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It finally happened. I did it. I jumped on the bandwagon and ordered a silk Mulberry pillowcase after taking one for a test ride over the holidays. After a few days of sleeping on such a luxurious surface while at my family home I knew I had to order one for myself. And why not? We deserve to treat ourselves after yet another COVID shutdown. If I can’t go out you better believe I’m going to make staying in as comfortable as possible. If you have been looking for an excuse or reason to buy yourself a silk mulberry pillowcase, I have a few, and some of them may surprise you.
5 BENEFITS OF SILK PILLOWCASE
Mulberry silk pillowcases are gentler on your skin and hair than a regular cotton or bamboo pillowcase which means less friction, less inflammation, and more hydration overall.
Silk doesn’t absorb dirt and sweat like cotton fabrics and therefore your pillow stays cleaner longer. It’s also an organic and hypoallergenic material thanks to the proteins that naturally coat the fibres of your Mulberry silk pillowcase. These fibres naturally repel allergens, fungus, and dust mites so you don’t have to worry about sleeping with a dirty pillow pressed up against your face.
Remember all those expensive lotions you put on your face before bed? Well, chances are you didn’t shell out those big bucks to have your pillow soak them up while you’re sleeping. Similar to dirt and sweat, silk Mulberry pillowcases don’t absorb skincare products like a cotton or bamboo pillowcase so your anti-aging serums and creams won’t go to waste!
A 100% silk pillowcase will keep your hair health and shiny! That’s right! Sleeping on a Mulberry pillowcase wont cause friction or tangles that inevitably dry out your hair making it more susceptible to damage, frizziness and loss of vibrancy.
They are so comfy to sleep on and they keep your head and face cool all night long! Never will I sleep on a warm, rough pillow again!
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MULBERRY SILK PILLOWCASE
You may have been thinking of getting a Mulberry pillowcase but aren’t sure what Mulberry silk is and why it’s more expensive than other silks. Simply put, it's a type of silk produced by silkworms that eat leaves from Mulberry trees. Mulberry silk, when produced in a controlled environment results in minimal variation and a more refined filament which produces the best quality silk. Mulberry silk is also both fine and light making it very luxurious to the touch which is why it is commonly used for bedding, sleep ware and pillowcases. Just make sure when you are shopping around for a Mulberry pillowcase that the pillowcase you end up with is made of 100% pure Mulberry silk so you don’t get ripped off. Further, make sure that the pillowcase you end up with has a high ‘momme' count (the equivalent to thread count in cotton fabric). The higher the better as it is a measure of density, softness and strength of the material!
Silk pillowcases or sheets with 19 momme equates roughly to a 600 thread count while a 22 momme pillowcase or sheet set equates to a 900 thread count.
Fun fact: A strand of mulberry silk is stronger than a strand of steel of the same diameter!
MY OLESILK 100% PURE MULBERRY PILLOWCASE
If you want a recommendation for a silk Mulberry pillowcase, I highly recommend the one I got from OlèSilk. It’s 100% Mulberry silk, comes in a variety of colours and sizes, is 25 momme (similar to a 1000 thread count density) and is less than $40 CAD on Amazon!
OleSilk has been a manufacturer of pillowcases, bedding, and sleepwear using 100% pure natural mulberry silk since 1986. I find their prices to be more affordable then other brands that I have seen online and delivery is fast when ordering on Amazon. I also love how my OleSilk Mulberry Silk Pillowcase has a zip closure so that it stays securely on my pillow throughout the night and doesn’t accidentally slip off. Lastly, as a former fashion designer I have very high standards when it comes to quality of fabric and manufacturing, and you can really tell OleSilk produces products with great care and high standards of craftsmanship which is why I do not hesitate to recommend them. As a matter of fact, I bought another one for my bff’s birthday this past week as well as they make great gifts for any beauty lover in your life!
BEST PILLOWCASE FOR ACNE
A lot of people think that silk Mulberry pillowcases are the best pillowcase for acne when in fact there is no proof that they help with acne. The best pillowcase for acne is actually a copper pillowcase because they are antimicrobial which means that they battle bacteria, are anti-inflammatory and help with restoring damaged tissue. Copper may sound like a funny thing to incorporate in textiles but the truth is copper has been used in the manufacturing of hospital linens, scrubs, and other medical fabrics because they prevent the growth and spread of bacteria! I haven’t tried any copper pillowcases so I unfortunately can’t recommend one, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have skincare concerns.
SILK VS SATIN PILLOWCASE
If you are debating whether to get a silk vs. satin pillowcase you should first be aware that satin, although shiny, is a product of a weaving technique (a satin weave) that produces a characteristically glossy, smooth or lustrous finish. Silk on the other hand is a natural thread filament produced by silk worms that when combined with other silk filaments becomes thick enough to become a usable fibre that can be woven into silk fabric.
Back in the day when I was in fashion school we learned all about different textiles and weaves, and some main differences between satin and silk fabrics are that satin fabrics are commonly made from synthetic fibres like nylon or polyester (which are derived from oil or petroleum) while silk is a natural fibre produced by silk worms. Silk from a tactile perspective is also soft and luxurious on both sides whereas satin tends to be silky or glossy on one side and dull and coarse on the other. Since satin is made from synthetic fibres it’s also very easy and fast to make while one pound of raw silk can take 2500 silkworms up to 8 days to produce. Because of this silk garments are generally more expensive than garments made from a satin material.
Further, unlike silk, satin is not breathable. It sucks up dirt and moisture easily, and will create friction against your skin resulting in static and frizz. Additionally, because synthetic fabrics are not breathable you will find your satin pillowcase becomes warm quickly while silk pillowcases are known for staying cool longer.
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HOW TO WASH SILK PILLOWCASES
It may seem intimidating but washing a silk pillowcase is actually quite easy. Most silk, unless specifically outlined in your garment care label, can be washed by hand using lukewarm water and a gentle washing detergent. Here are step by step instructions on how to wash a silk pillowcase at home.
1) Dissolve your gentle washing detergent in a large bowl of lukewarm water.
2) Add your garment to the bowl of soapy water and agitate until it is fully soaked. You can rub stains out lightly using your hands.
3) Once you are done washing the pillowcase, form a ball and squeeze out excess water. Do not twist and wring out your fabric as this can cause damage.
4) Change the water for fresh lukewarm water and soak the silk pillowcase once more to remove remaining detergent. You can also add a tablespoon of distilled white vinegar to disinfect and neutralize alkali traces.
5) Lay the pillowcase on a clean dry towel and gently press the water out of the fabric by rolling it up in the towel before hanging to air dry.
I hope this blog post answered all your questions regarding the benefits of silk pillowcases, how to wash silk pillowcases, the difference between a silk vs. satin pillowcase, what mulberry pillowcases are/how they are made, and which pillowcases are the best for acne. If you have any further questions feel free to leave them in the comment section below! Until then, sleep easy!
- Soheila
