Do silk pillowcases really make a difference?

Six months ago, I decided to swap my 400 thread count cotton pillowcase for a silk version that promised a drastic change in my skin and hair

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

I was quite content with my cotton pillowcases, even though every so often I’d find myself waking up with creases on areas of my face that somehow lasted the majority of the day. Even through my makeup, you could see obvious creasing on one side of my face. Now you could put this all down to my sleeping position, but six months after switching to silk pillowcases, I can tell you it has more to do with the pillow than your sleeping position.

I always keep several spare pillowcases ready for rotation for when the bedsheets are in the wash and also because I change my pillowcase every few days. Once I’ve slept on my pillowcase for one night, the following night I rotate it so that I’m not sleeping in the same area twice. I guess it’s just a habit now because I’m very OCD when it comes to looking after my skin.

One of the first things I noticed when I switched to silk pillowcases was the lack of creasing on my face. It was so nice to wake up with no creasing or bizarre indents on my face. My skin has been much clearer, with fewer overnight breakouts. Because silk takes in less moisture than most other fabrics, it’s less likely to hold onto bacteria from your face. Silk is also naturally hypoallergenic, so it’s a great alternative if you suffer from allergies.

Also, my hair condition has improved drastically since moving to silk pillowcases. My hair is less frizzy, and if I’ve styled my hair the day before, the style seems to stay longer and better than when I used to sleep on a cotton pillowcase. Ultimately, one of the reasons is that there’s less friction when you’re tossing and turning throughout the night, meaning you have less hair breakage, fewer tangles, and split ends.

Obviously, a silk pillowcase feels amazing on the skin and is generally a lot more luxurious than cotton. However, ultimately, I would say the biggest changes that I’ve seen over the last six months are the condition of my hair and clearer skin, and I could never go back to a cotton pillowcase.

If it sounds like something you want to try, then my advice would be to invest in high-quality silk. Make sure that you opt for a pillowcase that is made of pure 100% mulberry silk. You’ll be surprised to know that there are some bad dupes on the market, and even though they may seem tempting, they will not give you benefits anywhere close to what 100% mulberry silk will.

Personally, I feel like this is a cost-effective way to upgrade your beauty routine. Yes, it may be expensive to invest in silk pillowcases initially, but once you’ve made that investment, you won’t have to repurchase for a long time. This could be the small yet effective change you need to improve your skin and hair literally overnight.