Gabrielle Union Is Taking Full Advantage of Silk Press Season

a black woman with dark hair poses on a red carpet in front of a blue background

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's officially silk press season, and if you haven't yet been convinced to give the glassy look a go for a few days, let Gabrielle Union's winter hairstyle be your inspiration.

Union has been in New York City over the last few days doing press for an upcoming project, and one of her first stops was SiriusXM Studios on Jan. 13 for a chat with Bevy Smith. For this particular outing, she was all business in an oversized, navy blue pantsuit with a plunging navy vest that she wore with a pair of gray, suede pumps. Her glam for the day was pretty minimal: she opted for barely-there makeup, save for a filled-in brow and some lash extensions, and she wore her long, black bob in a silky straight style with a feathery side bang.

a black woman with dark hair wears a blue pantsuit while taking a photo at a recording studio — Gabrielle Union visits SiriusXM Studios in New York City on Jan. 13.

Silk press season is well underway, and the winter months are usually the best time of year to wear the silky straight look, since there's a lot less humidity and less potential for your hair to revert and become frizzy due to moisture in the air. That said, dry, cold air can also be harsh on the hair, causing your strands to dry out or even break off if your hair isn't properly treated or moisturized beforehand.

If you're hoping to take advantage of the winter weather and rock the glassy look before the temperature heats back up, read ahead to shop some products and tools worth having in your inventory.

Cécred

Moisturizing Deep Conditioner

Dry hair is much more prone to frizz, since it'll draw in moisture from the air. Start off by deep conditioning and making sure your strands are as hydrated as possible.

Shark Beauty

Speedstyle Pro Professional Performance High-Velocity Hair Dryer System & Diffuser

The key to a good silk press lies in the blowout beforehand. A good blow dryer like this one from Shark does the hard part for you, giving you a super-straight blown-out look before you even touch your straightener.

BaBylissPRO

Porcelain Ceramic Straightening Iron

For a sleek look, use a ceramic straightener. These are more gentle on the hair than titanium flat irons.

Olaplex

No.9 Bond Protector Heat Protection & Frizz Reduction Nourishing Hair Serum

As always, you should apply a heat protecting serum or cream before applying any form of heat to your hair. This will prevent thermal damage that can jeopardize the integrity of your natural curl pattern.

ORS

Olive Oil Nourishing Sheen Spray

Finish off by spraying your hair with an olive oil sheen to add some extra shine.

Danielle Jackson is the senior beauty writer at Marie Claire. She has nearly a decade of experience covering beauty, lifestyle, and entertainment and was previously the senior beauty editor at Women's Health, where she thoughtfully covered topics related to skincare, haircare, aesthetics, and wellness. Before that, she spent three years as an assistant beauty editor at PS, and in the years since, her work has appeared in titles like Vogue, InStyle, Glamour, and more. Danielle graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in English, and has lived in Brooklyn for almost ten years. When she's not writing, you can find her reading romance novels and talking about sunscreen. You can find her on Instagram @danielleknecole.