A: Switching from a cotton pillowcase to a silk option can benefit your hair, since silk is less likely to dry hair out and cause friction, according to Dr. Bauman. If you need a refresher, silk is a natural fiber that's made from the cocoons of silkworms according to an article in the journal Polymers.
This comes down to some good news/bad news: First, the bad news: Your cotton pillowcase may be doing terrible damage to your hair. Now, the good news: A mulberry silk pillowcase is fantastic for hair and can even help reverse and repair damage and hair breakage (and give you a great night of beauty sleep to boot!).
In fact, Hairstory hairdresser Jennifer Covington-Bowers told The Zoe Report, "Satin and silk pillowcases lack friction and won't rough up the cuticle — meaning less chances of breakage," and added that if money is not an option, silk might be better as it has "a bit more slip." Celebrity hairstylist Derrick Keith ...
“Both silk and satin reduce friction and provide a surface that allows the hair to glide or move across the material more easily,” Bailey tells TZR. “The ease of movement on the material helps to avoid snagging and breaking of the hair strands for all hair types.”
As such, silk is prone to fading when exposed to direct sunlight, either indoors or outside. Even this best silk bedding will fade if left in direct sunlight. This is why we recommend always hanging your silk to dry away from the sun. Happily, your silk sheets should air dry very quickly, even indoors.
Up-to-Date
Sleepers who have hair that is prone to tangling, frizzing, or breakage may benefit from a pillowcase that reduces friction against the hair at night. Certain fabrics, such as silk or sateen-woven cotton, have a smooth feel that is less abrasive against your hair.
Which one you choose comes down to a few factors, like price and preference. "I like satin more because it's less expensive than silk, but it's also smoother than silk, reducing the friction between the hair strands and the pillowcase," says Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, Trichologist, Ph. D.
"Silk doesn't absorb or pull moisture from your skin the way traditional cotton pillowcases do, leaving hair hydrated and frizz-free." Plus, according to Richy Kandasamy, a hair colorist and a member of R+Co Collective, resting your head on this fabric will keep textured hair fresher and less "slept on" upon waking.
Using a hair cap, bonnet, or wrapping your hair with a silk or satin scarf at night will shield your hair from rubbing against your pillowcase. This will also help you protect your ends at night and make your hairstyle last longer, and you don't have to worry about any friction or loss of moisture as you rest.
“Curly and coily hair are more susceptible to breakage, and they need more moisture, both to control frizz and protect from breakage.
Use a scrunchie or tie made of silk or satin, instead. If you have unruly hair, style in a loose braid tied with a silk scrunchie before bed. Not only will the silk scrunchie prevent friction and subsequent breakage from affecting your strands, but it also likely won't create ridges in your hair after it's removed.
Harsh chemicals like bleach or relaxers can break down the bonds of the hair, making it weaker and thus more prone to breakage. Heat styling can also put enough stress on your hair to cause breakage, so it is always important to use a protectant before you grab a hot tool.
Silk pillowcases, like your other bed linens, come into direct contact with your skin every night, so it's important to wash them regularly — typically about every seven to ten days. To learn more about washing bed linens, check out this guide to washing and properly caring for bedding.
An average pillowcase will grab onto your hair strands and hold tight, even as you're moving around during sleep. This results in pulling and pressing that results in those unflattering locks the next morning and also encourages breakage and split ends.
Satin and silk are kind of the same way—satin is technically a type of weaving, rather than a type of fabric. At one point in time, satin was traditionally made from silk, but in the modern-day, it's not uncommon to find blended satin mixtures that include synthetic fibers like polyester, rayon, and cotton.
Hair Breakage Causes
Tightly pulled hairstyles. Perming, relaxing, or coloring hair. Lack of healthy nutritional levels. Overly brushing or styling your hair.
If you're vitamin A or D vitamin deficient, you're likely also to suffer a zinc deficiency. A deficiency of zinc is often one cause of telogen effluvium or brittle hair.
If you'd damaged your hair by over-styling, too much heat or over coloring with harsh chemicals, the good news is - your hair will grow back healthy.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].