Silk pillowcase: does a beauty pillow really work?
You may have already seen it come up: influencers and beauty blogs swear by a pillowcase that makes you look more handsome. A silk pillowcase is said to fight wrinkles, keep your skin smoother, make split ends disappear and even protect your hair from frizz. Sounds almost too good to be true. But is it true?
In this article, we take a more critical look at the claims surrounding silk pillowcases. What is proven, what is marketing and how do you really benefit?
Why is silk popular in the bedroom?
Silk is a smooth, natural fiber known for its soft texture and luxurious appearance. In theory, it has advantages:
Less friction → less sleeping folds in the face and less hair breakage.
Moisture retention → silk absorbs less moisture than cotton, so skin and hair dry out less.
Hypoallergenic → less chance of irritation for sensitive skin or acne.
Climate regulation → cool in summer, warm in winter.
It sounds appealing, but how big of an effect is it in practice?
What should and should not be expected?
| Claim | How realistic? |
|---|---|
| Less wrinkles | Silk is less abrasive than cotton. So in the short term, you’ll see fewer sleeping creases, that’s right. Long-term ideal wrinkle prevention? There is hardly any scientific evidence for that. |
| Healthier skin | Because silk absorbs less moisture, it dries out your skin slightly less. This has not been proven. Creams, nutrition and sleep quality are much more determining. |
| Less frizz & hair breakage | This benefit is most visible. Curly or fragile hair especially benefits from the smooth fabric, but it doesn’t have to be silk. Cotton satin also works. |
| Better for acne | Less bacteria and irritation are exaggerated and not really proven yet. Besides, a pillowcase alone is not going to solve your acne. Washing the pillowcase often will! |
| Sustainability | Silk is natural and biodegradable, but its production is very demanding on the environment: think fertilizers, energy and water. So pay attention to labels as well. |
In short: a silk pillowcase can give your skin and hair a helping hand, but don’t expect miracles. And a soft woven satin pillowcase has quasi the same effect.
What can you look out for when buying silk pillowcases?
Want to put it to the test yourself? Then watch this:
Real silk – Choose 100% mulberry silk (mulberry silk). Avoid polyester “satin” which is often sold as “silky”.
Momme value – Go for at least 19 momme (density of the fabric). The higher this value, the more durable and luxurious the silk.
Weave – A smooth satin weave has the softest feel.
Care – Check if the pillowcase is machine washable. Silk often requires fine washing or hand washing.
Price versus quality – Cheap versions tend to be flimsy, break down faster and provide fewer benefits.
Are you environmentally conscious? – Then think twice. Research from the independent research and consultancy firm CE Delft in fact shows that silk fabrics appear to have the largest climate footprint per kilogram of fabric of any textile. The cultivation of mulberry trees, on which the caterpillars live, is particularly impactful. This is because it requires a lot of water, land and fertilizer. Moreover, large amounts of water and chemicals are used in the processing stage.
For whom is silk useful?
A silk pillowcase is especially interesting if:
- You are prone to sleeping folds or have frizz in your hair easily,
- You have sensitive skin and want to minimize irritation from friction,
- You love a luxurious feeling and are willing to invest in it.
Such a pillowcase makes less sense if you’re purely looking for a solution to skin problems or deep wrinkles. You have better alternatives for that, such as soft satin woven fabrics in cotton, bamboo or lyocell.
How is silk made?
More than nearly 5,000 years ago, the process of developing silk was devised in China. The process starts from the eggs of the adult silk moth. After about 14 days, the silkworms hatch and feed on leaves of the mulberry tree. These trees are specially cultivated to grow silkworms. It takes about 35 days until the caterpillars are fully grown. With their spinnerets, they spin themselves, in 3 to 8 days, a cocoon containing a syrupy liquid. Such a cocoon can contain up to 4,000 meters (4 km!) of thread.
And the silkworms?
In the traditional method, the caterpillars are killed and the cocoons harvested. There are now alternatives, where the caterpillar is allowed to grow into a butterfly first and the cocoons are harvested later (PEACH SILK). This does have a firm impact on the quality, because the strands are shorter and less qualitative. Strands of 5 to 8 cocoons are taken together and spun into 1 thread. Then the weaving can begin. About 2,500 cocoons of silkworms are needed to process 450 grams of silk.
Product properties of silk
Silk is fine, shiny and beautiful – no doubt – but also very fragile and delicate. The environmental impact is quite significant. On the one hand, because mulberry trees are grown using land, water and fertilizers. On the other hand, numerous caterpillars die to make this luxurious substance of the highest quality.
Conclusion: silk is a luxury extra, not a panacea
A silk pillowcase is a fine upgrade to your pillow and can subtly help your skin and hair. Think of it as a luxury extra, not as the solution to skin aging or bad nights. If you expect small improvements and enjoy the soft feel, then it is a worthwhile purchase.
Do you really want to invest in your sleep quality? Then your mattress, pillow and sleep routine remain at least as important as your pillowcase.
