The smoothness of the material can help reduce irritation and resulting inflammation. At the same time, satin pillowcases tend to absorb less, reducing the risk of oil and bacteria buildup pressing against your face as you sleep.
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.
If you're someone who goes to bed with wet hair often, you might want to consider resting your tresses on satin. Unlike cotton, which can cause damage to your hair if you sleep with it wet, satin pillowcases will be more forgiving and allow your wet hair to move more freely and prevent creases while you sleep.
Less Friction
The satin pillowcase will allow your hair to gently glide over the top of it reducing friction, tangles, and frizz and keeping your hairstyle intact. The satin or silk pillowcase also helps prevent split ends from breaking.
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.
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.
Neither satin and silk absorb any moisture, which leaves your hair hydrated and less prone to breakage than a cotton pillowcase would.
It's a good idea to wash your pillowcase at least once each month to remove product buildup or oils which it may have collected. Washing satin may seem like a daunting task, but it's not.
Bacteria and dirt will build up more slowly on silk or satin than on cotton, but you still need to wash it frequently. You don't want to be applying a fresh layer of skin irritants every time you go to sleep! For this reason, read the label carefully before deciding between silk or satin pillowcases.
Satin pillowcases offer an array of potential benefits to sleepers. The wrinkle-resistant fabric may prevent hair damage, support healthy skin, and limit exposure to allergens and bacteria. While these possible advantages are common with satin pillowcases, performance varies depending on the type of material.
Satin is one of the best materials for pores. The silky material allows pores to breathe throughout the night which reduces the chances of acne. Similarly, if you are prone to dry skin and require a lot of moisture to keep your skin looking supple and youthful, satin can help.
When choosing a pillowcase, there are a few standard fabric options. Cotton is known for being soft and breathable, and it can often provide a luxe feel for an affordable price. Microfiber and polyester are also inexpensive and wrinkle-resistant. For a more luxurious feel, opt for silk or linen.
Materials that combine temperature regulation and softness are great options for people looking for pillowcases that help prevent acne. Silk has a smooth and soft feel that is gentle on sensitive skin. It's also lightweight and breathable, so it can help keep sleepers cool throughout the night.
You can wash the satin upholstery or clothing by hand or in the washing machine. However, it would be best to use cold water since it's a delicate fabric, and warm water might harm its integrity.
While a satin weave pillowcase can minimize friction (and that's a good thing!) there are many benefits to real silk pillowcases that satin pillowcases just can't deliver. If you want the best for your hair, choose a pure mulberry silk pillowcase.
The Disadvantages of Satin
Satin can be difficult to sew and work with because of its shiny, slippery texture. Satin can also snag, this because of the way the threads interlace, creating those longer runs in one direction.
Silk is a much stronger material than satin. This is important because when you're investing in a high-quality bedsheet or pillowcase, you want it to last a long time. Being a durable, strong material, silk is much more likely to stand the test of time without tears and other damage to the structure.
Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Brooklinen is well renowned for its cozy sheets and towels, but the bedding brand also makes all-star silky pillowcases. Its mulberry silk material is breathable and naturally cool to the touch, two features that guarantee less friction damage to your hair and skin.
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!
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.