“There is some evidence to suggest that silk pillowcases can protect your hair,” explains Dr Veraitch. “A lot of hair loss, especially in afro-textured hair, is traction-related and so using a silk fabric which allows your hair to move and slide naturally will help to prevent unnecessary breakage.”
Silk's natural properties, like its smooth surface, help reduce friction on your hair while you sleep. Friction often leads to split ends, knotting, and hair damage. The smooth texture of silk allows hair to glide over it as you rest, reducing frizz, tangles, and the dreaded bedhead.
It also helps minimize friction between the hair fibers that could potentially cause split ends, frizz, tangles, and knots. “Satin and silk pillowcases lack friction and won't rough up the cuticle — meaning less chances of breakage,” Covington-Bowers continues.
Silk is a gentle environment: From moisture, to softness, to repelling allergens, silk is a gentle, nurturing environment that can help care for skin and promote regrowth. Most importantly, sleeping on genuine mulberry silk can never damage your hair; there are only benefits to be had!
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.
Does damaged hair grow back healthy? The only way to get healthy hair is to allow your hair to grow without further damage. 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.
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 ...
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.
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.
"Satin is much more forgiving, as it moves with the hair which reduces the friction between the hair fiber and the pillowcase or surface," explains Hill. Satin also provides the same benefits as silk: It is hypoallergenic, less absorbent, and breathable.
Is it better to use a bonnet or silk pillowcase? It all comes down to what area of your beauty routine you are looking for the most improvement. The silk pillowcase is going to have more benefits for your skin, and the silk cap will focus more on improving your hair's health.
"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.
Silk and satin – often get confused for each other, they look similar but what are the differences between the two? Despite their similar appearance the biggest difference is that satin is a weave and not a natural fibre, whereas silk is a natural fibre fabric.
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.
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.
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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.
The smooth surface of satin reduces friction between your hair and the pillow, which means less breakage. Friction can cause your hair cuticles to lift, making your hair more susceptible to damage. By sleeping on satin, you'll be protecting your hair from unnecessary stress and breakage, promoting healthier growth.
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.
Share on Pinterest Common causes of hair breakage can include styling and over-brushing. Products that people use for coloring, perming, or relaxing the hair contain chemicals that can weaken the hair and make it more likely to break. Even some shampoos can cause the hair to break, become brittle, or turn frizzy.
You'll see an improvement straight away after a haircut, but generally, it can take 6-8 weeks for hair to respond to new treatments and gentler styling, depending on the length of your hair and the extent of the damage.