Sometimes changing up your hairstyle can be exciting. Especially when you have special occasions or celebrations of any nature where you want to look your best. Now this does not mean that straight hair is the only style that makes you look great. Straightening your hair comes with its advantages and disadvantages. I honestly believe that it is a lot safer to have it relaxed if you want it straight than use a hair straightener. The main reason is that straighteners tend to make afro hair more damaged in general. You also have to make sure that you use the right products in order to minimize hair damage. However, there are ways you can straighten your hair without causing a lot of damage. One of the methods you can use is a silk press.
Silk Press
A silk press is the process of using specific products to make your hair bone straight like you have a relaxer. It has become quite popular nowadays and is a great way to change up your hair routine if you want. The process of getting a silk press is that initially, you have you wash your hair. Any type of shampoo or conditioner will do, however there are some products that are ideal for silk press such as Keracare and chi. After you wash the hair, make sure that it is detangled with a brush. If you want to get the best results, it’s best to use the range in order to get the result you want. Once the wash and blow dry has been done, you blow dry your hair. You can use any type of blow-dryer but your hair must not be wet at all (always make sure to use heat protectant). After the process of blow drying you have to add the silk press no matter which one it is. Once you complete the process, you will get a straightener your hair will just glide through and get really bone straight. When you pass through the straightener it should only be one or two passes. This process works for mostly afro hair types.
If you get a well done silk press, you hair should revert back to its original state once it is washed. A silk press can last up to 2 weeks depending on how active you are and how well you look after it. If you are active, then it’s something that will only last a shorter period for you. Is it worth it, I guess it all depends on what type of occasion you are attending.
Flat Iron
This is another method of straightening your hair. Again it may seem similar to the silk press, however with the flat iron, you don’t use the products for a silk press, more likely a serum. The process of straightening is exactly the same. Make sure that you wash your hair. Again any shampoo or conditioner will do. Make sure before you blow dry that you detangle your hair with a brush. Then you can put the serum before you blow dry your hair. Once your hair has been blow dryed, then section it into four depending on the thickness of your hair. Then when you straighten, make sure you use the tail comb as that will help with the process of straightening. It does take some time to get this done, however if you want results this is one of the best methods.
Now it may seem like the silk-press and flat-iron would be exactly the same processes however there are a few differences.
Straightening – No heat method
This one can be quite tricky especially if your hair is quite kinky and thick, however it works if you have some type of hair dryer. I have tried the method however I find that because my hair is curly, it dries and still has the curls so the tip is making sure that when you brush it, before you put the rollers, it’s a lot smoother. I would advise that after you wash your hair, just stretch your hair if it’s curly, you can braid it or use the threading method which will help in straightening it without any heat. Make sure that you put moisturizer during this process so that when you have take out your thread or braid it’s straightened as naturally as possible. Once you start the process of the rollers, you can use any oils that work well on your hair. This process is time-consuming however once you get it done, you may have to keep the rollers in your hair for some time. If you have the hair dryer, the process can be shortened.
Once you take out your rollers, you will find that your hair has a great style and you can comb it to your satisfaction, depending on the style that you want. This is a heat free way of straightening your hair and making sure that it is in good condition.
Banding method
Depending on the length of your hair, the banding method is a great way to straighten your hair if you want to straighten it without heat. If you want results like the silk-press or flat-iron type, then you will be disappointed. This will help elongate your hair if you don’t want it in the shrunken state. Make sure that when you part it, that the bottom is not too tight. If you want it to look neater, you can use some edge control if you want, however depending on your hair-type, it may not be necessary.
Your hair does not have to be dry it’s a good idea to moisturize it as well. This is a more comfortable method if you don’t want to sleep with rollers on your head and it will still straighten your hair with little to no damage at all. You can actually comb out your hair without any struggle.
At the end of the day you have to make sure that you are not damaging your hair. I would recommend a silk press or flat iron once a year or even every six months and also for use when you want to trim your hair. These should not me methods that you use all the time. If you want a constant silk press look like I mentioned at the beginning, it’s best then to think of relaxing your hair because that would be a better option for you. I have kept my hair relaxer free for more than 10 years now and I know that some individuals cannot do that, however if you want to keep it natural you need to learn how to look after it. If you don’t have time to experiment then try to find something that works for it. It may be braids, weaves or wigs. The options are endless.
What method of hair straightening have you tried? I tried the silk-press once, it looked great however after a few months I needed to cut most of my hair as I actually got some heats damage. I have not attempted to straighten my hair in a long time, but that was something I had to learn over the process of looking after my hair. If you want maximum growth, you have to really be patient and consistent with your routine. It’s not easy but if you develop a habit, then it becomes as easy as breathing.
