I Tried a Silk Pillowcase to Fix My Bedhead (Complete With Before and After Photos)
In 2021, I dyed my brown hair white and, not surprisingly, it has never been the same. While I don’t regret dying my hair, I do miss the natural health it had before, and I regret not taking better care of my hair when I dyed it. Even though my hair is 99% bleach-free, I still have side effects like frizz and dullness, and my scalp is still as sensitive and dandruff-prone as ever, and gets greasy quickly.
in my pursuit healthier hairI spent more time researching my hair type and how to make said type healthy. I discovered that I have 2a/2b wavy and curly hair. But when I follow my curling routine, my hair gets tangled overnight and needs to be brushed out the next morning. Because I have thin hair, when I brush my hair, the curls disappear and fluff up, creating a curly vibe on my head. Another question? I’m low maintenance, so at this point, I’ve reached the limit of my efforts.
Time and time again, when I look for a simple solution, I keep seeing suggestions like this: Use silk pillowcase. Nearly every Reddit post, YouTube video, and article I’ve seen touts the wonders of silk for hair and skin. I was skeptical but decided to give it a try. Cozy Earth sent me 100% mulberry silk pillowcase (currently $82) to test.
Before using silk pillowcases
I have been using 100% cotton pillowcases for the past few years. While I wouldn’t say they offered the most luxurious experience, they got the job done. Yet, I wake up every day with tangled, frizzy hair and fabric lines on my face. To make matters worse, I slept hot, which added to the confusion—especially because my cotton pillowcase wasn’t cool.
After my curl treatment, after I shower, I use a leave-in conditioner or curling spray to work my hair through to emphasize my curls. I try not to use too much product because my hair is very thin and it can look greasy quickly. After that, it dries and looks beautiful. But then, I went to bed and woke up to this…
These hairs are tangled to the point that they require combing (finger combing is not an option). All I have left is a wisp of curls, with no defined curls or waves in sight. This happens so often that I’ve stopped doing my post-shower curling routine because my bedhead is strong enough to make the whole endeavor feel pointless.
Silk pillowcases reduce friction and don’t absorb as much moisture, helping to protect your style, keep your hair hydrated, and prevent tangles and breakage. Because of the gentle fabric, it’s also said to be great for sensitive, acne-prone skin – although it’s not a one-stop magic cure. With this in mind, I swapped out my cotton pillowcases for silk pillowcases.
After using silk pillowcase
As I rested my head on the pillowcase, I immediately felt something different. The lack of friction makes it easier for my skin and hair to slide against the shell, and the fabric has more of a cooling effect than cotton (great for hot sleepers like me). Now, for the real test: sleeping with a silk pillowcase.
I love sleeping in this fabric. It feels cooler and more luxurious than my cotton pillowcase. Plus, there are no residual fabric strands on my skin. As for my hair, I styled it in post-shower waves, went to bed, and woke up…
While my hair still got messier overnight, it wasn’t as tangled and frizzy as usual. I can still make out more pronounced waves and slight curls. Usually, when I wake up, my hair looks like it’s angry with me, but this time, it just looked restless. It’s easier to comb with your fingers, which means the hairbrush only takes a tiny bit, and as a result, I have less frizz. My hair also feels softer and more hydrated.
Since silk pillowcases can be more expensive than cotton pillowcases, I secretly hoped this experiment wouldn’t work. But based on these results, I think silk pillowcases are worth it—especially if you’re prepared to take care of them to extend their life.
Here are the care instructions for the Cozy Earth Silk Pillowcase: “Machine wash, iron low, do not tumble dry, mild detergent or gentle hand wash.” I’ve seen other brands recommend handling your silk products gently every step of the way, Prioritize hand washing or use the gentle cycle of your washing machine and place items in individual mesh laundry bags for delicates.
Again, I’m low maintenance: I use a washing machine with mild detergent. My apartment building model doesn’t have a gentle cycle, so I put the pillowcases in a protective mesh bag before washing. I then let it dry flat without any issues.
Judgment
If you’re tired of staying in bed, sleeping hot, or hate waking up with fabric strands on your skin—and you have some spare cash or a birthday wish list—I think a silk pillowcase is worth it. In general, I believe any product that can improve your sleep is worth it if you’re willing to take care of it.
If you want to save money while enjoying the benefits of a silk pillowcase, CNET’s article Favorite cheap silk pillowcases Only $10. As for the no longer intrusive bedhead, that’s priceless.
