This is one beauty hack I wish I had learned years ago.
Last year my hair suffered some pretty extreme damage after a curling iron… incident. The result? Unintentional layers featuring frayed ends and frizz that could not be tamed. Not a good look.
Naturally I was desperate to find a cure for my fried locks and was down to try just about anything. While researching shampoos, conditioners, and leave-in treatments I came across a hack that I can’t believe I didn’t know about sooner.
Silk Pillowcases. (ummm hello, women with textured hair have been using them for decades)
And they’re not just great for your hair. These are just a few of the reasons you need to switch to a silk pillowcase tonight.
1. Hair Hydration
Dry, brittle hair is a reality for many women, especially those with damaged hair. Many of us have tried overnight masks, leave-in conditioners, and other moisturizing treatments to heal our hair overnight. However, if you’re using a traditional cotton pillowcase you’re sacrificing some of that moisture.
Cotton is more porous than silk and therefore absorbs moisture from your hair overnight. A silk pillowcase will leave that hydration where it belongs: in your hair. Bonus: a silk pillowcase will also help reduce scalp dryness.
2. Prevent Frizz
Silk’s smooth texture allows hair to glide over the surface without catching or snagging. This prevents friction that causes frizz, and also reduces tangling and bed head. Cotton pillowcases can cause hair to snag, creating a mess for your morning.
3. Prevent Wrinkles
What?? Yes, it’s actually true. Great hair is only one of the reasons to switch to a silk pillowcase tonight. Many people don’t realize that silk is fantastic for your skin as well.
Silk’s smooth texture and lack of friction actually reduce damage to skin over time. Tossing and turning, as well as sleeping on your side/face, can result in creases in the skin.
Sleeping on a smooth surface can reduce the friction and thus reduce the damage done to your skin while you dream.
4. Skin Hydration
Just as cotton pillowcases will absorb moisture from your hair, the same is true for your skin. When you apply a moisture-rich bedtime regimen to your face (like, maybe some of my favorite products found here?) you may be wasting some of that expensive product every night. Yikes.
Don’t give your fabulous night cream to your cotton pillowcase. With a silk pillowcase, the moisture and nutrients provided by your nighttime products stay right where you need them: in your skin.
5. Reduce Night Sweats
Confession: I am a hot sleeper. Super ironic considering I’m freezing pretty much all other hours of the day. But so be it.
I sweat in my sleep more often than I care to admit, and much of it is around my neck. Gross. But since switching to a silk pillowcase, I have noticed a huge reduction in shall we say… neck sweat.
Silk may not be the best fabric for cooling out there, but it’s moisture-wicking properties definitely help to keep you cool and dry. It is especially effective when paired with a pillow made with a fill designed to stay cool like the Coop Home Goods Eden Pillow that I am obsessed with and review here.
But which silk pillowcase should I buy?
It’s not difficult to find a silk pillowcase, but there are certain quality markers you want to look for:
- Make sure to purchase one that is 100% pure Mulberry Silk; satin does not have the same texture as silk and will not provide the benefits mentioned above.
- Look for silk that is at least 19mm (Momme – a Japanese form of measurement pronounced “moe-mie”) on both sides of the case.
I like the Queen sized 25mm Silk Pillowcase from Fisher’s Finery. It is reasonably priced compared to many others of this quality and has an envelope flap design that ensures it stays in place.
This pillowcase is recognized as an “All Star Standout” by Good Housekeeping and is an all around winner in our book.
Buy on Amazon
I personally have two of these and won’t go to sleep without one. My hair has never been healthier, and usually retains its style overnight, and my skin? One word: Radiant.
I have officially become a person who travels with a pillow case…
Make the switch tonight and join the rest of us who have discovered the true meaning of Beauty Sleep.
