Silk Pillowcases Are Famously Better for Your Skin and Hair—These Are the 12 Best Ones To Snooze On
Fun fact: we spend nearly one-third of our lives sleeping (or attempting to do so), which means every aspect of our sleep routine deserves careful consideration. This includes pillowcases. I mean, if we're going to be spending one-third of our lives with our heads and faces resting on something, it should be the best, right? Right. So if you’re still sleeping on a regular cotton pillowcase, it’s high time you thought about making the switch to silk. Not only will you feel incredibly fancy snoozing on silk pillowcases, but your hair and skin will be better for it, too, giving “beauty sleep” a whole new meaning.
- Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites
- Jodi LoGerfo, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, family nurse practitioner certified in dermatology at Orentreich Medical Group
The best silk pillowcases at a glance:
- Best overall: Blissy Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($75)
- Runner-up: Quince 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($40)
- Best for breakage: Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase ($89)
- Best for shiny hair: Parachute Silk Pillowcase ($89)
- Best cooling: Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($53)
- Most colorful: Lilysilk Silk Pillowcase ($39)
- Best set: Casper Silk Pillowcase and Sleep Mask Set ($70)
- Best for clearer skin: Night Silk Plus Pillowcase ($50)
- Best for fine lines and wrinkles: Herb + Flora Morpheus Pillowcase ($80)
- Best vegan silk alternative: Eucalypso Pillowcase Set ($45)
- Best in the wash: Lunya Washable Silk Pillowcase ($78)
- Best budget: Zimasilk Mulberry Silk Pillowcase ($24)
Why use a silk pillowcase?
Less breakage and frizz
If you’ve ever woken up with a gnarly case of bedhead, then you already know why silk pillowcases are so necessary. Unlike traditional cotton pillowcases that can pull on your strands while you toss and turn in your sleep, silk pillowcases have a smooth, soft texture that reduces friction on your hair. This means less tangles, less bedhead, and less breakage. “Silk pillowcases are beneficial for hair because the smooth silk fabric helps to prevent tension on the hair that can lead to breakage,” explains Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites. Rivera explains that since they're naturally less abrasive, silk pillowcases are great at retaining the hair's natural oils, keeping strands softer and more hydrated for longer. “I also recommend using a silk pillowcase after getting chemical services such as hair color, highlights, and perms," she says.
Less skin irritation and creasing
Silk pillowcases help reduce the friction between your pillow and your skin too, which means less sheet marks, less skin irritation, and (maybe) even less fine lines and wrinkles over time. “Silk pillowcases are touted to be hypoallergenic, meaning they are less likely to irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction,” explains Jodi LoGerfo, DNP, APRN, a family nurse practitioner who specializes in dermatology at Orentreich Medical Group in New York City. “If you have eczema or psoriasis, a silk pillowcase can possibly help your skin feel better.” Silk pillowcases also help diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles over time, and can combat acne and blemishes (though Dr. LoGergo notes that the acne benefits are purely anecdotal.)
Less product waste
Let’s face it—you put a lot of time and effort into your skin-care routine, but if you’re sleeping on anything but silk, your coveted skin-care products are getting soaked up by your pillowcase, not your skin. Silk absorbs way less moisture than other materials, which means the ingredients in all your serums, moisturizers, and oils are better absorbed by your skin (as they should be!) Sleeping on silk also ensures you’ll experience less dryness come morning, which is a huge plus.
Silk vs. satin
The biggest difference between silk and satin pillowcases is that silk is a natural fiber, while satin is a woven fabric. Because of this, silk is usually softer to the touch, and more expensive. However, experts say that satin does offer similar hair and skin benefits, with some caveats. “Satin is supposed to be non-absorbent, which means it can keep moisture on the skin and hair,” says Dr. LoGerfo.
Rivera agrees, saying both silk and satin are good for your hair, but silk’s superior lack of absorbency makes it particularly suited for those who like to sleep with masks or leave-in conditioners on their hair, or those who are more prone to breakage. “Silk tends to be less absorbent so the hair can retain product and moisture more efficiently,” she explains. “Satin is also a good choice as a standard pillowcase because it’s gentle on the hair and, like silk, it helps prevent tension, and reduce frizz and tangles that can lead to breakage.”
How to choose a silk pillowcase
Look at the momme weight
Just like thread count is key when shopping for bedsheets, you’ll want to consider the momme—the measuring unit for the weight and quality of silk—of your silk pillowcase before you buy. Generally, you'll want to shop for pillowcases with a 19-25-momme (the higher, the better.) Go any lower, and you’ll likely find that the pillowcase feels thinner and is more likely to tear after a couple of uses.
Always check the care instructions
Even though silk pillowcases harbor less bacteria than traditional cotton, they’ll still need to be washed every so often, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into as far as maintenance is concerned. Most (but not all) silk pillowcases are machine washable on a delicate setting, but you should check the care instructions before buying so you know exactly what it’ll take to maintain your silk pillowcase’s softness.
Best overall
Originally $100, now $75
Available sizes: Standard-King
This Blissy pillowcase ticks all of our silk-pillowcase boxes. It’s made of 22-momme, 100-percent Mulberry silk, is cool-to-the-touch, can be chucked in the wash for easy cleaning, and it comes in a ton of vibrant colors to match your bedding. What’s more, it has a whopping 15,000+ 5-star reviews, so you know it’s the real deal.
“I have never been able to go without washing my hair every day because of ‘bed head’, but that is no longer an issue,” wrote one Blissy fan in a 5-star review. “My hair looks as good when I wake up as it does when I go to bed! My hair is healthier, shinier, not as dry, and has less breakage. My skin and complexion is also improved with fewer breakouts, [it’s] not as dry, and I don’t wake up with sheet creases on my face.”
Colors: 44
Runner-up
Available sizes: Queen/Standard-King
Quince knows how to deliver luxury at an accessible price point, and the brand’s 100-percent mulberry silk pillowcase is no exception. Touting over 600 reviews, it does everything we want our silk pillowcases to do—minimize bedhead, smooth and protect skin, and reduce friction—for less than $50 bucks. It features a no-fuss zipper closure, and comes in a range of fun and neutral colors too. The only reason that it doesn’t get best overall is because it doesn’t have the amount of reviews the Blissy one has, and comes in less colors, too.
But it’s still amazing: “After some time of using this as my first silk pillowcase, I can truly say that it has calmed both my skin and hair,” said one Quince shopper in a 5-star review. “It is light and smooth, and I’m so glad I came across this! The quality you get for the price you pay is totally worth it.”
Colors: 7
Best for breakage
Available sizes: Queen-King
Rivera recommends Slip’s Pure Silk Pillowcases, which she says are a must for combating friction that can cause breakage and bedhead. Made using a high-grade, 22-momme mulberry silk, the Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase boasts a luxurious, smooth texture that glides effortlessly against strands instead of pulling and tangling throughout the night. This means less breakage and smoother hair in the morning.
“I was hesitant like everyone else, and it’s true you need this pillow case,” gushed one happy Slip customer. “My hair is no longer breaking or getting tangled. It also helps keep my head cool.”
Colors: 9
Best for shiny hair
Available sizes: Standard-King
If you want to wake up to shinier hair, this Parachute Silk Pillowcase is the ticket, according to shoppers. Made of 25-momme mulberry silk—the highest quality on the market—Parachute’s silk pillowcase has an especially soft and smooth texture that feels amazing on skin and brings out the best in your mane. It comes in a classic white that goes with any bedscape. Plus the silk fibers stay cool, which means you won’t have to worry about overheating or sweating throughout the night.
“My hair absolutely loves it…I can see the difference—[it’s] shinier, less dull hair in the mornings,” wrote one Parachute customer in a 5-star review. “Also my skin seems to benefit. Now considering buying a few of these. The quality is absolutely there!”
Colors: White
Best cooling
Originally $59, now $53
Available sizes: Standard-King
In addition to the soft, friction-less feel that’s gentle on skin and hair, Brooklinen’s Mulberry Silk Pillowcase is naturally cool to the touch, making it perfect for sleepers that run hot. Silk is typically thermoregulating, of course, but reviewers say (and there are over 1,000 of them) that Brooklinen’s take feels especially cool on the skin, so you’ll never spend the night flipping your pillow to cool down.
One Brooklinen shopper says it’s a must-have: “Luxurious and cooling…The only pillowcase I HAVE TO HAVE on my bed at all times. Can’t sleep without it!”
Colors: 6
Most colorful
Available sizes: Standard-King
If you want to experience the benefits of sleeping on silk and spruce up your bedding at the same time, Lilysilk has a great selection of stylish colors and patterns to choose from. There are light and dark neutrals, bold jewel tones, and a mix of watercolor, marble, and floral prints that are sure to make a statement. Each pillowcase is made of a 19-momme mulberry silk, and you can even get yours monogrammed for an extra $25.
“Love the feel and [the] color it is as vibrant as it looks online!” said one Lilysilk shopper.
Colors: 12
Best set
Originally $139, now $70
Available sizes: Standard-King
For folks who want to double up on silk, this silk pillowcase and eye mask set from Casper is an instant add-to-cart. Made of 100-percent mulberry silk, this soft set feels as luxe on your skin and hair, as it looks on your bed. Plus, the eye mask totally blocks out the light to help eliminate distraction as you fall asleep.
Colors: 3
Best for clearer skin
Available sizes: Standard-King
One side of this Night Silk Plus Pillowcase is made of mulberry silk—which, as we’ve learned, helps skin retain nourishment for a softer, smoother feel—and the other side is made of rayon, which promises to wick away moisture and bring balance to oily and combination skin. So basically, this 2-in-1 pillowcase gives you the freedom to flip or flop depending on your skin’s needs. Pretty cool right?
“I love the feel of the Night pillowcases. I no longer wake up with deep fabric lines in my face, and I don’t find hair all over my pillow,” wrote one shopper in a 5-star review. “The material is so soft against my skin and very gentle with my hair. I’m very happy with these pillowcases. It’s a great way to get a little extra care while you sleep.”
Color: Champagne
Best for fine lines and wrinkles
Available sizes: Standard
If smoother looking skin is what you’re after, you might want to invest in this Herb+Flora pillowcase. Every fiber in the Morpheus silk pillowcase is woven with copper fibers (an essential mineral said to support skin-health), to help boost skin radiance and diminish the look of fine lines when used over time. And did we mention that it looks (and feels) as fancy as it sounds?
“I know it’s bad for wrinkles, but I’m a face sleeper. Can’t help it, I’ve tried,” wrote one Herb+Flora shopper in a 5-star review. “The thing about this pillowcase besides the comfort and aesthetic is obvious—when I wake up in the morning, I can tell my skin has absorbed my face product and not my bedding. Nothing worse than waking up to an oily pillowcase, [that] doesn’t happen with this one!!! 1000% recommend.”
Color: White
Best vegan silk alternative
Originally $59, now $45
Available sizes: Standard-King
For folks looking for a vegan alternative to silk, these Eucalypso pillowcases feel just as soft on skin and hair. Made of 100-percent tencel lyocell (which is sustainably sourced from eucalyptus bark and touts hypoallergenic and antimicrobial properties), they’re great for sensitive or acne prone skin. The cherry on top? They come in a set of two, and are available in a range of muted and modern shades.
“These are the best pillow cases I’ve ever used!” said one happy Eucalypso shopper in a 5-star review. “They’re ultra soft, stay cool all night, and are beautiful quality. Absolutely would get again.”
Colors: 7
Best in the wash
Available sizes: Queen
Lunya is known for its washable silk fabric that somehow maintains its velvety softness after countless washes—and the brand’s Washable Silk Pillowcase is no different. On top of all the aforementioned skin and hair benefits, Lunya silk positively screams luxury. And the best part is, that fancy feeling doesn’t wear off with time, unlike other silk pillowcases out there. Getting it clean is simple: toss it in your laundry machine on a cold, delicate cycle, then tumble dry it on low heat.
Color: White
Best budget
Originally $40, now $24
Available sizes: Standard, Queen, King
This mulberry silk pillowcase by Zimasilk gives you the luxury feeling of silk, without the luxury price tag. Made of a 19-momme, breathable mulberry silk, this budget-friendly silk pillowcase feels like velvet on skin and hair (which means smoother, bedhead-free tendrils and less tugging on the skin). Zimasilk boasts 31,000 (!!) 5-star ratings on Amazon, so you know it’s worth the hype. Reviewers recommend washing it on a delicate cycle and hang-drying to get the most bang for your buck.
“I’m in love with these pillow cases,” wrote one Amazon shopper in a 5-star review. “I purchased one for myself and another for my mom, and plan on purchasing a few more so that I always have clean ones to use while the dirty ones are being cleaned. While I’ve never tried any of the more costly brands for comparison, I am more than happy with these and see no reason to invest in a more expensive item.”
Colors: 24
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