Silk as a natural fibre is breathable and keeps you feeling fresh during the night. Silk is a natural insulator also, trapping small amounts of air between the fibres to keep you warm when it's cold outside, yet it also vents excess heat when you overheat.
Silk sheets are cold
But the cellular structure of silk protein makes it naturally insulating and temperature regulating. That means your silk sheets will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are a fantastic choice for staying comfortable year-round in any sleeping conditions.
Silk is Breathable
Another benefit of sleeping in silk, making it the ultimate choice for your summer sleepwear, is the fact that silk is one of the most breathable materials. It'll quickly absorb any moisture but it won't dry your skin out like cotton might.
The first, and most significant, advantage of silk bedding is it simultaneously prevents overheating and keeps cool sleepers warm. When you sleep under traditional bedding, most of your body heat and sweat are trapped under the covers with you. However, silk bedding efficiently vents this heat and moisture away.
As a man-made and often synthetic material, satin is non-absorbent. Silk is a moisture-wicking fibre that keeps you dry at night, while discharging sweat and oils. Satin is admired for its soft luxury and exceptional quality, but it doesn't quite match silk in terms of breathability and comfort.
Satin feels cool to the touch, whereas silk warms up with body heat. For those who prefer to sleep on a cool surface, satin is the better choice. Satin is easy to launder and will look beautiful for years. Silk's thin, delicate fibers usually require hand washing and hanging to dry, and will degrade over time.
Silk is a natural protein fibre. It is so smooth and has a natural temperature regulating property. Protein fibre has the ability to sync with our skin, which creates an insulating feeling that warms our body.
Silk has a natural cooling effect, making for a more restful night's sleep. Also ideal for sleepers that tend to sweat more during their slumber. After just one week of use, pillowcases can grow millions of bacteria and germs. Unlike cotton, silk is breathable, antimicrobial and anti-allergenic.
With the official summer months being on the horizon, it's a good time to switch out your spring bedding for a fully summer revamp ready for those warmer nights ahead. With linen being the staple of summer, there is also another slice of luxury that is perfect for those summer evenings and that is silk.
The issue isn't necessarily that silk makes you sweat more than other kinds of fabrics. But even though it's a light and flowy material, it's also surprisingly insulating! The very nature of the silk fabric is that it can cling to your skin, which can lead to uncomfortable nights if you're already feeling overheated.
It is common for people to sweat in the summer, especially if their bed and sheets are not custom-made for regulating the temperature. As stated above, silk is an absorbent fabric that won't allow sweat to make you hot and uncomfortable.
When comparing bamboo lyocell Vs silk, the majority of the main points of bamboo Vs silk can also be applied. While both are silky smooth – bamboo will last longer, get softer with time, wash well and provide hypoallergenic, antibacterial properties while you sleep.
If linen doesn't work for you, Fountain's recommendation is a percale weave cotton since the “one-over-one-under weave encourages airflow to keep you cool over the course of the night.” For a silky-smooth hand feel and fabric that feels initially cool to the touch, Fountain also recommends Tencel sheets.
DON'T put your silk items in the dryer if you can help it. Heat can damage delicate silk fibers. If dryer is absolutely necessary use only 'air' setting for 15 minutes or less with NO fabric sheets or dryer balls. Remove sheets and pillowcases before completely dry.
Silk sheets are also temperature regulating, which makes them a secret weapon for menopausal women fighting the battle against night sweats and hot flashes.
✔️ Silk vs satin: Satin is the weave, and silk is the fiber.
Most silk sheets use a satin weave, but there are also satin sheets made with synthetic polyester fibers. These are typically more affordable and less delicate, but they don't feel quite as luxurious as real silk and don't share the same cooling properties.
Wool, linen, silk, and cotton are the four most recommended textiles for sleep. Wool is an excellent insulator and can wick away moisture, but it can also be rough on the skin and costly. Linen is a breathable material ideal for warm climates.
Natural fibers including cotton, wool, and linen soak up sweat from your skin and allow it to evaporate. But while synthetic fibers including rayon, polyester, nylon, and even some natural fibers such as silk look pretty, their ability to repel water and sweat will make your sweat smell worse in the end.
That said, it's worth noting that silk isn't as absorbent as its cotton or linen contemporaries and choosing to wear a silk slip or skirt may result in sweat stains on a very humid day.
Most silk pillowcases are both silk and satin, but you can find satin pillowcases made of polyester for a lower price. Mulberry silk is the highest quality of silk you can find. Think of it as the Egyptian cotton equivalent of silk: The fibers are longer and more uniform so the fabric is smoother and more durable.
Fake silk will have a 'white sheen' (like plastic) from all angles, whereas silk fibres will only shimmer from a combination of light and angles. Fake silk is also stiffer, whereas real silk often has a 'water-like' slink. All bunched up. Very good fake silk, will feel like silk to the touch.
Linen is perfect for summer because it feels light on the skin and wicks away moisture even better than cotton. In our guide to the best linen sheets, we recommend the Cultiver Linen Sheets. This set is one of the softest we've tried and comes in the widest range of colors and prints.