If you’ve read our blog or product descriptions, you probably know that SYLKE The Label pillowcases are great for preventing tangles, minimizing bedhead and keeping your hair naturally moisturized for a great night of beauty sleep. And that goes double for anyone with frizzy hair, which is far more susceptible to damage from drying out.

But did you know that sleeping on a silk pillowcase is wonderful for anyone experiencing hair loss? In fact, the benefits of our pure mulberry silk pillowcases may be even more dramatic for individuals who’ve lost their hair.

Let’s take a closer look at how silk benefits different types of hair loss and why.

How Silk Can Help Manage All Types of Hair Loss

Many genetic, medical and environmental factors influence whether or not we lose our hair. As you are likely aware, conditions like male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness run in families; this type of hair loss is genetic and tends to follow a hereditary pattern through generations. Along with male pattern baldness (MPB) and female pattern baldness (FBP), hair loss can be caused by multiple additional factors:

• Hormonal changes and imbalances (especially pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause)
• Autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata
• Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation 
• Diet or medication
• Stress
• Hairstyles that tug, break, and pull hair
• Hair care habits that dry out and/or damage hair leading to hair loss

While a silk pillowcase can’t completely undo hair damage or reverse different types of hair loss, it does play an important part in promoting hair growth and repair.

Silk vs. Cotton: Your Pillowcase Material Matters

Your pillowcase material has a big impact on your hair. Most people sleep on a cotton pillowcase; cotton is a very popular fabric for sheets and bedding. However, there are two properties inherent in cotton fabric that make it a poor choice for anyone experiencing hair loss:

1. Cotton absorbs moisture. In fact, absorbency is a property that cotton is known for. This means that cotton can actually pull moisture out of your hair and scalp, leading to dry hair which is easier to break, frizz and become damaged.
2. Cotton is rough. It may seem hard to believe, but even a soft cotton pillowcase has tiny fibers that pull and tear at your hair strands and skin on your scalp and face. This makes your cotton pillowcase a source of friction and hair breakage (along with sleep wrinkles that can lead to fine lines on your face.)

Reasons Why Silk Pillowcases are Good for Your Scalp and Hair During Hair Loss

Unlike cotton, silk fabric is protein-based, gentle and naturally moisturizing to your scalp. There are many reasons why sleeping on silk is better for anyone with hair loss or thinning hair:

• Silk helps hair and scalp retain moisture: Silk is a protein-based fiber that contains amino acids that naturally moisturize your hair and skin. Many salon and spa quality hair and skin products are made with silk protein, known as sericin. Keeping your hair and scalp adequately moisturized allows your scalp to stay healthy and prevents drying out/breakage of existing and newly grown hair.

• A silk pillowcase is smooth and friction-free: The soft, charmeuse weave of a real silk pillowcase from SYLKE The Label is nearly friction free. Unlike the pulling and tugging you get with a cotton pillowcase, your hair, scalp and face glide smoothly across the smooth surface. This means your hair won’t be pulled out or broken by your pillowcase and delicate regrowth will be protected. (Bonus: you’ll also see a reduction in sleep crease wrinkles on your face).

• Silk is naturally hypoallergenic: Along with repelling allergens, silk is resistant to mold, fungus, and dust mites. This is important for anyone with sensitive skin on either their scalp or face. SYLKE The Label products are also certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® which means they have been independently tested for safety against a variety of harmful substances.

• Silk is a gentle environment: From moisture, to softness, to repelling allergens, silk is a gentle, nurturing environment that can help care for skin and promote regrowth. Most importantly, sleeping on a natural pure silk pillowcase will never harm your hair; there are only benefits to be had!

Note: only genuine silk provides these natural, inherent benefits. When shopping for a silk pillowcase, make sure you are purchasing real silk, not artificial imitation satin. 

Why Silk Helps Fine, Thin Hair and Thick, Frizzy Hair

Silk pillowcases are wonderful not only for hair loss, but also for other challenging hair types, such as thin, frizzy, or curly hair. When it comes to thin or fine hair, a silk pillowcase offers a gentle, nourishing environment.

At the other end of the hair spectrum, but no less challenging, is frizzy, coarse, or curly hair. This type of hair benefits tremendously from the moisture-rich environment of a silk pillowcase, as well as the protection from breakage silk offers. It’s important to know that curly hair has a different structure than straight hair; the cuticle of a strand of curly hair has scales on it that stand up (this is why it curls). At the same time, those scales make the hair more vulnerable to damage, breakage, and drying. 

How to Find the Best Silk Pillowcase

A silk pillowcase is a wise investment in your beauty and wellness. You should purchase only a silk pillowcase that is clearly labeled “100 percent mulberry silk,” otherwise you may be buying satin, a blend or inferior quality silk. Also look for a label noting the momme weight of your pillowcase; similar to thread count, momme is a measurement of silk weight and fabric density, with higher momme generally being better quality and more costly. Silk is also graded for quality by letter and number; all SYLKE The Label products are Grade 6A, the highest quality silk. You should also purchase from a reputable company that is transparent about the origin, quality and pricing of their silk pillowcases.