Frizzy hair, dry skin, and allergies. They’re all a bummer, right? Believe it or not, your choice of pillow could be an underlying contributor to all these conditions. If you’ve been sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, it’s time to upgrade.
Silk pillowcases and bamboo pillowcases are both hailed as beauty solutions, but which one is better? And what about satin pillowcases? Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of bamboo, satin, and silk pillowcases. Plus, we’ll tell you the best pillowcase material for hair overall.
Bamboo pillowcases
Bamboo pillowcases are made from the quick-growing bamboo plant. To make the fabric, the bamboo is first crushed into a pulp. Then the natural fibers are extracted from the pulp and spun into a yarn. Bamboo is considered a sustainable fabric because the bamboo plant, which is categorised as a grass, can grow up to 36 inches in just one day!
The Benefits of Bamboo Pillowcases:
Bamboo is incredibly soft and has often been compared to cashmere and silk in feel. That soft, smooth texture keeps hair from getting frizzy and tangled during the night.
Like silk, bamboo wicks away moisture and discourages the growth of dust mites.
Bamboo fabric is naturally cooling and breathable, so you can keep that “cool side of the pillow” feeling all night long. Goodbye greasy hair days!
Bamboo pillowcases are also incredibly durable, machine washable, and look brand new even when you wash them over and over again.
Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, which is good news for acne sufferers. Plus, those qualities keep the pillowcases from acquiring odor over time.
The Cons of Bamboo Pillowcases:
While smooth and luxurious-feeling, bamboo pillowcases aren’t quite as smooth as silk pillowcases. However, many people actually find that to be a benefit since silk pillowcases are often so smooth that they slip around too much while you’re sleeping!
Silk pillowcases
Silk is made from the cocoons of silkworms. Silkworms are actually the larvae of a certain type of moth. After the silkworms are laid, they are fed a steady diet of mulberry leaves until they drastically grow in size, then spin silk to create a cocoon. These cocoons are then boiled, killing the silkworms in the process. Afterwards, the silk is carefully unwound and spun into thread. It takes around 2,500 silkworms to produce just one pound of silk. Silk pillowcases are then woven from this thread.
The Benefits of Silk Pillowcases:
Silk’s smooth texture keeps hair from getting frizzy overnight.
There is no doubt that silk feels luxurious! That’s why silk linens have long been coveted items, prized by kings and queens.
Silk pillowcases discourage dust mites from living in your pillows, which is great news for allergy sufferers.
Silk also discourages the growth of bacteria, which means that silk pillowcases are a good option for anyone prone to acne.
The Cons of Silk Pillowcases:
Since silk is so difficult to harvest and produce, it’s quite expensive. While silk pillowcases definitely have some impressive benefits, you can get the same benefits with other materials (like bamboo) for a lower cost.
Silk pillowcases are also difficult to take care of. They need to be professionally cleaned to last for a long time. Since many experts recommend washing your bed linens weekly, the cost and inconvenience of cleaning silk pillowcases is a big con for most people.
Silk pillowcases also have a tight weave, which prevents good air flow and can cause the pillow to feel too warm.
The production of silk kills silkworms, so silk pillowcases are not an option for vegans or anyone who is concerned about animal welfare.
Satin pillowcases
So what about satin? Satin is a soft, shiny fabric similar to silk. Unlike silk, however, satin is a manmade fabric produced from strands of polyester and rayon.
The Benefits of Satin Pillowcases:
Since satin is a synthetic rather than a natural fiber, it’s much less expensive.
Satin is very smooth, so it won’t create friction on your hair or skin.
The Cons of Satin Pillowcases:
Satin doesn’t have any of the antimicrobial or antifungal benefits of bamboo or silk.
Satin also isn’t hypoallergenic.
Source: https://hairlust.com/blogs/blog/bamboo-vs-silk-pillowcase