If you’re seeking guidance on maintaining your hair’s moisture and health, you’re in the right place. Allow me to share my experience of a silk press. On a delightful spring day, I eagerly anticipated a rejuvenating silk press. With a desire for hydrated, lightweight, and smooth hair, I got an appointment at the renowned Bumble and Bumble hair salon in Meatpacking District in New York.

I was fortunate to be paired with the esteemed Bumble and bumble partner and editorial stylist Felicia Burrows. Her expertise, honed through styling for fashion runways of esteemed brands like Pat McGrath, Moschino, Tom Ford, and more, assured me of the quality of her advice.

Felicia started by examining my hair and assessing its needs. She then recommended a few products that would help to hydrate and nourish my hair. She decided we should do the Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil line on my hair to ensure healthy hair and complete coverage. The Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil line is a hair care product line by Bumble and Bumble that helps condition, moisturize, nourish, soften, and smooth hair. It also reduces frizz. This line contains a signature 6-Oil Blend that contains Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Macadamia Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and Safflower Seed Oil. Once we had settled on the products, Felicia got to work on my hair.

Step by Step Breakdown

First, she used HIO shampoo to double cleanse both my scalp and ends. She carefully covered every strand and gave me an excellent hair massage to lather the shampoo. After ensuring that all the shampoo was thoroughly rinsed out, she followed up with the conditioner. Applying the conditioner was essential to get certain key areas of my hair that Felicia felt needed more conditioning, like the front of my hair, my ends, and the back of my neck. After rinsing out the conditioner, she briefly towel-dried my hair to reduce some of the after. Now, we were ready to begin preparing my silk press.

Felicia explained that having a clean scalp and hair for a silk press brings the most body into the hair. She also explained how light products are essential for Black hair, and less is more when using them. After this explanation, she stressed the importance of using a heat protector on the hair when styling. As I usually wear my hair naturally curly, she wanted to ensure my curls would bounce back with the heat protector. Felicia applied the HIO Primer, a leave-in conditioner and heat protector hybrid. It felt light on my hair, and I learned it helps with up to 450°F/232°C heat.

I saw my hair transform from beautiful curls to gorgeous straight locks. Felicia used a blow dryer and a flat brush to blow dry my hair straight using straight down movements. It made it easy for her to dry and straighten simultaneously. Once my hair was dry, she began the process of flat ironing my hair. Felicia explained that as an ‘old school hair stylist,’ she used the blow dryer as her primary straightening tool and the flat iron to add a smooth finish. She sealed everything with the HIO Finishing Spray and explained that the dry oil would add shine to my hair.

When Felicia was finished, my hair looked and felt amazing. It was hydrated, lightweight, and smooth, just as I had hoped. It took her an hour and 15 minutes from start to finish, with key explanations, advice, and five signature products from Bumble and Bumble. I left the salon feeling confident and beautiful, knowing I had received expert care from a professional stylist who understood my hair’s needs. You can watch my experience here.

Author Profile

Sterling Jones

Sterling Jones is the Editor in Chief of The Beauté Study, where is responsible for leading the editorial calendar and creation of online educational content across all categories, brand partnerships, VIP concierge, agency-side of business, and online classes. Sterling loves to write and create engaging content about the power of beauty, cultural trends and lifestyle brands. She founded this platform in 2017 and organically grown into a trusted media platform with the support of a growing population of feminine women growing and defining in their beauty epiphanies. Under her leadership, the brand has worked with other brands in partnership like La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Mejuri, Follain, Cocokind Skincare, Moisture Love, Rein Beauty, Proven Skincare, The Beaute Culture Conference, QCNY Luxury Spa, Merit Beauty, and more. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Sterling holds two undergraduate degrees in Art History and Business of Beauty and Fragrance, the perfect blend between cultural know-how. She can be found on all socials under @thesterlingstudy.