Curly hair, dry skin, and allergies. These things are all crap, right? Believe it or not, your choice of pillow can contribute to all of these conditions. If you’ve slept on a cotton pillowcase before, it’s time to upgrade.
Can my pillowcase improve my skin and hair?
Yes! Traditional pillowcases are made from cotton or cotton/polyester blends. While inexpensive, this bedding also has a rough surface that creates friction on hair and skin at night, leading to curly hair and wrinkles in the morning.
Cotton is also very absorbent and draws moisture from your skin and hair while you sleep. If you’ve ever woken up with dry, brittle hair and dehydrated skin, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
On the other hand, best bamboo comforters, satin, and silk pillowcases for skin and hair are made of much smoother materials, and your hair and skin slide over them, reducing tension and tugging throughout the night. Bamboo, satin, and silk pillowcases are less absorbent than cotton pillowcases and help your hair and skin retain natural moisture.
Switching to a silk pillowcase for skin and hair or a best bamboo pillowcase is easy to improve your overall look, especially if you’re using the best pillowcase for your hair (more on that later).
Is it a bamboo pillowcase or a silk pillowcase for skin and hair for everyone?
In short: yes! But let me explain who can benefit the most from upgrading their pillowcase:
People with allergies
Bamboo and silk pillowcases are hypoallergenic, unlikely to cause an allergic reaction and prevent dust mites on your pillows. Dust mite allergy is very common, so best bamboo pillowcases are good for allergy sufferers.
People with dry skin
Since best bamboo pillowcases and silk pillowcases allow skin and hair to retain moisture better, they are more suitable than cotton pillowcases for people with dry skin.
People with sensitive skin
Best bamboo pillowcases and silk pillowcases have smooth surfaces that reduce friction against skin overnight. Less friction also means less inflammation, which is great for people with sensitive skin.
People with curly, wavy, damaged, or textured hair
If you have any of these hair types, you know the fight against frizz is real. But swapping out your cotton best bamboo pillowcases, satin, or silk pillowcase for skin and hair can make a world of difference in how your hair looks, not just in the morning but throughout the day. And over time, using a smoother pillowcase can improve your hair’s long-term health!
Past… Bamboo and silk pillowcases are popular options for people following the Curly Girl Method – a specialized haircare routine designed to enhance the definition of curly hair.
What are the hair benefits?
So how can bamboo and silk pillowcases specifically benefit your hair?
Best Bamboo pillowcases and silk pillowcases for skin and hair have a soft, smooth texture that reduces frizz. Cotton pillowcases cause too much friction in the hair, roughen the skin and leave a bedhead in the morning. Bamboo pillowcases and silk pillowcases for skin and hair, on the other hand, are completely smooth, allowing your hair to glide smoothly over the surface. This lack of friction can help prolong a blowout, and its good news for anyone with hair prone to frizz.
A bamboo or silk pillowcase is also great for people with damaged, curly, or textured hair. These hair types dry out faster, and cotton pillowcases only worsen the problem. On the other hand, bamboo pillowcases and silk pillowcases for skin and hair won’t wick moisture out of your hair while you sleep, so you’ll wake up with more hydrated locks. And as you already know, hydration is key to healthy, strong hair!
Silk, satin, or bamboo: which is the best pillowcase for hair?
First, let me show you the pros and cons of all three materials below, and then I’ll give you my final recommendation.
Bamboo pillowcase
Bamboo pillowcases are made from the fast-growing bamboo plant. To make the fabric, the bamboo is first crushed into pulp, and then the natural fibers are extracted from the pulp and spun into a yarn. Bamboo is considered a sustainable fabric because the bamboo plant, classified as grass, can grow up to 90cm in just one day!
The advantages of bamboo pillowcases:
- Bamboo is incredibly soft and is often compared to cashmere. This soft, smooth texture prevents hair from frizzing and tangling at night.
- Like silk, bamboo wicks away moisture and inhibits the growth of dust mites.
- Bamboo fabric is naturally cooling and breathable, allowing you to keep that “cool side of the pillow” feeling throughout the night. Goodbye days of quickly greasy hair!
- Bamboo pillowcases are also incredibly durable, machine washable, and will look brand new even if you wash them repeatedly.
- Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and antifungal (it fights fungus), which is good news for acne sufferers. In addition, these properties prevent the pillowcases from getting an unpleasant smell over time.
The disadvantages of bamboo pillowcases:
- Bamboo pillowcases, while smooth and luxurious, are not quite as smooth as silk pillowcases. However, many people also see this as a benefit, as silk pillowcases are often so slippery that they slip around too much while you sleep!
Silk pillowcases
Silk is made from the cocoons of silkworms. Silkworms are the larvae of a specific species of moth. After the silkworms are laid, they are regularly fed mulberry leaves until they drastically increase in size and then spin silk to form a cocoon. These cocoons are then boiled, killing the silkworms. The silk is then carefully unwound and spun into threads. It takes about 2,500 silkworms to produce just one pound of silk. The silk pillowcases are then woven from this thread.
The benefits of silk pillowcases
- The silk’s smooth texture prevents hair from frizzing overnight.
- There is no doubt that silk also feels luxurious! That is why silk underwear has long been in great demand.
- Silk pillowcases keep dust mites from living in your pillows. This is good news for allergy sufferers.
- Silk also inhibits the growth of bacteria, which is why silk pillowcases are also a good option for those prone to acne.
The Cons of Silk Pillowcases
- Because silk is so difficult to harvest and produce, it is quite expensive. While silk pillowcases have some impressive benefits, you can get the same benefits with other materials, like bamboo, at a lower cost.
- A silk pillowcase is also difficult to maintain. They need to be professionally cleaned to ensure a long lifespan. Because many experts recommend washing linens weekly, the cost and inconvenience of cleaning a silk pillowcase is a major disadvantage for most people.
- Silk pillowcases also have a tight weave that prevents good airflow and can cause the pillow to feel too warm.
- The production of silk also kills silkworms, so silk pillowcases are not an option for vegans or those concerned about animal welfare.
Satin pillowcases
So, what about satin? Satin is a soft, shiny fabric similar to silk. However, unlike silk, satin is a man-made fabric made from strands of polyester and rayon.
The advantages of satin pillowcases:
- Since satin is a synthetic fiber rather than a natural one, it is much cheaper.
- Satin is very smooth, so there is no friction on your hair or skin.
The disadvantages of satin pillowcases:
- Satin does not have any antimicrobial or antifungal properties of bamboo or silk.
- Satin is also not hypoallergenic.
Which pillowcase is better? Here is my conclusion
The benefits of silk and bamboo outweigh those of satin. Silk has historically been the most popular pillowcase option, but bamboo is currently gaining popularity. One of the reasons for the increasing popularity of bamboo is the environmental aspect. Bamboo is much more eco-friendly compared to silk. However, the availability of bamboo fabric has been quite limited in Europe (while it has been available throughout Asia for many years). But now bamboo is becoming increasingly popular in underwear, t-shirts, and pillowcases worldwide. Nevertheless, bamboo pillowcases are still not easy to find in the market.
Bamboo vs. Silk Pillowcase for Hair: Why Bamboo is Better
Bamboo pillowcases and silk pillows for skin and hair are excellent options if you want to get the most out of your beauty sleep. Bamboo pillowcases are a step ahead of silk pillowcases and here’s why:
- Bamboo is more beneficial. Bamboo plants grow incredibly fast, which keeps material costs low. On the other hand, silk is more expensive to harvest as it comes from the silkworm. Bamboo feels soft and smooth like silk but is much cheaper.
- Bamboo is easier to clean and maintain. Because bamboo is non-absorbent, it resists stains and does not discolor over time. And when your bamboo pillowcase gets dirty, you can just toss it in the laundry. Silk pillowcases must be professionally cleaned to ensure they last a long time.
- Bamboo is more durable. Even after multiple washes, bamboo pillowcases still look brand new. They are also less likely to snag and tangle. Unfortunately, silk pillowcases aren’t durable and can snag on even something small like a broken nail!
- Bamboo is more breathable than silk. With a bamboo pillowcase, you can enjoy the cool side of the pillow all night long. On the other hand, a silk pillowcase has a tighter weave, which is why it heats up more easily.
Bamboo pillowcases are good for animal welfare, unlike silk pillowcases for skin and hair, which kill countless silkworms in the process of making them.
The best pillowcase for hair:
Now it’s time to share my recommendation on the best pillowcase for hair, which goes to Hair lust Silky Bamboo Pillowcase. This hypoallergenic and antibacterial pillowcase is made from 100% bamboo fiber. The texture of the bamboo pillowcase is soft and smooth, making you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud. And since it’s made from vegan materials, you can sleep easy knowing you’re choosing an eco-friendlier option. That’s why this is my pick for the best pillowcase for hair!
Tip: Combine your Silky Bamboo pillowcase with a matching Silky Bamboo duvet cover. These duvet covers are made from the same bamboo lyocell material – so you get the same benefits.
4 more ways to use bamboo in hair care:
If you want to treat your hair with bamboo, try the following:
- Bamboo Towel Pillowcase – If you use hair masks overnight, you need this bamboo pillowcase. This soft and absorbent pillowcase protects your pillow from moisture and leaves hair soft and smooth in the morning.
- Bamboo Heatless Curls Kit – Forget heat styling your hair, and try our Heatless Curls Kit. With this kit made from sustainable bamboo, you can get beautiful curls overnight without heat.
For more info click here!
