From Kamala Harris-inspired bobs to silky Lindsay Lohan-esque tresses, the season of the silk press (or straighter hairstyles) is officially here! It's been fun watching watching TikTok videos of women going to the salon to get their hair straightened, but it made me ask myself if people truly know how to maintain this style at home. It's one thing to watch a licensed hairstylist work their magic, but the upkeep may not be as straightforward for some people!
Luckily, celebrity hairstylists, Takisha Sturdivant-Drew and Natalie Lamorena, are here to answer all my burning questions. Sturdivant-Drew has over 20 years of experience working in the film and commercial industry, styling clients such as Kerry Washington, Lucy Liu, and Ashley Graham. She also worked on TV series like Suits and the Oscar-nominated film Ray. Lamorena owns Polished Pub Hair & Nail Bar— not to mention she invented the viral "Headicure" service for clients who love the idea of getting a manicure while receiving the best blowout of their lives. And with all that experience, the two of them have plenty to say about silk presses.
Desperate times call for desperate measures when you're due for a hair appointment and can't book one. I'm sure all of us have turned into an armchair hairstylist by giving ourselves a trim, quick haircut, or dye job. You've probably even watched a few tutorials about how to give yourself a homemade silk press or blowout. I know I've recently purchased a few things to help me maintain my hair at home, but should we be straightening our hair at home?
Lamorena says, "While it’s possible to straighten hair at home, I’d recommend going to a professional for the best results. Stylists know how to work with different hair types, adjust heat settings accordingly, and use high-quality products that protect your hair." If we decide to forego a stylist's expertise, she says we can "accidentally cause damage with uneven heat or over-processing."
Sturdivant-Drew agrees that it's best to see a stylist "for the first few silk presses," but it's not impossible to safely straighten your own hair. "If you have the right tools and products, along with research, you can achieve this hairstyle at home," she says.
Just like everyone doesn't have the same skin complexion or undertones, hair types can differ too. This means someone with a fine hair isn't always going to have the same routine as someone with thicker strands — which is why all silk presses aren't the same. "There's definitely no one-size-fits-all approach. The technique used depends on the client’s hair type and texture," Lamorena confirms. This isn't to scare you, however!
Sturdivant-Drew says, "The process of getting a silk press is pretty standard — prepping the hair with shampoo, conditioner, and heat protectant, followed by straightening with a blow dryer and flat iron, and finishing with a lightweight oil or serum."
She and Lamorena do agree that some hair textures require a little more than others though. Lamorena says you could only need "a simple blowout and flat iron" while someone may need "more intensive treatments like keratin or a Brazilian blowout for longer-lasting results." If your hair is very curly or textured — and you're ultimately not seeing the results you want — she says chemically straightening your hair is another option. However, Sturdivant-Drew reminds me, "Stylists usually adjust heat settings based on their client's hair health and texture."
Either way, we always recommend you check with your stylist before making any permanent or lasting decisions!
Getting a silk press doesn't always involve chemicals, but there are still things you need to avoid before your appointment. Unlike the steps you may follow at home, Lamorena wants you to "avoid loading your hair with a bunch of heavy products " because this can "make the straightening process less effective and lead to more heat being used" than you need. Also, she doesn't want you to wash your hair because "natural oils protect your hair from the heat."
It probably goes without saying, but you also shouldn't book a silk press appointment if you've already straightened your hair. "...that can make it harder for the stylist to work with and could increase the risk of damage," says Lamorena. Besides that, Sturdivant-Drew advises against "using color or relaxers should be avoided before getting a silk press" because "this could lead to a lot of breakage."
As gorgeous as silk presses are, it's possible to use "too much heat," according to Lamorena. She says, "People tend to crank up the heat on their flat irons and blow dryers, but that can seriously damage the hair cuticle, especially if your hair is fine or already fragile." Something I've learned over time is that a licensed and experienced hair stylist has better knowledge of what's really going on with our hair. They're able to have a clearer view of your scalp, roots, split ends, and more.
The other thing that contribute to damage is not protecting your hair. Lamorena implores that heat protectant products are "are crucial for minimizing damage." Even if you use the right products, you could be straightening your hair way too often. It's normal to want to have straighter hairstyles for a little while, but you should keep in mind that you don't want to overdo it.
"Not prepping or using a heat protectant on your hair will cause a lot of damage. Silk presses require a lot of heat, so it's best to use good heat protectant," adds Sturdivant-Drew. She personally prefers to use Smooth Moisture's Thermal Hair Strengthener because "their system is built for silk presses specifically." She loves that it truly upholds against heat and "adds a nice shine to the hair" once you apply it.
Here comes the not so fun part. As much as you don't want to hear this, your hair may not be able to handle getting a silk press right now. "If your hair is already damaged, it's best to hold off on straightening. Hair that's brittle, dry, or over-processed can be further damaged by heat styling," says Lamorena. What you can do in the meantime is help strengthen your hair by giving yourself "deep conditioning treatments," according to Lamorena.
This is completely up to you and your stylish, but Lamorena suggests staying away from having your hair straightened "during really humid months...if you're prone to frizz" because "the style may not last as long."
I'm not an expert, but even I know too much of something can become a bad thing. In the case of using excess heat, I can imagine the implications of that over time. Lamorena says, "There's definitely a limit. You don't want to be straightening your hair too often," and shares her rule of thumb for textures:
All hair types are capable of experiencing "long-term damage," but giving "your hair a break between sessions helps maintain its health," Lamorena says.
Sturdivant-Drew stresses, "Taking a break between silk presses is important in allowing your hair to recover and maintain the health of your hair. I recommend limiting your silk presses to every 6-8 weeks."
Even though cooler temperatures means you won't have to fight against possible frizz, you still have to take care of your silk press. "Maintaining a straight style during the fall can be tricky with cooler weather, wind, and dryness in the air, but it’s doable," says Lamorena. She suggests that you use:
"Keeping up with a regular routine and using the right tools and products can really help your style last, even through the challenges that fall weather brings," she says.
No matter what your hair type is, Sturdivant-Drew suggests "wrapping your hair correctly and using a bonnet" as they're "key to maintaining" a silk press. Similar to what Lamorena said earlier, Sturdivant-Drew believes "humidity is your worst enemy...so try to avoid humid environments as best as possible!"
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"Always apply a heat protectant before using any hot tools. Some favorites include Oribe Royal Blowout and Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer," she says.
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"For taming frizz, try an anti-frizz serum like Moroccanoil Treatment," suggests Lamorena. or John Frieda Frizz Ease.
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Another option you can use to beat the frizz is John Frieda's Frizz Ease. It's another one of Lamorena's recommendations that will "help seal in moisture and keep your style sleek even in windy fall weather."
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Lamorena says, "A good leave-in conditioner is key to keeping hair smooth and hydrated; Kérastase Discipline Fluidissime works wonders."
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"To extend your style without washing, use dry shampoo. This is a great option to absorb oil without having to restyle with heat," she says.
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This anti-frizz serum will not only keep humidity from messing up your silk press, but it'll help improve your hair's elasticity over time and will even add an extra boost of shine to it.
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If you decide to straighten your hair at home, you need a good blow dryer that'll work with your texture. Wavytalk has an inexpensive option that comes with a comb attachment, diffuser, and nozzle to help you dry your hair no matter what style you're wearing. It also has the right amount of heat settings that'll lessen the chance you cause any damage.
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Not only do I personally love this heat protectant, so does our Affiliate Writer Meredith Holser! It's been our go-to product whenever we straighten our hair because it truly does a great job of protecting our hair from heat and has a slightly fragrant smell we can't get enough of. In my experience, a little goes a long way so you'll get plenty of uses out of it.
Follow our Amazon storefront to see which hair products we'll always keep in our bathrooms.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
Major spoilers for the last two episodes of Only Murders in the Building season 4!!
Only Murders in the Building season 4 has finally unmasked its killer...and it's the one character I never suspected. After last week's reveal that Marshall was Sazz's stunt protégé, stole her script for theOnly Murders movie, and is behind her death as well as Glen's, the Only Murders in the Building season 4 finale opens with Marshall holding Mabel captive — and somehow it only gets crazier from there.
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After learning Marshall is the killer they've been looking for, Charles is determined to save Mabel, especially since he didn't get to save Sazz. Realizing Marshall has scaled the apartment building in the past, Charles and Oliver wind up on the building's ledge so they can get to her window. And just like the rest of the season, Martin Short absolutely steals the show. One of my favorite lines is, "Charles, you're my ride or die. And my strong preference is to ride." Icon!!
Our favorite comedy duo jumps into Mabel's apartment and starts to fend Marshall off with Eva Longoria's Lady Longoria-19 in 1 Multi-Tool, but it doesn't take long for him to gain the upper hand. Right when he's about to kill the trio, they're saved by Jan of all people, who shoots him in the back from the empty apartment across the courtyard...then reveals she's been hiding in Charles' apartment since we last saw her. (Feel free to take a deep breath to help process that information. I did.)
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With the threat taken care of, Mabel, Oliver, and Charles return to the Only Murders in the Building movie set — which Mabel says now has "mercifully low" cringe levels. Seeing Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis in their element, and our podcast trio getting to honor Sazz's memory is such a well-earned moment for the season. We also get to see the first page of Sazz's script (which features her monologue from the beginning of the episode), on which she says, "When you take your hero on a journey, get him in all kinds of trouble, but land him home safely? Nothing better than that." It looks like our leads have finally landed safely!
The Only Murders in the Building ending features Oliver and Loretta finally getting married before she leaves to film in New Zealand, and Charles and Mabel joining Oliver at the altar. Loretta's walked down the aisle by her son Dickie and Oliver's son Will, which made me WEEPY. Considering Martin Short as Oliver is one of my favorite casting choices of the 21st Century, I am just so happy to see him happy.
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But, like all the seasons before, the finale takes a turn when Sofia Caccimelio tries to hire the trio to find her husband Nicky, a Caputo crime family member who episode 9 tells us is missing. They deny her request, but considering actress Téa Leoni just joined season 5, it looks like she won't be taking no for an answer.
And in the final moments of the Only Murders in the Building season 4 ending, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver finds Lester dead in the fountain! Lester is such a kind and comforting presence in every episode, I can't believe it! (How could you Hulu, HOW COULD YOU?!).
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The Only Murders in the Building season 4 killer is Marshall P. Pope (whose real name is Rex Bailey), supposed screenwriter on the Only Murders movie. He reveals that his dreams of being a writer were always being squashed, and that Sazz was the first person who was ever kind to him.
But when Sazz shows him the only copy of her Only Murders movie, and he realizes just how good it is, he decides to take things into his own hands. He sends the script to Bev Melon at Paramount, and it ends up getting greenlit immediately (which explains why Charles, Oliver, and Mabel are contacted about the movie so abruptly).
When Sazz finds out, she confronts him and says she's going to tell Charles about the stolen script after his Broadway debut. Desperate and suffering a bit of a meltdown, Rex flies to New York and kills her, then puts her body in the incinerator.
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All episodes of Only Murders in the Building season 4 are available to stream on Hulu!
Here's everything you need to know about Only Murders In The Building season 5!
The key to mastering your curls — and making them look like luscious locks, even in the dry fall and winter seasons — is hydration. If your curls are hydrated, then they are looking good. — and that's where leave-in conditioners can really come in and save the day. They help to hydrate the hair and lock in moisture; hence the "leave-in" part. These work their magic overnight, or throughout the day, to ensure that your curls are refreshed and silk smooth!
To understand more about this holy grail beauty product, I chatted with celebrity hairstylist and hair expert, William Whatley! He gave us all his opinions on how to properly treat your curls, plus what we should look for in our leave-in conditioners. Keep reading to see all this top-tier knowledge he dropped!
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When it comes to his number one tip for treating and taking care of curls, Whatley let us know that brushing hair while it’s wet can damage your hair – especially if you have naturally curly hair. When the hair stretches as you brush, it's actually causing more damage.
Whatley explained that your cuticle layer is more exposed if you have curly hair, and if you're brushing that vigorously, you’re disrupting the outer layer of the hair — AKA where all your gorgeous shine usually comes from. If you're constantly damaging your hair with bad brushing habits, this will ultimately make your hair less shiny!
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When you're looking at the leave-in conditioner bottle, Whatley says to always look at the ingredients immediately listed after water. Those will be the predominant ingredients necessary to do the job of either moisturizing, protecting, or adding strength to your damaged hair! Ingredients to look for include:
Whatley also notes that natural extracts or oils will be great in moisturizing or hydrating your hair — which is exactly what we're looking for in a leave-in conditioner for curly hair!
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This non-comedogenic & sulfate free curl defining cream is a great leave-in conditioner to help get rid of frizz and help style your hair while helping tp nourish it at the same time. I love a good multi-use product like this — especially since it also protects against heat if you need to style it with a hot tool.
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This mask is a ride or die favorite of mine! I honestly notice such a significant difference in my hair when I use it. And good news! It works phenomenally for any of my curly-haired gals as well! It's great for curly hair types that are dealing with significant damage or dryness. It will really keep the moisture locked in, and make it look like shiny perfection!
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One ingredient that your hair won't be able to get enough of is argan oil! It's the number one thing people always recommend if you're struggling to bring your hair back to life. So, if you pair that with a leave-in conditioner that soaks and will fully absorb into the hair, then we're off to a great start in our hair repair journey. This one from Cantu is beloved on Amazon with over 13,000 reviews singing its praises!
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If you're looking to repair damage done to your hair, while fixing frizz, then we've got the mask for you! This one from Blueberry Bliss is super popular on Amazon because it also helps to promote hair growth — which we all love, am I right? At only $12, I'd say that's a pretty good deal as well!
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This product is raved, with reviews noting that this leave-in conditioner takes people's notoriously frizzy hair to magically smooth and shiny after use! I love this company because their products really do show results — and quickly. I use their hair growth serum, and holy cow! My hair has never grown that quickly in my life! It's such a good company, so I would definitely recommend using it!.
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I love a mask that will leave your curls super hydrated, and this one will do just that — and I mean seriously hydrated. This mask is meant to specifically target giving your hair an ultimate bounce and shine, so that your tresses comes back to life after the dry, summer heat. It's also paraben free, which we (and your hair) love to hear!
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This hair mask has quite a few great ingredients in it. They include: honey, citrus oil, coconut, and curl-styling milk — all of which will help you not only tackle frizz or unruly hair, but also give your curls that "I can't stop touching my hair" softness. Yes, please!
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A mask that's from 100% pure Jamaican castor oil? That's pretty hard to come by! And it's only $10, so you can grab it for a fantastic deal. It's great at detangling your curls for when they get a little extra unmanagable or have too much of a kink in them.
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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations
We love Halloween here at Brit + Co, I mean really love it. And we also embrace the celebrations in all of their forms, from IRL blow-out bashes to WFH office parties. If you've got a virtual Halloween party to attend on Zoom with your remote team or friends across the country, here's how to get dolled up for the best costuming and celebrating from a Zoom-y distance. Keep reading for fun ways to dress up with wigs, makeup, and festive tops without having to worry about what you've got on the bottom — basically, the costume version of a mullet. Happy Halloween!
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Ahoy, matey! Just grab a red scarf, eyepatch, striped shirt and a fishtail side braid for this classic and super easy costume.
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Stand out with a costume that's part-Ancient Egyptian, part-badass babe. With some eyeliner and well-chosen accessories, you'll be able to craft up a Queen-of-Egypt-inspired Halloween costume that's sure to blow your Zoom party guests away.
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White button down and red polka dot headscarf, easy peasy. For the hair, pin up half of your hair and twist it up into a bun. Then take the rest of your hair and create another bun a little lower on your head. Top the look off with the scarf, and you'll be riveting in no time. :)
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Does Frozen still melt your heart? Be everyone's favorite snow queen with this DIY costume.
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Top off your top knot with a tiara, then add a LBD, pearls, coffee and sunnies.
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We've seen this costume before, but this look is too dang cute to pass up. Especially when all you need is a yellow wig and some craft supplies. Draw out the face onto felt and cut it out, then glue the head piece to a headband. Everything else can be taped to the wig.
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Whether you're going for a clown or a mime vibe, this kinda creepy, kinda cute look will achieve all of your Halloween dreams.
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It's been quite some time since Gaga donned her signature bow, but we'll never get enough of it. Head to our Hair Bow tutorial here for the full how-to.
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Okay, this may be really, really basic, but it is a Halloween staple. Plus, it's the one time of year you can wear all orange, all the time. Grab an orange wigand go!
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Here's an excuse to break out that cute pink wig in your closet. Add a Pink Ladies jacket and bubble gum and you're ready for beauty school!
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You can go with the full Strawberry Shortcake costume or just order a pink wig and bonnet— then add freckles and a pink top and you're Zoom ready!
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If you are looking to really up your costume game and stand out on Zoom, go for this pop art makeup look. Pop on some comic leggings (totally WFH-friendly!) and yellow wig too.
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Don a black lip and eye makeup, then use that same eye makeup or black face paint to create a faux widow's peak. Spooky!
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We are as obsessed with our '80s cartoon characters as we are with wig costumes. For bright pink tresses, Jem is an absolute must!
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This fierce villain oozes style, even if she is totally evil. Use spray hair dye on half of your head, then top off the look with red gloves, a faux fur coat, cigarette holder and a little Dalmatian. Oh, and that evil cackle is essential.
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Every girl's backup costume is also the perfect Zoom costume. We made our ears by attaching black foam ears to a headband, but you can easily find a readymade option at just about any store this time of year. Get the full Black Cat makeup tutorial right here.
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Don a black witch hat and follow this makeup tutorial for this spooky cool green witch.
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The hair hack here is that slick top knot and the crowning tiara, though the key to the whole scene is obviously those crazy eyes. Here's a great tutorial right herefor gals who want to go all out.
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Or go for any of Katy Perry's Dark Horse video costumes with these Brit + Co DIYs.
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This Mad Hatter costume is pretty easy to replicate. Grab a brown jacket from your closet, orange wig and top hat. The thread holster is made by stringing thread spools onto yarn and draping it over the shoulder. The makeup is an understated version inspired by the original, but really easy to recreate. And yes, those are fake eyelashes as eyebrows!
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You can just stay on mute!
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Your co-workers will immediately get the idea once you show up with your pink visor, watercolor swimsuit and bike shorts outfit! They may even get a little jealous!
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"That girl is poison" best describes former botanist turned green seductress Poison Ivy. See how you can DIY this costume here!
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Maybe you prefer to be a bada**, take no prisoners green goddess like Gamora from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. For fun, you can try your hand at method acting by acting like her during your virtual Halloween party. Just try to keep the sarcasm on the lighter side.
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To make things more fun, you and a few co-workers can dress up as Minions! It's a DIY-costume that's inexpensive and funny.
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Hocus Pocus is basically life for the Brit + Co team so it only makes sense to show up to your virtual Halloween party wearing one of the above costumes!
Planning any virtual Halloween gatherings? Share your costumes with us @BritandCo!
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