How A Silk Pillowcase Can Elevate Your Beauty Sleep

Chances are you’ve heard that silk and satin pillowcases can be better for your skin and hair. To find out more about these luxurious pillowcase materials and how they can benefit your skin and hair overnight, we tapped Jonathan Colombini, celebrity hairstylist and L’Oréal Paris creative director of style and color. Keep reading to discover what makes silk and satin pillowcases optimal for beauty sleep. 

What Are Silk or Satin Pillowcases? 

As the name suggests, silk and satin pillowcases are made from, well, silk and satin. Satin, however, is actually not a fabric. Instead, it’s a type of weave that’s made from a few different fibers, such as silk, rayon and polyester. 

What Makes Silk and Satin Pillowcases Different?

The most obvious difference between silk and satin pillowcases and traditional cotton ones is that the former have a smooth, slippery surface that essentially limits friction and tugging, which has a ton of skin and hair benefits.

Why Sleep With Silk or Satin Pillowcases? 

There are a plethora of benefits from sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase, especially when it comes to your skin and hair. 

Reduced Friction

According to Colombini, the less friction between your hair and pillow, the better. Thanks to the smooth surface of both silk and satin pillowcases, hair actually glides over the fabric, without any friction involved, resulting in fewer tangles and less frizz come morning. 

This isn’t a new concept, though. Women with curly hair have been using this hack for years to keep styles like braids and blowouts preserved overnight. 

Less Hair Breakage

Less friction and tugging from a satin pillowcase can lead to fewer broken hairs. The slicker surface makes it less likely that you’ll wake up with tangles, which helps you avoid brushing through them (and breaking your strands) in the morning.

Moisture Retention

Silk and satin are less drying than cotton, making it significantly easier to retain your hair’s moisture. For even more hydration, consider spritzing some of the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Refresh & Reshape Leave-In Spray to your curls before hitting the pillow. Thanks to the help of hyaluronic acid and castor oil, it offers long-lasting moisture to each and every strand without making hair feel greasy, crunchy or weighed down.

Gentler on the Skin

Aside from your hair, your skin can benefit tremendously from sleeping on a smoother, silkier surface, especially if you’re a side sleeper. A silk or satin pillowcase is way gentler on the skin and doesn’t tug on it as much as a traditional cotton pillowcase can, which exacerbates the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

If you suffer from blemishes, you may want to consider making the switch from a cotton pillowcase to a silk or satin one. By limiting the friction between your skin and the pillow, you  may be able to avoid further irritation to your face. 

Next: How to Wrap Your Hair at Night

Written By: Caitlyn Martyn, Photo: iStock