If you’ve landed on this article, the chances are you’ve heard about the potential benefits of silk on hair, and you’re wondering whether there’s any truth in the rumours. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that the answer is yes! But what exactly are the advantages of sleeping on silk?
To help you decide on your next bedding purchase and find out whether silk really does make the best pillowcases for hair, we’ve answered some of the most common questions asked by customers!
What are the benefits of silk pillowcases?
Before we delve into how silk pillowcases can actually help your hair, it’s useful to have an overview of the general benefits, to paint a clearer picture of the product. So, without further ado, what are the advantages of silk pillowcases?
Prevent wrinkles
Whether you’re a fidgeter or not, the chances are you’ve experienced something known as ‘sleep creases’ at some point, especially if you’re a side sleeper. Well, the bad news is that these creases can eventually turn into wrinkles over time. Fortunately, swapping out your old pillowcases for soft and delicate silk bedding can help you combat wrinkling.
Keep your skin hydrated
A soft and elegant fabric, silk offers many benefits for the skin and it’s excellently placed to keep you hydrated throughout the night. The material can offer relief from evening itchiness, redness and inflammation, and clogged pores.
Anti-aging properties
Thanks to the way silk prevents wrinkles and hydrates the skin, there’s a case to go one step further and say that it actually has anti-aging properties, due to the textile aiding a combination of healthier skin and thicker hair! And, of course, with the fabric so lusciously soft, how could we forget the benefit of uninterrupted beauty sleep that’s almost guaranteed whenever you sleep on silk.
Regulate your temperature
Silk is naturally temperature regulating, which means you’ll be comfortable all night long, no matter the time of year. The ability to regulate temperature ensures you’ll remain warm and cosy in winter and comfortably cool during the summer.
Prevent acne
Because silk doesn’t absorb the moisture from your hair and skin (more on this later), it can be an effective fabric if you suffer from acne. Rather than resting your face on built-up dirt and grime from previous evenings, you can fall asleep soundly knowing your pillowcases are clean and hygienic. That said, if you’re currently experiencing breakouts, we’d recommend a specialised skincare routine recommended by a professional.
Do silk pillowcases prevent frizz and bedhead?
Whether you’re quietly anxious about the state of your hair on a morning or vocal about how frustratingly long you spend in front of the mirror, you’ll be pleased to find out that silk pillowcases might be the resolution you’ve been looking for. This is because silk is known to fight frizz and tangles.
Impressively, the ultra-smooth surface of the silk significantly reduces friction, meaning your hair can simply glide over your pillow as you sleep, rather than getting caught up, snagged, or tousled throughout the night.
Do silk pillowcases keep your hair clean?
Another excellent benefit of silk pillowcases is that they’re actually proven to help to keep your hair cleaner. This is due to the non-absorbent make-up of the material. While traditional bedding fabrics like cotton will absorb oils and grease from your hair, silk pillowcases don’t. Instead, they lock the moisture in your hair and keep all the natural oils present.
While it might not sound like the worst thing in the world for your pillowcase to extract dirt from your head, it quickly becomes unhygienic and far-from-clean when you’re sleeping on days-old grime! This also means you can use hair oils before bed without fear of them coming off throughout the night.
Do silk pillowcases hydrate your hair?
Thanks to the moisturising benefits of silk pillowcases, upgrading your bedding will also allow you to keep your hair better hydrated at night.
Because silk doesn’t absorb natural oils, instead locking them in your hair, you’ll enjoy a healthier scalp that doesn’t constantly feel dry or itchy and has space to breathe as you sleep. If you’re struggling with dry or brittle hair, silk pillowcases could be the perfect solution.
Do silk pillowcases prevent allergens?
One of the better-known benefits of silk is that it’s exceptionally effective at keeping allergens at bay. In fact, it’s naturally hypoallergenic, which means you’ll no longer have to worry about dust, mites, dander, or mould troubling you at night again.
This makes silk a great choice if you’re prone to evening sniffling, coughing, or sneezing, whether you’re a mild sufferer or have serious asthma. And it’s not just great at preventing respiratory illness; because silk is luxuriously soft, it’s also excellent for anyone with sensitive or delicate skin.
Top tip: if you do find that your allergies are persistent, consider investing in a mattress protector to add another layer between you and your mattress, and make sure to wash your bedding a little more regularly.
Can silk pillowcases prevent split ends and breakage?
Due to the soft and smooth nature of silk pillowcases, they’re great at minimising split ends and breakage. Because the fabric locks in moisture, you’ll find your hair remains better hydrated and moisturised, which helps protect against dryness and brittleness.
However, of course, it’s important not to rely solely on your bedding to stop split ends, and it can be helpful to combine a silk pillowcase for your hair with moisturising conditioner, to further lock in those healthy natural oils.
Can silk pillowcases reduce hair thinning?
Because of the elegantly smooth texture of the textile, you’ll perhaps notice that you wake up with a healthier head of hair when laying on silk pillowcases. Allowing your head to glide over the pillowcase, sleeping on silk means your hair is much less likely to be exposed to friction and become aggravated, both of which are common contributors to thinning.
Can silk pillowcases benefit curly hair and textured hair?
If you have curly hair, it’ll likely come as no surprise that textured dos typically loses a lot of moisture as you sleep, which is only worsened when laying on a standard-issue pillowcase. However, investing in a quality silk pillowcase for curly hair can help you retain the moisture and prevent your ends from drying out.
Can silk pillowcases complement my hair care routine?
Finally, because of the way silk pillowcases let your hair lay freely while locking in the moisture, you’ll find them to expertly complement your overall hair care routine. If you regularly use high-quality hair products and conditioners, a suitable pillowcase is essential to get the most out of your hard work – and prevent your expensive products from going to waste! In short, silk makes among the best pillowcases for hair, and can facilitate thick, healthy, and hydrated locks.
Are silk pillowcases worth it?
Reeling off the benefits, it’s hard to argue against the qualities of silk. However, it can be quite a troubling material if you’re cruelty conscious. One of the main disadvantages of real silk bedding is the way its manufactured, with roughly 2,500 silkworms boiled alive to produce just a pound of the fabric.
Fortunately, there’s an ethical alternative in eucalyptus silk. While sharing all the qualities and benefits of its namesake, including luxurious softness and hair-friendly properties, eucalyptus silk is sustainably sourced from eucalyptus trees rather than silkworms.
With this in mind, why not explore our complete range of eucalyptus bedding bundles for elegant bed sheets, duvet covers, and blankets, or discover even more useful insight from our sleep experts over on the Ethical Bedding blog.
