying shampoo and before the moisturizing shampoo.

Once your mane is flat-ironed to your desired effect, all you need is a touch of hairspray to lock it all in. Grab the L’Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold, Light Hairspray Unscented and mist the spray evenly over your hair and you’re done. “When shampooing, it’s great to start with a mild clarifying shampoo to remove clogs, dirt, and oils,” says Lee. Le’Ana McKnight is a premiere celebrity hairstylist with West Hollywood’s Stylist Lee Studios.

Joly recommends opting for a sulfate-free shampoo that will hydrate your hair without stripping your curls dry. You need extra-clean hair to make sure there’s no lingering residue or oil buildup, so wash your hair at least twice, says Joly. Silk presses are worth it if you want silky-smooth hair without using a ton of chemicals.

Next, use our Moisture-Rich Conditioner With Manuka Honey & Avocado to stimulate a deep-conditioning process. You can do this by letting this mixture on your afro hair sit on your hair for around 30 minutes with the use of a shower cap. It doesn’t damage your curl pattern like a keratin treatment or relaxer would do, and it involves minimal heat damage. Additionally, unlike a relaxer, keratin treatment, or basic blowout, which can damage your curl pattern, a silk press will add volume and shine to your natural hair. While many would opt to go to the salon for a silk press treatment, you can also DIY this process by doing it at home.

If exposure to humidity is unavoidable (i.e. a tropical vacay), it may not be worth getting a silk press. Spray your hair with a hair hold to keep the style in place. You can also spray on some hair shine spray to make that silk press shine! In addition to this, you can use some edge control to lay your edges.

Also, if you sweat in your scalp your hair will also start curling back up. One of the easiest ways to keep your silk press intact is to pin-curl your hair at night to maintain a bouncy mane. Simply part your hair into sections that are about an inch in size. Take the end of one of the sections, tuck your hair around one of your fingers and roll up until you reach the roots. Secure it with a bobby pin and repeat until you have a mane full of pin curls. This is then followed by an optional but recommended deep moisture treatment, which involves being under the hooded dryer for around 20 minutes.