How to Press Hair Using a Hot Comb

Hot combs use heat to straighten the natural texture of hair.

Since Madame C.J. Walker popularized the hot comb in the early 1900s, the pressing of hair has become a part of African American hair culture. Hot combs are used predominately by women and girls as a way to apply direct heat to straighten and smooth overly kinky hair. Although chemical relaxing has become a popular alternative to the use of a hot comb, pressing is still the preferred alternative for younger children and women who are sensitive to relaxing creams. To get the best results from pressing your hair, it is important to know how to use a hot comb properly and safely.

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Leave-in conditioner
• Hair dryer with attachment
• Plastic hair clips
• Hair comb
• Pressing cream
• Hot comb

Instructions

1. Wash your hair to prepare it for pressing. Use a moisturizing shampoo to thoroughly wash any build-up or oil from your hair, and rinse using warm water. Apply a moisturizing conditioner; combing from root to end. Allow the conditioner to sit for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

2. Dry your hair and scalp completely. Comb through your hair with a wide tooth comb and apply a leave-on conditioner. Using a hair dryer with a pick or comb attachment, blow dry your hair until both your scalp and hair are completely dry.

3. Divide your hair into four parts. Place a part down the middle of your hair, from front to back. Divide the section in half by parting again from ear to ear. Smooth a small amount of pressing cream or oil over each of the sections to protect the hair from the heat of the hot comb and to promote smoothness and shine. Create four large braids or twist the hair of each section and secure it with a clip.

4. Heat up the pressing comb. There are two varieties of pressing combs: those that are heated on the burner of a stove or in a heating oven and those that are plugged in. Plug in your comb and set its temperature to medium or place it on a hot burner until it is hot to the touch but not so hot that when tested it burns or scorches a white paper towel.

5. Start on one section at the back of the head. Separate a thin section of hair and place the rest out of the way and securely back in the clip. Place the teeth of the comb halfway up the hair, twist your wrist slightly and pull downward with the comb. Allow the back of the hot comb to press firmly against the hair as you move down toward the ends. Place the teeth of the comb back into the hair, this time close to the scalp. Again twist your wrist and use the back of the comb to press all the way to the end of the hair. Separate more of the hair and repeat the pressing process until the hair in all four sections, including the edges, has been pressed.

Tips & Warnings

• Applying pressure while running the blow dryer through your hair with the attachment will also help remove some of the tangles for an easier press.

• When using an electric hot comb, you can increase the temperature as needed if the medium setting is not hot enough for the thickness of your hair.

• Excessive pressing can weaken the integrity of hair.

• Because your hair will retain heat, use caution when handling it right after removing the hot comb.

• Be careful to not burn your ears or forehead when using the pressing comb around the edges of your hair.

• Use pressing cream sparingly; too much oil will weigh down your hair and make it overly greasy.

References

• Indiana Historical Society: Madame C.J. Walker