What is the best silk?

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Regardless of your hair type, if you wake up to a head of hair that resembles a rat's nest, it's not the friction against your cuddle partner, it's your pillowcase. That thin sheet that keeps your pillow clean could be — and most likely is — doing a number on your hair if it's not made out of the right fabric, aka silk or satin.

To figure out why cotton pillowcases cramp your (hair)style, I asked celebrity stylist and all-around mane addict Jen Atkin to weigh in. "Cotton absorbs moisture, while silk retains it, so when you lie on a silk or satin pillowcase, the oils from your strands are maintained rather than soaked up, leaving your hair nourished rather than dry, " she says. This is especially beneficial for hair types that are prone to frizz, such as coarse hair types or girls who have wiry curls, she adds.

Silk pillowcases also have a smooth slip to them — they're like the sexy lingerie of pillowcases and are super-gentle on skin and hair — so they won't leave sheet indentations on your skin when you wake up (bonus!), and the fabric allows your strands to flow freely over it without friction. This is what causes the not-cute version of bedhead, which is exactly why you should want to invest in a silk pillowcase.

Don't want to part with your cotton pillowcase? Atkin is also a fan of wrapping hair in a silk scarf before sleeping to maintain your style. "This is great for all hair types, but is especially beneficial for natural hair, " she says.

Now that you know the benefits of what snoozing on a silk or satin pillowcase can do for you, your hair, and your skin, here are a few to start sleeping on stat! And P.S., just because they're silk doesn't mean they're going to cost you your Starbucks or shoe fund. There are options out there that won't break the bank — see below!

Get non-boring fashion and beauty news directly in