Guest Author - Kaaronica Evans-Ware

Many African American women whose hair simply cannot tolerate chemical relaxing choose pressing as an alternative to relaxing. The safest way to press your hair is with an electric pressing comb which gives you consistent heat.

Pressing Tips:
# 1 Smooth the hair with the back of the pressing comb. After inserting the comb into the section of hair, lay the back of the pressing comb flat against the hair firmly running the comb through each section.
# 2 In order to heat evenly, new pressing combs must be tempered.

Tempering Procedure:
Lightly rub the pressing comb with oil
Heat the comb on the highest temperature for 30 minutes
wipe hot comb off with a dry towel
Let sit until completely cool
Re-apply oil and process for another 30 minutes

Pressing Procedure:

1. Shampoo and condition hair properly

2. Blow dry hair on low heat. (Important: Keep the heat low)

3. Part hair into 5 sections

4. Heat pressing comb on #6 setting for medium coarse hair. A notch lower for thin/fine hair. For thick, coarse hair set the pressing comb to #y7.

5. Test heat with a white paper towel, if paper turns brown, turn the comb down to #5 and recheck heat. Proceed only when the paper no longer burns.

6. Apply dime size of a heat protector to the hair and thoroughly distribute throughout hair.

7. Starting at the nape of the neck. Press the ends of the hair.

8. Continue with each section of hair until all ends have been smoothed .

9. Comb all hair up away from face and press around entire hairline.

10. Part the hair into 5 sections, starting at the nape area and press each section until entire head is complete.