You’ve surely heard about the benefits of silk for hair and skin by now. Celebrities swear by their pillowcases. Youtubers rave about their scrunchies. Silk products have officially reached cult-trend status, infiltrating your feeds on social. But you may be wondering, “are they worth the hype (or the price tag)”? And “how do I know what product(s) to buy or how to care for these delicate beauties”? Don’t worry, I got you! Read on for a quick guide on what benefits silk can offer, what they can’t, what to look for when purchasing and dos and don’ts for care.
What silk can do for you…
- Silk provides slip and reduces friction on your skin and hair. That means less tangles and frizz for your hair and less creasing for your face. We’ve all woken up with sleep lines and while that probably meant you caught some decent Zzz’s (thumbs up), that could also mean you’ve laid the groundwork for some decent wrinkles (thumbs down). If you have acneic skin, or even just get the occasional breakout, silk not only offers antibacterial properties, it’s also more gentle on the skin than other fabrics, allowing for a better environment for healing while you sleep.
- Silk is not as absorbent as other fabrics such as cotton or linen, so you can count on your well-earned hair and skincare products staying put instead of being soaked up by your pillowcase. And because silk is less absorbent, it’s also less drying to your hair and skin, leaving your natural oils in place.
- Silk regulates temperature and wicks away moisture, making for a cool and cozy slumber.
- Silk scrunchies are easier on your locks which can lessen breakage, hair loss and kinking, thus helping preserve your blow-out which means less washing and damaging heat styling.
What silk can’t do for you...
-Silk is not a magic cure-all for all your hair and skin woes. It cannot cure your acne,prevent you from aging or promise your days of unruly hair are behind you. Tailored home-care, a balanced diet, proper hydration, genetics and even your stress level all play a part in realizing your hair and skin health potential. Having said that, silk’s benefits far outweigh any negatives and absolutely deserve a spot in your wellness and self-care routine. Plus, I mean, it just feels nice. Who doesn’t want to rest their head on cool, soft, buttery goodness at the end of each day?
Now that we know that silk beauty products are a worthy purchase, how do you know what to look for? As with any product made popular, and especially the pricier variety, you’ll need to be careful of cheap imitations or falsely-advertised dupes. Also, be wary of price gouging. Quality silk products can be found at perfectly affordable prices. I’ll be speaking specifically about silk pillowcases from here on out but keep these tips in mind for all silk products.
What to look for and what to avoid…
- Silk quality is measured by momme (pronounced “moe-mee”) and the higher the number, the higher the quality. 19-22 momme (mm) is a typical range amongst pillowcases available on the market, with a few outliers at 25mm or higher.
- Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk and also accounts for about 90% of silk production. When shopping, look for products advertised as 100% Mulberry silk and avoid silk blends which can contain various other fabrics such as cotton or polyester, decreasing the valuable properties and benefits.
- Avoid single-sided silk pillowcases, which are often cheaply made and restrict you from being able to use both sides, in turn wearing down the silk fibers more quickly.
At 100% Mulberry silk and 22 momme, our Silk Beauty Pillowcase offers everything you need at an affordable price. So, now that you’ve purchased the perfect silk pillowcase, how do you keep it buttery soft for as long as possible? It is true that silk is harder to care for and keep like-new than other fabrics, but have no fear, it can be done! Even better news: machine washing isn’t out of the picture. Regardless of your chosen method, it’s best to wash your pillowcase once a week to rid of any built-up bacteria, sweat or excess oil (ew). Consider purchasing multiples so you can wash each one even less, extending the life of the delicate silk fibers.
Hand washing how-to…
- Fill a basin with cool water and a few drops of gentle, free and clear liquid detergent
- Soak and agitate the pillowcase gently with your hands - Empty the basin, refill and repeat the first two steps three or four times until the water runs clear and all soap has been rinsed out
- Remove excess water by squeezing, never wringing the pillowcase
- Lay flat to dry, preferably on a drying rack, away from any heat source
Machine washing how-to…
- Turn the pillowcase inside out, leaving unzipped
- Enclose in mesh garment bag
- Wash with cool or cold water, on the delicate cycle, with a small amount of gentle, free and clear liquid detergent
- Lay flat to dry as you would if hand-washing
Keep in mind that while it is more time-consuming, hand-washing is the best way to keep your pillowcase in tip-top shape for as long as possible. But if done with proper care, the occasional machine wash is A-OK.
