What Is a Silk Press? A Breakdown of VP Kamala Harris’ Go-To Hairstyle (2024)

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As a Black woman who grew up in Louisiana, a silk press will always bring a smile to my face. I remember feeling excited chills when my mom would drop me off for my standing Thursday hair appointment. I felt so beautiful (and grown) when my stylist, Andrea, would blow out my strands, go over my edges with a hot comb, before giving me body and bounce with a flat iron. I would leave the salon with my confidence on 10, my tresses blowing in the wind. When I moved away from home, to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., I remained loyal to the silk press, finding a hairstylist on U Street who was just as good as Andrea at making my hair look like satin.

I wasn’t alone in this experience, of course. The salon was packed with my Howard friends and classmates, who had also been getting silk presses since they were children. Some of us, including myself, even learned how to do silk presses in the dorm—especially for big events like Homecoming or Spring Fest. Having your hair laid was a must at all times. While I’ve tried out different hairstyles through the years, like box braids, sew-ins, natural looks, and my go-to slicked-back bun (when I’m feeling lazy), there’s nothing like a good silk press. As an adult living in New York City, I never pass up the opportunity to get my hair done, and I still feel giddy when my current stylist Karen (in Brooklyn) turns the chair around to reveal the glossy magic she created on my mane.

While silk presses have been around for decades, the technique has been a trending topic over the last few years thanks to Vice President Kamala Harris, who also graduated from Howard University. (Come on, representation!) Madame VP has been hailed the queen of silk presses (alongside Queen Latifah, of course) since she’s always spotted with perfectly polished tresses that are usually parted to the side and finished with springy curls or flipped-up ends. In a 2023 episode of Keke Palmer’s “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer” podcast, Harris explained that she achieves her signature look with only a round brush.

The reveal shocked Palmer and the world, considering the method usually requires a bit more heat. Following the interview, searches for “silk presses near me,” “how to maintain a silk press,” and “what is a silk press?” spiked tremendously. The style has continued to trend throughout Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign.

If you’re curious about a silk press, need some help perfecting it, or just want to better understand the hype, I’ve tapped a few experts to break it all down.

What Is a Silk Press?

For the longest, I thought a silk press was a type of hairstyle, but it’s actually a technique. “It’s the silkening of the hair without harsh chemicals, normally with a flat iron, coupled with a hot comb,” Derrick Monroe, a three-time Emmy nominated hairstylist based in New York City, tells StyleCaster. Many confuse a silk press with a traditional blowout, but the difference is in the “body and texture,” according to Monroe. “Blowouts tend to smooth the hair but they don’t always get the hair bone straight. Silk presses tend to be sleeker and normally use a bit more heat.”

Celebrity hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant-Drew—whose client list includes Tessa Thompson, Misty Copeland, and Naomi Ackie—echoed similar sentiments, adding that the key to a silk press is “beautiful shine.”

How to Achieve a Silk Press?

For Sturdivant-Drew, accomplishing the look comes down to the products used. She leans heavily on the line Smooth Moisture, specifically the Moisturizing Shampoo, Leave-In Conditioner, and the Thermal Hair Strengthener, which all work to nourish and protect the hair “without using any harsh chemicals,” Sturdivant-Drew says. Glam pro Kendra Garvey, who has worked her magic on Kerry Washington, Tia Mowry, Sanaa Lathan, and Storm Reid, emphasized Sturdivant-Drew’s message, telling StyleCaster “the best hairstyling looks start at the shampoo bowl.”

“Product knowledge is key and should aid in achieving a silk press. Since the technique uses a lot of heat to achieve the flat, silky look, you’ll need moisturizing products that seal your strands,” Garvey adds. When doing a silk press, Garvey’s process starts with shampoo and conditioner, followed by a leave-in conditioner, and heat protectant before going in with a blow dryer. Next, she uses a flat iron and then seals the style with an oil or straightening serum. (My personal favorites are the CHI Infra Silk Infusion and the Color Wow Extra Strength Dream Coat.)

How to Maintain a Silk Press?

Sometimes it can be hard to achieve that first-day look after getting a silk press, which is why Monroe suggests prioritizing “wrapping the hair at night—and while exercising—using a silk or satin scarf.” Furthermore, “use light oils or shine sprays to maintain silkiness without weighing the hair down.”

In the event that you need to reapply heat, Monroe says, “use a flat iron at a very low setting.”