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Byrdie / Michela Buttignol
A trip to the hair salon was a right of passage for young Black girls in the ‘90s and 2000s. But since then, there’s been an influx of hair care brands making it easy to recreate the shiny silk press look from the comfort of your own bathroom. “Until now, there haven't been any convenient tools for non-hair experts to recreate the look at home, so it’s something Black girls have had to do,” Kimberly Kimble, hair expert and stylist to celebrities like Beyoncé and Zendaya explains. “Luckily, with new innovative tools and hair treatments, the process can be made simpler at-home.”
Final Verdict
We love the Pattern Blow Dryer, which has multi-use attachments that lock in place and works at a safe temperature and can be used when styling curly and straight hair, alike. We also love the ghd Platinum Styler Flat Iron, a fantastic hot tool that’s pre-set to a healthy heat to ensure you don’t fry your tresses.
From a wide range of products to the endless amount of resources readily available thanks to the Internet, there are a myriad of ways that you can safely straighten their hair without damaging your curl pattern in the process. While a regular visit to the salon is always best to ensure your hair is as well taken care of, with the proper technique alongside an arsenal of products (think, quality flat iron, deep conditioner, an anti-frizz serum, strengthening oil, etc.) your DIY silk press can last just as long and look (almost) as good as it would post appointment
Just ahead, Kimble breaks down the process, offering readers tips and tricks to getting a healthy and well-behaving bouncy blowout. Keep reading for the best silk press products currently on the market.
Best Shampoo
Ouai Detox Shampoo
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Sephora
Cruelty-free
Well suited for all hair types
Increases shine
Mild scent
Expensive
Clean hair is the first step in perfecting an at-home silk press, and Ouai’s detox shampoo has the power to get the job done. Its silky smooth formula helps remove the product built up on the scalp in between washes, without stripping hair of natural oils—giving you the clean slate needed for your ideal iron out. The light floral scent is a nice finishing touch.
Type: Shampoo | Key Ingredients: Apple cider vinegar | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Conditioner
Ceremonia Cupuaçu & Castor Deep Hydrating Conditioner
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Sephora
Clean formula
Sulfate free
Works on all hair textures
Decreases frizz
Great for dryness
Safe for colored hair
Strong earthy scent
Beloved by the natural community, Ceremonia’s deeply hydrating conditioner is a great way to treat your hair, especially before (and after) putting heat on it. Its clean formula is great for moisturizing all hair textures, eliminating frizz in the process.
Type: Conditioner | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, castor oil, Cupuaçu | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Anti-Frizz Product
Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade
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Aveda
Repels moisture to prevent frizziness
Lightweight satiny formula
A little bit goes a long way
Cruelty free
Paraban, sulfate, and phthalate free
Can weigh down hair
If you’re looking to prevent your silk press from swelling as a result of the weather, Aveda’s anti-humectant pomade comes highly recommended by Brooklyn-based stylist Marq of H2Salon. Apart from suggesting his regulars add it to their haircare collection, he also uses it on his clients as a finishing touch after each visit.
Type: Styling product | Key Ingredients: Castor seed oil | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Straightener
ghd Platinum+ Styler - 1" Flat Iron, Grand-Luxe Collection
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Dermstore
Single-pass styling
Heats up quickly
Snag free
Increases shine and reduces heat damage
Pre-set temperature
Ghd’s platinum flat iron truly has it all. The highly-coveted hair tool heats up to a healthy 356-degrees in 20 seconds. It has a sleek gold exterior and a 1-inch barrel that’s just as great for creating bouncy curls as it is perfecting your at-home silk press. We love that it comes with a heat resistant, protective plate guard to prevent you from getting burned while using it.
Type: Hot tool
Best Blow Dryer
PATTERN Blow Dryer
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PATTERN
Multi-use attachments that lock in place
Safe temperatures
Some reviewers note dryer can get hot to the touch
Like all Pattern products, this new blow dryer is designed with those that have coily, curly, and tightly-textured hair types in mind. It comes complete with four multi-use options to ensure your hair is protected regardless of your desired hair style. But when it comes to perfecting your next silk press, the thin nozzle and tooth comb attachments will provide the utmost precision. We love that it comes with a brush, diffuser, wide tooth comb, and nozzle attachments, meaning it can be used when styling curly and straight hair, alike.
Type: Hot tool
Best Finishing Spray
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Finishing Mist
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Dermstore
Tames flyaway hairs
Can weigh down already oily hair
Created by award-winning stylist Charlotte Mensah as a part of her eponymous haircare line, the manketti oil spray is made to be the final step in your silk press process as a way to combat frizz and flyaways. It has a warm, earthy smell that is noticeable but not overpowering. After applying the mist, be sure to let it dry for two to three minutes to let it set into your hair.
Type: Styling product | Key Ingredients: Manketti nut oil, ximenia oil, and Vitamin E | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Hair Oil
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
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Ulta
Promotes growth
Strengthens hair
Nourishes scalp
Smoothes split ends
Invigorating sensation upon application
Can weight down already oily hair
Mielle’s viral product features a cocktail of more than 30 essential oils and nutrients to nourish your scalp. Infused with biotin to stimulate hair growth, the almost always sold out oil can be used daily or less frequently in treatment form. Even better, you can find it at most retailers (Target, Walgreens, Ulta and more) for under $10.
Type: Hair oil | Key Ingredients: Manketti nut oil, ximenia oil, and Vitamin E | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Silk Pillowcase
Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
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Sephora
Wide range of colors
Reduces breakage and damage
Pure silk
Expensive
Difficult to clean
Slip’s silk pillowcases come highly recommended by both dermatologists and stylists, alike. According to Slip, it elevates the concept of “beauty sleep” by reducing the chance of hair breakage, as 95 percent of consumers argue there’s also been a notable difference in sleep lines, wrinkles, and creases.
Type: Silk pillowcase
Best Bonnet
Pattern Satin Cap
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Pattern Beauty
Prevents hair damage
Smooth satin exterior
Doesn't slip
Leaves marks on skin
Apart from its extensive collection of products, Pattern is also revered for its line of hair accessories–such as claw clips, scrunchies, and bonnets. The brand’s satin cap in particular is made from two durable layers of black satin with elasticated sides, keeping it placed securely on your head.
Type: Satin bonnet
Best Hair Scarf
Amazon Stay on Satin Hair Wrap
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Amazon
Affordable
Available at a range of retailers
Can be difficult if you don't know how to tie it
Protecting your hair while you sleep is an integral part to maintaining a fresh silk press. Wrapping technique aside, what you put on your head to keep your locks in place at night makes all the difference. Thankfully, you can’t go wrong with a classic satin durag or hair wrap, found at your local beauty supply store or this one on Amazon that has more than 1K positive reviews. And if you’re not sure how to wrap your tresses to ensure longevity, there are a slew of creators on TikTok and YouTube that you can refer back to.
Type: Hair scarf
Best Detangling Brush
Tangle Teezer Naturally Curly Brush
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Tangle Teezer
Gentle design
Detangles while keeping curls in tact
Can only be used on wet hair
Those with thicker hair know the struggle of finding a detangling tool that actually works. Designed specifically with tighter curls in mind, Tangle Teezer’s brush is great for those with 3C -4C hair. It’s tough on tangles without tearing the hair.
Type: Brush
Best Hair Clips
Drybar Hold Me Hair Clips
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Sephora
Alligator haw design prevents slipping
Works on wet and dry hair
Can be delicate
The key to getting a salon-quality silk press at home is precision and sectioning your hair off ahead of straightening will help you be as precise as possible. Available in a four-pack, its alligator jaw design is made to prevent slipping and keep a wide range of hair types and textures in place.
Type: Hair clip
Best Dry Shampoo
Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo
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Sephora
Extends silk press and blowout
Absorbs product and oil build up
No residue
Fresh scent
Expensive
Part of ensuring your silk press lasts is ensuring you have items on hand that will make it feel as silky as it did on day one. On that list is a quality dry shampoo to break down oil and product buildup on the spot, without stripping the hair. Invest in the travel size, too, to give your do a refresh while on the go.
Type: Dry shampoo | Key Ingredients: Starch, glycerin, biotin | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Hair Fragrance
Moroccanoil Hair and Body Fragrance Mist
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Moroccanoil
Refreshing scent
Offers UV protection from harmful sun rays
Sulfate and paraben free
Multi-use product that can be used on your body, too
Requires multiple applications
Like dry shampoo, hair fragrance is key in extending the life of your silk press. To keep your hairstyle smelling fresh, Morrocanoil’s mist offers a light, natural scent that’s subtle and won’t weigh your hair down. What’s even better is that it doubles as a body and face oil too, making it totally worth the cost per wear.
Type: Hair fragrance| Active Ingredients: Vitamin E, argan oil | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
We love the Pattern Blow Dryer, which has multi-use attachments that lock in place and works at a safe temperature and can be used when styling curly and straight hair, alike. We also love the ghd Platinum Styler Flat Iron, a fantastic hot tool that’s pre-set to a healthy heat to ensure you don’t fry your tresses.
Meet the Expert
Kimberly Kimble is a hair expert and stylist to celebrities like Beyoncé and Zendaya.
What to Look For in Products For Silk Presses
Quality Deep Conditioner
Before hitting the heating tools to get those silky tresses, your hair should be as moisturized as possible. A deep conditioning treatment made for Black hair, especially one doubled up with a conditioning cap, is the simplest way to pack an extra dose of moisture into your hair as you prep for the press.
Hard-Working Heat Protectant
The key to keeping your curls healthy during the silk press process is having a substantial heat protecting serum on hand. By creating a barrier between your strands and the plates of your flat iron ahead of picking up the straightener, you’re minimizing the damage before it happens.
Temperature-Control Flat Iron
There are many flat irons made with natural hair in mind. This tool is the number one most important part of a blowout for a silky, shiny look, as it is its heat processing that temporarily changes your hair's texture. We love the ghd straightener listed in this roundup because it comes with a safe pre-set temperature.
Oil-Containing Anti-Frizz Product
By using an anti-frizz serum during the styling process, and later if needed, you're taking a proactive step to prevent frizz before it happens. But because Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade is super lightweight, you can also apply it after you’re finished without fear of it weighing your hair down. Chances are you’ll likely need more of it, and more often, in wet and humid weather than in warmer, drier temps.
Double-Lined Bonnet
From a young age, Black people are taught the importance of donning a sleep cap or bonnet for bed to protect our curls. When it comes to selecting a style, consider going for a double-lined option made from satin or silk to protect your silk press from frizzing or getting tangled overnight.
Why Trust Byrdie
Shelby Ying Hyde is a Byrdie contributor who writes for Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The Zoe Report, and more. She considered dozens of silk press products for this story before landing on these expert-recommended options.
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