Silkener ladies give us the scoop....

[Lucia]

Any ladies who have had silkeners for a while, how's that going?
Is your hair texture softer/dryer?
Does your hair act differently than when natural on super humid days?
How often do you have to get touch ups?
Have you gotten more length vs. being natural?
Any breakage? or new problems you didn't have as a natural?
Do you color/highlight @ the same time?
Ease of styling and drying time? vs. natural?
How does it compare overall (anything I forgot)?
TIA

 

[remnant]

bump bump bump!!!!

 

[tallnomad]

i have had my hair silkened three times. If I still lived in NYC, I probably would continue having it done because I really like the look. I now live in LA and can't find anyone who is that great with chemicals. When my hair starts growing out, it gets really dry due to the transition between the new growth and the silkened hair.

Overall though, i liked the silkener because i loved my curls and the fact that it didn't take a lot to make them pop.

I have to say that my hair is probably more dry (and i naturally have very dry hair already) so I don't think the process helped with moisture at all--if anything, it feels somewhat stripped, however, my hair still acted just like natural hair. It would react to humidity by getting bigger or fluffier, but I love humid weather for my hair.

I would get touch ups every 3-4 months.

Definitely have gotten more length with the silkener than I did when natural--probably due to the non-shrinkage factor.

I haven't noticed more breakage with the silkener. The breakage that I did experience was due to it growing out and the change of texture between it and my natural hair.

styling was easier because i didn't have too use as much product to define my curls as i did when natural.

i had no color in my hair.

I liked the silkener overall and think I would've kept getting it. the thing that bothered me was the price. i understand it could be pricey because touch ups were every 3-4 months so they needed to make money on folks in the interim.

i loved the look of my silkener and the fact that i could actually comb my hair without a whole bunch of hassle, but i did feel somewhat captive and a prisoner to it. if i didn't have the money or was not in the area, i would get stressed out and nervous because i didn't know what to do with my hair due to the difference in textures--the new growth causes the silkened hair to draw up a lot and it makes styling more difficult.

i traveled back from LA once to get it done, but I couldn't eat for a month because of the plane ticket and the salon visit. The salon visit was about $500--and the thing is, the price of the silkener constantly goes up. They'll tell you that you need a trim and if you agree, the trim is at least $100. Then I felt compelled to buy the Curly Pudding and BBD stretch which the stretch alone cost $50. I just can't afford that and don't want to feel like I have no other options.

I have found a stylist in LA who is okay with chemicals and tonight she will be running Affirm Fiberguard through my hair for a few minutes--just to loosen the new growth. I have special things to do all this month, so I want my hair to look decent, but when it grows out, I will be getting braids and cutting off the rest of the silkener hair.

I hope this helps!

 

[Love_Goddess_Oshun]

Wow Sis!!! $500 Did they leave gold nuggets in your scalp too??? Wow!!! I went to get my hair done there once and they did a great job, but I can twist my hair and sit under the dryer by myself. They charged $130 and that was three years ago. Some people can afford it and if so, then do yo' thang. Me -- I don't have Oprah money yet...

 

[Lucia]

i have had my hair silkened three times. If I still lived in NYC, I probably would continue having it done because I really like the look. I now live in LA and can't find anyone who is that great with chemicals. When my hair starts growing out, it gets really dry due to the transition between the new growth and the silkened hair.

Overall though, i liked the silkener because i loved my curls and the fact that it didn't take a lot to make them pop.

I have to say that my hair is probably more dry (and i naturally have very dry hair already) so I don't think the process helped with moisture at all--if anything, it feels somewhat stripped, however, my hair still acted just like natural hair. It would react to humidity by getting bigger or fluffier, but I love humid weather for my hair.

I would get touch ups every 3-4 months.

Definitely have gotten more length with the silkener than I did when natural--probably due to the non-shrinkage factor.

I haven't noticed more breakage with the silkener. The breakage that I did experience was due to it growing out and the change of texture between it and my natural hair.

styling was easier because i didn't have too use as much product to define my curls as i did when natural.

i had no color in my hair.

I liked the silkener overall and think I would've kept getting it. the thing that bothered me was the price. i understand it could be pricey because touch ups were every 3-4 months so they needed to make money on folks in the interim.

i loved the look of my silkener and the fact that i could actually comb my hair without a whole bunch of hassle, but i did feel somewhat captive and a prisoner to it. if i didn't have the money or was not in the area, i would get stressed out and nervous because i didn't know what to do with my hair due to the difference in textures--the new growth causes the silkened hair to draw up a lot and it makes styling more difficult.

i traveled back from LA once to get it done, but I couldn't eat for a month because of the plane ticket and the salon visit. The salon visit was about $500--and the thing is, the price of the silkener constantly goes up. They'll tell you that you need a trim and if you agree, the trim is at least $100. Then I felt compelled to buy the Curly Pudding and BBD stretch which the stretch alone cost $50. I just can't afford that and don't want to feel like I have no other options.

I have found a stylist in LA who is okay with chemicals and tonight she will be running Affirm Fiberguard through my hair for a few minutes--just to loosen the new growth. I have special things to do all this month, so I want my hair to look decent, but when it grows out, I will be getting braids and cutting off the rest of the silkener hair.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing, that seeing that price tag alone is hurting my wallet.