In a recent social media stir, a young lady shared her hair travails on TikTok as she transitioned from a glorious, healthily grown afro to an ill-fated R900 silk press hairstyle. All enthused about her plans for her new polished look, the lady was soon confronted with regret once the style was done, proving quite an engaging narrative for online audiences.
Displaying her lush and tangled afro, the unidentified lady documented her entire journey, starting from her triumphant walk into the salon to her moody exit under the universal salon wrecker – a downpour. Despite having put in substantial effort for her afro over the years, a few minutes of rain, right outside the salon, turned the silk press into a sorrowful sight.
Disappointed by her experience, the lady bemoaned the hair disasters that followed. Once the chemicals wore off, she faced a considerable task of returning her hair to a manageable state. High hopes dashed, she fell out of love with the stylish appearance that came at the expense of her hair’s health.
While any type of hair is prone to damage from excessive heat and chemicals, embracing natural hair is becoming a popular choice. Our lady in focus hoped for this too. Tired of the afro, and seeking a more manageable hairdo, she aimed for a salon trim, to get rid of her dead ends and start afresh.
She chose to straighten her curly hair and opted for the silk press, a chemical-free treatment that comes with a R900 bill. Despite its enticing results, she soon learned about the damaging heat applied by the hairdresser, which left her with mixed feelings about the entire ordeal.
“It’s a decision I kind of regretted, honestly, but it is what it is,” were her words, expressing her disappointment over the stylist’s handling.
The online community extended their advice, providing her with home remedies and tips on better hair care to recover. Some were shocked by the exorbitant price, “R900? That’s crazy business.” While others praised the transformation, some shared their experiences of once being in her shoes.
One user wrote, “I tried a silk press in April too. My 4c hair turned into 3c, and it hasn’t recovered yet.” Another explained what she got was a keratin treatment, “It’s chemical-free. It takes two taps at the roots and one pass. And thankfully, Botox is not permanent. It will take more than six months for your hair to revert back to normal.”
Others suggested washing the hair with Sunlight liquid, using normal shampoo and conditioner to restore her curl pattern. Some shared their love for the lady’s results, “This is actually the best silk press I’ve seen, even though it didn’t last. Generally, South African hairstylists haven’t mastered slick presses.”
Finally, one user observed that the lady’s experience served as a deterrent from pursuing similar hair treatments. “You’ve confirmed my decision to relax my hair once and for all. I was stuck on choosing between a Botox or a relaxer.”
It turns out the lady isn’t alone in her hair transformation journeys. Another young woman recently showcased her love for a particular affordable hair care product on TikTok. Evidently, these ladies’ hair stories are striking chords in the expansive world of hair care discussions and experiences online. Their shared narratives demonstrate our common concerns about hair care, proving that with the right products and proper care, your hair can thrive too.
