Whilst sleeping on a silk pillowcase is said to help to prevent wrinkles and is gentler to hair than cotton weaves, it will not stop hair loss. Many women use them to help to prolong their hairstyle or blow dry between washes as the smooth surface of silk, or satin, pillowcases means that the hair glides over it.
Silk pillowcases are wonderful not only for hair loss, but also for other challenging hair types, such as thin, frizzy, or curly hair. When it comes to thin or fine hair, a silk pillowcase offers a gentle, nourishing environment; read our blog on how silk pillowcases are just one way of managing fine or thin hair.
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.
“There is some evidence that when compared to typical cotton pillowcases, less moisture is absorbed with a silk pillowcase,” says Janiene Luke, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Loma Linda University in California. These benefits are more pronounced for hair, especially curly and textured hair.
Satin offers similar haircare benefits to silk, but it won't retain moisture as well as silk. "Satin absorbs a little bit more than silk since it's a mixture of numerous materials including cotton, but it's still way less than 100% cotton pillow cases," Onuoha says.
Hair and skin help – When choosing between a satin vs silk pillowcase for skin and hair, you win either way, as satin also has the benefit of low friction. It also shares silk's breathability and hypoallergenic nature.
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.
Silk absorbs less moisture than other popular bedding materials like cotton. This allows the skin to retain more moisture, which in turn helps prevent dry or itchy skin. Silk is also less likely to absorb any lotions or serums you might use in your bedtime skincare regime. These benefits extend to your hair as well.
Are silk pillowcases worth it? Yes! Not only do they feel great to sleep on, silk pillowcase benefits also include smoother hair and smoother skin.
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.
Choose bamboo
You'll experience less frizziness and your blow dry or hairstyle could even last a couple of days longer, giving you that salon look as soon as you wake up. Although silk is another recommended material, the rounded fibre of bamboo feels just as soft and much more breathable.
Opt for a silk or satin pillowcase.
We talk about silk pillowcases often, and for good reason. Compared to cotton, the smaller fibers of silk lessen the friction that happens from rubbing your scalp against the pillow (especially important if you're a tosser-and-turner).
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.
Is it normal to find hair on your pillow? Yes, within reason. We're constantly shedding hair so finding some on a pillow isn't surprising. However, if you find a large clump of hair on your pillow day after day, you may want to consult a doctor to be sure there is no underlying medical condition.
If you frequently sleep with wet hair, we suggest investing in a silk pillowcase. Silk doesn't retain moisture well, thereby allowing your hair to dry faster. More importantly, it's slick and produces less friction when compared with a cotton or flannel pillowcase.
The smooth texture of silk allows hair to glide over it as you rest, reducing frizz, tangles, and the dreaded bedhead. While other fabrics like cotton snag your hair, hair gurus and stylists have long-used silk pillowcases to hold up hairdos like perms, blowouts, and braids for longer without added frizz or stress.
"Silk is beneficial to the hair because it is a breathable fabric allowing circulation and preventing the moisture from night sweats from getting trapped at the root of the hair," says Hill." It also helps to minimize the friction between our hair fibers and cotton fabrics.
Don't put silk items in the dryer. Heat can damage delicate silk fibers. If the dryer is absolutely necessary to use only 'air' setting for 15 minutes or less with NO fabric sheets or dryer balls. Remove sheets before completely dry.
Detergent can stiffen silk
Even if you are hand washing your silks are per the instructions, if you are using a detergent, they can become stiff. Using a castile soap like Dr Bronner's instead can help a lot. Even after air drying, though, your silk may still be a bit stiff.
Silk pillowcases are less likely to cause these types of wrinkles because they're so smooth. The fabric, unlike cotton, glides across your skin instead of pulling at it, which helps keep your skin looking younger and more elastic.
Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Its mulberry silk material is breathable and naturally cool to the touch, two features that guarantee less friction damage to your hair and skin.
The highest-quality silk is mulberry silk, which is made from silkworms who eat from the leaves of the mulberry tree. It's the most durable silk and also the softest, which makes it ideal for a high-traffic item like a pillowcase. There are grades within silk — A, B, and C scale, with A being the best quality.