Silk pillowcases – What's the hype?
The first question you are probably asking is ‘what is all the hype about silk pillowcases for?’
Well, an average person sleeps eight hours every night, which is about 230,000 hours in their lifetime, which translates to one third of their life on a pillow. So, it’s safe to say that putting some thought into choosing a pillowcase matter.
Silk pillowcases are made from silk, a natural protein fibre from silkworms that's soft and breathable. Historically, the silk fabric originated from ancient China in the Neolithic era and was only available in China to royalty and the wealthy until the opening of the Silk Road which made it possible to trade silk outside of China. Due to the complicated and detailed production process, silk remains a luxury fabric today.
Why silk? Silk has a lot of benefits for skin, hair and sleep and we’ve curated some benefits of using a silk pillowcase for you:
- Doesn’t absorb oil/moisture
Silk pillowcases do not absorb moisture or oil from your hair and skin. Thus, when you sleep on a silk pillowcase, your hair and face retain hydration longer compared to a cotton pillowcase. It is also reported to provide relief for even the most sensitive skin as it is so gentle. It is especially beneficial for curly hair because of its higher moisture requirement.
- Reduces Frizz
Imagine styling your hair before going to bed only to wake up with a lot of frizz and the style out of shape! Big Bummer! With a silk pillowcase, you will wake up with little to no frizz (depending on your hair texture), especially if you tie it up in a silk scarf, in which case your styling remains intact. Blonde hair tends to be fragile and curly hair tends to get frizzy; sleeping on silk reduces hair breakage as it minimises friction, leading to no breakage and less frizz.
- Comfortable sleep
Switching to a silk pillowcase means sleeping in pure unadulterated luxury all night because of its lovely smooth surface that is gentle on your hair and skin. Additionally, silk is a natural temperature regulator which makes it perfect for sleep all year round, regardless of the weather. It is recommended by dermatologists, as well as hair and beauty experts for its luxurious effects on your hair, skin and sleep.
- Hypoallergenic
Since our pillowcases are made from a naturally occurring fibre that is obtained from domesticated silkworms, silk pillowcases are naturally hypoallergenic, and they prevent build-up of dust mites, mold, fungus and other allergens.
- Anti-aging
Sleeping on a silk pillowcase minimises the appearance of sleep creases because of its smooth surface. Did you know that repeated creasing can turn into permanent wrinkles over time? Sleeping on a silk pillowcase continuously can be a preventative measure against fine lines and wrinkles, and if you already have wrinkles, sleeping on a silk pillowcase can help increase the time it takes for new wrinkles to appear. A silk pillowcase is the perfect last step to your nigh-time skin care routine.
How to choose the right pillowcase?
Silk can vary in quality. So how do you know which one to choose? There are so many options out there.
There are three main factors. One is the weave. A charmeuse weave is a favourite finish for silk pillowcases because of its smoothness and lustre which is important for that friction-decreasing quality silk provides.
The other thing to think about is the 'momme' count. Like a thread count applied to cotton, the momme count indicates the thickness and density of silk. A higher momme count is generally better, with 22 being the minimum weight suitable for pillowcases. The higher the momme though, the more durable, and more luxurious the pillowcase. The higher density also makes the pillowcase suitable for machine-washing.
Finally, make sure you are purchasing from a company that uses non-toxic dyes and are OEKO-TEX® certified as this is a confirmation that you’re purchasing fabric that has been tested for harmful substances and also manufactured under sustainable working conditions.
At It's Pure Silk, our pillowcases are 25-30 momme premium 100% mulberry silk, because we believe you deserve the best.
Now that you have a better idea of what silk can do for you, and are considering purchasing, visit Its puresilk to order the best silk pillowcase in the market today. You can thank us later!