I've heard of silkening in the Miss Jessie's context (I think just adding olive oil -or oil of some sort to a mild or regular relaxer). I've heard other salons (I forget the name of the one in DC--it's on or around U street). When I inquired it was just flat iron press--nothing special. It's all about marketing--same old salon techniques--different names. If you do a search, I'm sure you can find many threads about silkening.
Boy, I thought I had a horror story with that salon. But now that you say this, maybe it was all miscommunication. I thought that salon gave me the worst case of heat damage I have ever seen on anyone's head. I later learned that my hair was what they called "silkened" A marcel iron was used. I wanted a regular old press with minumum damage. But...
I too thought silkening was some sort of chemical process from Miss Jessie's (the salon on U street sold and used their products), so I didn't think twice when the stylist began pressing. Figured it was going to be a straight forward press, as I requested. I do remember the stylist grumbling about my tight coil pattern in the back and its strength (yessir, it is) while pressing. She mentioned that the iron would loosen it and make it easier to straighten next time, but I wouldn't incur damage. I thought the loosening and "easier to manage" lingo was typical result after straightening natural hair; I had never dealt with my natural hair, and had no idea. So I trusted her judgment.
And the press was beautiful! Suspiciously, it never reverted, though. I finally washed my hair and cried. It was bone straight on one side, and the curls loosened all over -- some sections significantly.
When I returned to confront her about the curl loosening and damage, she squealed and said that she had never seen that happen before, and I heard another stylist in there refer to my hair as "silkened" while assessing it. But when I inquired about what silkened was, they got closed mouth, because I specifically said I did not want a chemical service. But if it's NOT a chemical service like Miss Jessie's process, then that explains the miscommunication.
The first three pictures are from my "silkened" hair. The last two pics is my healthy, natural curl pattern from 2009. Probably can't tell too much a of a difference in these pics because the heat damage was cornrowed in the front, and the hair out looks likes my natural curl pattern at the top and sides of my head. But believe me, my hair in the back is tight, and the silkener loosened the coils quite a bit.