If you’re paying attention, you may notice a slight nippiness in the air, a subtle splash of color on the trees, and the gradual emergence of pumpkin-flavored everything—that’s right! It’s finally silk press season since fall has finally arrived. As someone who’s worn their hair naturally but in protective styles since transitioning from the chemically treated hair of my childhood years, I’ve been itching to try my hand at a silk press (or more realistically, finally venturing to a salon to get it done by someone who’s a pro at working with natural hair patterns).
I’ll admit I’ve been hesitant to use any heat on my curls despite a deep desire to see once and for all how much growth has occurred since my big chop in October 2020. Now, three years later, I’ve finally decided it’s time I give it a shot. As long as I’m living in the rainy Pacific Northwest, protecting my new hair style from humidity while also protecting my strands from heat is my number one priority. Below, you’ll find 15 products heralded as silk press protectors I’m planning on adding to my haircare routine before the season draws to a close.
This spray went viral on TikTok last spring and has yet to fall out of favor with the app’s Gen Z clientele. Using heat-activated polymer technology, it smooths and silken the hair while blocking humidity and preventing frizz. Customer review: “This product is transformative! I have fine, wavy/curly, color-treated hair and I live in a rainy climate. Frizz is gone and it holds the style for days for every 3 shampoos. Follow the instructions and it works.”
Living Proof’s dry conditioning spray tames up to 92% of frizz while replenishing your hair’s natural oils. It can also be used to refresh dull hair in between shampoos. In other words, this one’s a must-have in my silk press routine. Customer review: “Must have product to keep the frizz at bay! I use this product daily after blow drying my hair and I love it. It keeps the frizz away and makes my hair look healthy!”
Using a blend of almond protein and jasmine flower, Nexxus’s cream-based hair serum blocks up to 98% humidity in addition to smoothing away frizz, taming flyaways, and reviving dry strands for salon-quality results. Customer review: “I have tried so many products for my hair, and this is by far one of my favorites. It makes my hair so smooth and shiny, it looks and smells amazing. I usually apply it to my hair after I have blowdried it, I found it to work the best this way for me.”
If you’ve been keeping up with my hair stories, this one shouldn’t surprise you. (I’m obsessed.) Color Wow’s unique hybrid oil-and-serum formula addresses frizz and flyaways while adding shine and enhancing long-lasting color vibrancy for all hair types. Customer review: “I have mixed texture, wavy hair with a lot of grey, it’s tough to tame. This product is great when air drying or styling. Helps reduce frizz and provides shine. Light scent and awesome gel consistency makes it light and residue free.”
Without a doubt, one of the toughest parts of silk press maintenance is finding products that can provide protection against heat without weighing down your strands. Design Essential’s lightweight Thermal Strengthening Serum provides shine while sealing the cuticle and locking in moisture. Customer review: “This stuff is perfection in a bottle! I honestly haven’t found anything else that is non-greasy and makes my hair look and feel silky the way this product works. And the best part is it doesn’t weigh your hair down. This is a must have for your hair routine.”
I use this silicone-free cream to smooth frizz and enhance shine while protecting my hair from heat up to 450°F. It’s formulated with rose-hip, argan, and coconut oils to defend strands from free-radical damage as well as to address dryness, seal in moisture, and prevent breakage. Customer review: “This product is wonderful! I have been looking for a heat protectant product and a styling cream, so this fits perfectly. It makes your hair so soft and shiny. I find it pairs well with the Briogeo hair mask too. Lovely—cannot recommend enough!”
If you want your hair to feel like silk, add Kenra’s Silkening Heat Crème to your routine before you do anything else. Not only does it protect your hair from heat damage before, during, and after your silk press, but its formula features Sacha Inchi (a nutrient-rich nut oil) to prevent breakage and improve manageability. Customer review: “I recently added this to my hair care routine…major game changer. Humidity typically messes up my silk presses. But this?! Completely changed the longevity of my silk press. I also used in my extension, it smells good and gives the hair a silky shine while also, protecting your hair.”
Oribe’s ultra-light mist is a thermal protection spray that repairs split ends, softens, strengthens, and nourishes the hair for body and shine. If you’re on the go a lot like I am, the spray is also key to speeding up your dry time. How’s that for a miracle worker? Customer review: “I don’t know what’s in this, but it gives my fine hair fullness and body. I dry with a round brush and the results are amazing. A little goes a long way so even at the higher than average price point, it will last a long time!”
Mizani’s blow-dry styling cream makes styling a silk press easy for weeks after your salon visit thanks to is moisturizing qualities and ability to protect the hair from up to 450°F. It’s also layerable with no curdling or flaking—making the cream easy to incorporate into your haircare routine without having to sacrifice your styling preferences. Customer review: “When I use this in the 1:2 ratio with the styling serum, heat styling my hair is so simple and effective! I’ve used this alone on my hair when I want to blow dry it, and I can see a difference in my results. I love it!”
Kenra’s Platinum Silkening Gloss helps tame frizz and smooth flyaways for a glass-like finish. It’s also mistake-proof! Simply massage two to three pumps of product in your palms and smooth onto the hair in sections (concentrating on the ends). Customer review: “This is the only hair product I swear by. I have very thick hair and only need a few pumps after every wash to feel the difference in texture. I always have a few bottles on hand. Love it!”
This one may be hard to find outside of the salon, but it’s definitely worth the search. Silk Elements’ lightweight, alcohol-free thermal silk styler provides smoothness and shine while protecting the hair from heat damage and improving tool guide (i.e., smooth movement of a hot tool across your strands). Et voilà—salon-worthy hair in seconds! Customer review: “I love this heat protection line. The products work really well together on wet and dry hair. I used the thermal serum with the styling crème on damp hair, blow dried, then used the thermal mist. Would recommend! Not only is my hair very silky feeling, glossy and full of movement, but it smells so so so good!”
If you’ve been on the hunt for a heat-activated blow-dry treatment, you’ve just hit the jackpot. This one provides a shield against frizz for up to 72 hours using plant-derived dual-action technology for smooth, sleek hair. Ideal for all hair types, the spray also defends your hair from harmful UV rays to protect your silk press from the drying effects of the sun. Customer review: “This really helps smooth out my already frizzy hair and helps with the fly aways when I straighten it! I really like that it doesn’t leave my hair feeling oily after using. Plus the scent is amazing!”
Living Proof’s dry shampoo cleans the hair by absorbing soil, sweat, and odor while also adding amble body and texture. It also happens to smell amazing and work well on all hair types (without leaving behind any pesky white residue to distract from your fresh silk press). Customer review: “I use PHD Dry Shampoo all the time and love it. I can go for anywhere between 4-5 days without washing my hair and it still looks great! Can’t live without it and am so happy they offer a travel size too.”
Time will have nothing on your silk press if you add Oribe’s Gold Lust Dry Shampoo to your routine. Why? The translucent dry shampoo absorbs product buildup and oil with a helpful boost of fragrance-retention technology crafted from watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts to keep your hair looking and smelling great. Customer review: “First of all, this smells amazing! Like an expensive perfume. It comes out clear so there is no white film on the hair. It soaks up grease and makes hair look so shiny and healthy!”
Lastly, no silk press withstands the test of time without help from a hydrating oil serum to lock all the good stuff in. I love using Kérastase’s to help boost my hair’s hydration, strength, and shine while combating frizz. It’s also crafted with ultra-hydrating oils to add softness and suppleness. Customer review: “Enhances the look and the color of your hair it’s worth it and the mini last you a long time since the oil goes a long way and your hair smells amazing your hair smells like you came out of the salon.”
