The last few years have seen a new introduction into the world of beauty: the silk pillowcase.
No longer just a member of the bedding realm, silk pillowcases are now available in stores like Sephora and Mecca. Swapping your regular cotton pillowcases out for silk is a trend that hit the mainstream in 2018 when Kim Kardashian announced that she will "always sleep on a silk pillowcase" on her since closed website.
Personally, I adopted the trend myself (without knowing about the Kardashian-Jenner tick of approval) in early 2018 and haven't looked back. But it's something I get questions about all the time. Does sleeping on silk actually do anything different? Is it worthwhile investing in silk pillowcases?
Short answer, yes. Here's why.
It's not necessarily that silk pillowcases will improve your sleep - although some say that they do. It's that, silk pillowcases are better for your hair and skin than fabrics like cotton or linen. The slippery nature of silk causes less tension and friction and therefore less of a pull on your locks and complexion.
I have rather curly hair naturally. The type of hair that you can't brush without it turning into a triangular frizz-ball. I can give it a comb while it's wet in the shower, but once it's dry, I can't touch it without ruining the look of my curls. Unfortunately, my tendency to move around in my sleep used to yield some pretty nasty knots, which I'd either have to live with or bring forward my hair washing schedule to remove. Since switching to silk, the decreased tension means my hair is significantly, and noticeably less knotty. It means I'm losing less hair through brushing, and I also get to space my hair washes out a little more. This means my hair isn't as dried out, it's healthier, thicker and shinier.
But the primary reason why I switched to silk is for the complexion benefits. Silk doesn't tug and fold you skin, which means fewer lines and less sagging long-term. In the short-term, silk helps minimise acne and skin congestion. It's natural antimicrobal, which can ease bacteria-based acne. Plus, it's a fibre that's resistant to dust-mites and deterioration. It also has excellent moisture wicking properties, helping to pull sweat from your skin and stop you from overheating.
My silk pillowcases have made such a difference to the texture of my skin, truly helping to minimise the congestion that I experience. It's certainly been on of my best beauty game-changers. And before you ask, no, you don't have to dry clean them. Generally, most brands that make silk bedding will make their products machine washable.
So, yes. Silk pillowcases are certainly worthwhile.
Image: slip via kalliekaiser
