7 Surprising Silk Pillowcase Benefits!

Given that we spend nearly one-third of our lives sleeping, it’s no surprise that we like to have for ourselves the most enticing sleep environment possible! While there are numerous suggestions for maximizing the benefits of your hours of sleep, one of the most widely discussed is the use of a silk pillowcase.¹

Now, we all know that a good night’s sleep can help us look and feel refreshed, but could switching our pillowcases be the key to waking up with healthier and smoother skin and hair?

The answer is YES!

Changing the fabric of your pillowcases can benefit your skin and hair!

Are you still not convinced? Well, keep calm and keep reading!

1. Why Should You Choose Silk Pillowcases?

First off, you do not need to confine yourself to using silk pillowcases, copper or satin pillowcases can also be used; however, silk pillowcases are more popular and more readily available. As a result, we will be focusing on them in this article.

So, what benefits can silk fabric provide you?

Well, there are numerous benefits to sleeping on a silk pillowcase², and the properties of silk fabrics can provide a variety of beauty benefits! The smooth surface benefits your hair and skin the most, as it soothes your skin and keeps your hair healthy! It also keeps you cool!

2. 7 Surprising Silk Pillowcase Benefits for Hair and Skin!

So let’s get started! Silk pillowcases have a plethora of advantages, the majority of which will come as a surprise to you! To help you understand better, we have compiled all of the benefits into seven points.

2.1. No More Frizzy Hair!

Bid farewell to bad hair days! Sleeping on silk pillowcases can help reduce friction when your hair rubs against the pillow, which is especially important if you toss and turn in bed. This is due to the silk pillowcase’s smooth surface, which differs from that of a cotton pillowcase.

This results in fewer tangles and helps to prevent split ends, which means you’re less likely to wake up with bedhead or frizzy hair!

Hairstylists also recommend sleeping on silk pillowcases for people with curly hair or keeping hairstyles and blowouts looking great!

Furthermore, silk pillowcases can help you achieve better hair that is hydrated and healthy! This is because silk pillowcases absorb less moisture than cotton pillowcases, allowing your hair to retain moisture and natural oils. This is particularly beneficial if you have dry strands or a flaky scalp.

2.2. Reduced Wrinkles

Another one of the many benefits is that it can reduce wrinkles, particularly in the long run! Wondering how that happens?

When we sleep on our side or stomach, we get sleep creases, basically, the pattern of a crumpled pillowcase carved into our face. These creases fade as the day progresses, but not only do sleep creases look unflattering but it has also been discovered that over time, repeated compressing and creasing of the face while sleeping can result in permanent wrinkles.

On the other hand, sleeping on silk helps prevent fine lines³ because, unlike cotton, it isn’t a stiff material and thus doesn’t crease as much! It causes less friction against your skin, causing fewer ‘crush wrinkles’! As a result, you are less likely to wake up with a sleep crease and would also help to slow the passage of time, at least for your face, by avoiding wrinkles!

2.3. Smooth and Hydrated Skin

If you, too are annoyed with waking up with dry and tight skin even after indulging in an elaborate nighttime skincare routine, your pillowcase could be to blame. The thing is that some fabrics absorb more moisture than others, leaving your skin dry.

However, silk pillowcases can help your skin retain moisture in the same way that they help your hair! This would be a godsend for people who suffer from dry skin, especially in the winter!

Natural silk fibre does not absorb as much moisture as other fabrics. This means that, rather than absorbing all of the hydration in your skin, a silk pillowcase can aid in its retention. So your eight hours of beauty sleep will now result in you having healthy, glowing skin when you wake up!

2.4. Soothing for the Skin

Aside from preventing sleep creases, silk has numerous other skin-benefiting properties as well!

Real silk is naturally hypoallergenic⁴, which means that it is relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. So silk pillowcase benefits those with sensitive skin or delicate facial skin, eczema, acne, or other irritated or inflammatory skin conditions.

Silk is believed to help with redness, inflammation, and itchiness, which are common symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis⁵. The use of silk clothing therapy as a non-pharmacological approach in the treatment of Atopic Dermatitis⁶ has also been identified as an effective alternative therapy.

2.5. Temperature Regulation

We frequently overlook how our bedding from the shoulders up impacts our comfort and body temperature while sleeping, and silk pillowcases can be extremely helpful in this regard!

Regardless of the season, the moisture-repelling properties and natural, breathable fibres in a silk pillowcase will help you avoid sleeping hot and stay cool and dry while sleeping, both of which contribute to regulating your body temperature while sleeping.

You wouldn’t have to keep turning your pillow to get the colder side, either!

2.6. A Cleaner and Healthier Environment

Our bedding is unquestionably the surface closest to our skin the majority of the time, with pillows being the most common surface. Unfortunately, this also means that any dust or bacteria that make their way onto your pillow will be in close contact with your skin.

However, there is good news for you as another one of the benefits provides a solution to this problem! How does that happen?

Well, silk absorbs less moisture in comparison to other fabrics, making it less likely to be a host for bacteria and dust mites from your skin. Also, the dryness of silk attracts fewer allergens in the bedroom than other fabrics that tend to retain moisture, such as cotton.

So while your pillow should still be washed regularly, silk pillowcases have properties that help them stay cleaner between washes.

2.7. A Luxurious Feel

Aside from all of the other advantages we’ve discussed, there’s one more!

“Silk does for the body what diamonds do for the hand,” Oscar de la Renta once said.

Silk has reigned as the Queen of Textiles for over 4000 years. It is the ultimate luxurious cloth for the discriminating shopper. So, if you are being honest with yourself, there’s no substitute for the luxurious sensation of sleeping on silk!

3. Silk Pillowcases Vs. Cotton Pillowcases

Numerous popular articles claim that switching to silk pillowcases worked wonders for their skin and hair! We listed the benefits above, but if you are still doubtful, let us provide you with a comprehensive comparison.

	SILK PILLOWCASES	COTTON PILLOWCASES
FRIZZY HAIR	Silk pillowcases can help with frizzy hair as they cause less friction with hair and do not absorb much moisture.	On the other hand, Cotton pillowcases cause excessive friction and absorb moisture, leaving your hair dry and tangled.
HAIR BREAKAGE AND SPLIT ENDS	For the same reasons, Silk pillowcases stated above aid in preventing hair damage such as breakage and split ends.	Cotton pillowcases do not help with such issues, and in fact, they exacerbate such problems.
WRINKLES	Sleeping on silk can help reduce wrinkles caused by sleep creases because sleep creases do not occur when sleeping on silk.	Cotton, on the other hand, has no such effect. On the contrary, it causes you to wake up with unflattering sleep creases.
HEALTHY SKIN	As silk helps the skin retain moisture, you tend to wake up with hydrated, smooth, and glowing skin.	Cotton pillowcases absorb moisture from your skin, resulting in a tight, dry face.
ALLERGIES AND SKIN CONDITIONS	Silk is naturally hypoallergenic, making it less likely to cause allergies and other skin conditions.	Cotton, once again, has no such effect.
TEMPERATURE REGULATION	Silk pillowcases aid in temperature regulation, resulting in a more comfortable night’s sleep.	Cotton pillowcases will keep you bothered all night due to the temperature.
THE OVERALL FEEL	Silk has a soft, rich, and luxurious feel to it.	Cotton does not usually have a special feel and is quite ordinary.
PRICE	Silk pillowcases are quite costly.	Cotton pillowcases are cheaper and easily affordable.

4. In The End

Now that you are clear about the differences between the two, you can make a rational choice for yourself.

We would like to say that if you choose not to switch to silk pillowcases because of the price tag, consider it an investment because the silk pillowcase benefits are definitely worth the price!

Now, we leave it to you to discover and try silk pillowcases for yourself and share your experience in the comments below!

We hope that you found this article helpful! Feel free to drop in any thoughts or suggestions in the comment section!

Have a great day!

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5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the benefits of using a silk pillowcase?

• Less hair damage and frizz. According to experts, the benefits of sleeping on a silk pillowcase are most pronounced for the hair, as the smooth surface reduces friction and therefore breakage.
• More moisture maintained.
• Fewer wrinkles and folds on the face.

Q2. Are silk pillowcases hot or cold?

No matter the season, the moisture-repelling properties and natural, breathable fibres in a mulberry silk pillowcase will help you avoid sleeping hot and remain cool and dry—both factors that contribute to regulating your body temperature during sleep.

Q3. Is it better to sleep on silk or cotton?

Silk is significantly softer and smoother than Cotton. That means Silk protects your hair from damage and reduces skin ageing/wrinkles caused by sleep creases. Sleeping on Silk is less abrasive than sleeping on Cotton, and it doesn’t wick moisture away from your skin and hair as Cotton does..

1. Lubis, Imam Hazari, Anugerah Sarahono, and Ismarini Hutabarat. “AN ANALYSIS OF SPEECH FUNCTION IN LIFESTYLE ARTICLES OF COSMOPOLITAN MAGAZINE.” JURNAL LITTERA: FAKULTAS SASTRA DARMA AGUNG 2.2 (2023): 11-25. ↩︎
2. Zheng, Qing, et al. “Effects of quilts on comfortable indoor temperatures and human thermal responses during sleep.” Indoor air 32.9 (2022): e13122. ↩︎
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4. Ogawa, Tadashi, Masahiko Samoto, and Koji Takahashi. “Soybean allergens and hypoallergenic soybean products.” Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology 46.6 (2000): 271-279. ↩︎
5. Oh, Sang Ho, et al. “Association of stress with symptoms of atopic dermatitis.” (2010): 582-588. ↩︎
6. Ring, Johaness, et al. “Guidelines for treatment of atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) Part II.” Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology 26.9 (2012): 1176-1193. ↩︎

Last Updated on July 23, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology