The 10 Best Flat Irons for an Easy DIY Silk Press At Home

All of the style, none of the damage.

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When shopping for the best products for natural hair, the focus is often on hair health. I've always been told: invest in the best shampoos and conditioners, leave-in treatments, protein treatments, deep conditioners, and other options that prioritize moisture, strand strength, and hair growth, and my hair will thank me. That advice rings especially true when choosing the best flat iron for an at-home silk press.

"A silk press is a technique that is used to straighten a person’s natural hair," explains Mideyah Parker, a celebrity hairstylist and PATTERN Beauty ambassador. "The method involves using a blow dryer, flat iron, combs, brushes, and plastic wrap instead of using chemicals. However, some people like to use the technique with a relaxer for a silkier look."

However, as with all styling methods that involve heat, styling your hair in a silk press runs the risk of causing damage, which is why it's important to find the right flat iron for natural hair. Then, after you've found the product of your choice, using it properly is the most crucial step to achieving a perfect silk press at home. I don't know about you, but I wasn't blessed with the finesse to be able to make any hair product or tool deliver the exact results that I'm looking for, so a great tool makes all the difference for me when doing my silk press at home. If you can relate, we've done the heavy lifting for you and have shared our list of expert-vetted picks ahead. Whether you're new to the DIY silk press life or basically have your own salon in your bathroom, you can't go wrong with adding one of these tools to your styling routine.

The Best Flat Irons for a Silk Press

How Do I Do a Silk Press at Home?

Parker says that it's important to follow a specific set of steps in order to master the silk press.

  • "You must first shampoo your hair," she says, recommending PATTERN's Clarifying Shampoo for those in need of a deep clean and the Hydration Shampoo for those in need of extra moisture. Then, she recommends following up with a medium or heavy conditioner depending on the density of your hair.
  • "Once the hair is shampooed and conditioned, you can section and detangle your hair," she says (this detangling nectar is her favorite). "I wouldn’t load it in like you would if you were doing a twist out—just use enough to be able to comb through your hair with ease," she says.
  • Once the detangler has been evenly distributed, she recommends spraying hair with a heat protectant and combing through again.
  • "Clip your hair into four sections," she says. "Comb through your first section with a wide tooth comb to make sure all the kinks are out. Next, you will decide which attachment you want to blow dry your hair with." If using a hair dryer made with natural hair in mind, you may be able to choose between wide tooth comb attachments ("for a more airy blow dry," according to Parker), brush attachments ("if you want more of a bone straight finish"), or a diffuser.
  • "Once all the hair is dried with the desired parting, I like to spray one pump of heat protection in my hand and then apply to the hair from bottom to top," says Parker. "You don’t want to over spray and weigh the hair down with product. I then like to use a ceramic flat iron to press from the roots to the ends.
  • After all the hair is pressed, you will wrap all the hair in a clockwise circle pattern and secure with a sliver flat clip—make sure it’s not a duckbill clip, because that will leave an indentation in the hair. You will then take a roll of plastic wrap and wrap it around the hair to mold the hair to your head shape. Sit under the dryer for five minutes, then remove the plastic and comb your hair out into your desired style."

And voilà— your silk press is complete!

Parker concludes that to maintain your silk press, you can wrap it in plastic wrap once again or pin curl it, then use a satin or silk hair wrap to protect the style and prevent breakage.

What Kind of Flat Iron Should I Use For a Silk Press?

That actually depends on just how straight you want your hair to be as well as your hair type and texture. Most flat irons are made with either ceramic or titanium plates; titanium flat irons generally heat up a lot quicker, can reach very high temperatures, and work best when you're attempting to straighten very thick or coarse hair and give it a silky finish—but that doesn't mean you don't have to be mindful when using one.

"A titanium flat iron will give you maximum straightening capabilities but can [burn] the hair if not used properly," hairstylist Ikeyia Powell previously told Marie Claire. "Titanium irons should not be set to anything higher than 400 degrees for a single silk press session."

On the flip side, ceramic flat irons are slightly more gentle on the hair and they don't tend to reach temperatures as high as titanium flat irons. "It transmits heat through infrared technology and straightens from the inside out, which is more gentle, doesn’t pull or tug, and is less prone to heat damage," Parker says.

So if you fear heat damage, the good news is that your risk when using one of these isn't quite as high. That said, if your hair is thicker, a ceramic iron may not be as effective.

What Temperature Should My Flat Iron Be For a Silk Press?

If, like me, you're wary of heat tools for fear of causing long-term damage, Parker reassures that there are measures you can take to ensure that your silk press technique doesn't ruin your crown of curls.

"To protect your hair doing a silk press you must always use heat protection and do a test strand in the back to determine your heat setting," she says. "Don’t just automatically turn the flat iron to the highest setting. Make sure you choose it based on how straight you want your hair." And for the sake of your strand strength, the lower the heat, the better! Most hairstylists wouldn't recommend applying any level of heat over 400 degrees to your hair, so when purchasing a flat iron, make sure you buy one with a digital dial that controls its level of heat. "You want to be able to set your temperature instead of having a preset flat iron," Parker explains.

With these expert tips and the best flat iron for your hair type, you'll be well on your way to a gorgeous silk press in no time.

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Meet the Experts

Mideyah Parker
Mideyah Parker

Mideyah Parker is a celebrity hairstylist who graduated from the Aveda Institute in Tallahassee, Florida. She has styled celebrities like Danielle Brooks, Dascha Polanco, Laila Odom, and more, and has worked with brands such as Tory Burch, Prada, Versace, Marc Jacobs, and others. She is currently based in New York City.

Ikeyia Powell
Ikeyia Powell

Ikeyia Powell is a professional hairstylist from Tallahassee, Florida. She has worked with all hair types and is passionate about helping everyday women create looks that fit into their busy lifestyles. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

Gabrielle Ulubay
Gabrielle Ulubay
Former Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Former Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, politics, culture, and fashion at Marie Claire and at publications including The New York Times, HuffPost Personal, Bustle, Alma, Muskrat Magazine, O'Bheal, and elsewhere. Her personal essay in The New York Times' Modern Love column kickstarted her professional writing career in 2018, and that piece has since been printed in the 2019 revised edition of the Modern Love book. Having studied history, international relations, and film, she has made films on politics and gender equity in addition to writing about cinema for Film Ireland, University College Cork, and on her personal blog, gabrielleulubay.medium.com.

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