Silk pillowcases and bedding have been the latest fad in the quest to slow the ageing process on our faces. But are they worth the money? And do they do anything? I got my hands on a silk pillowcase to see if they were worth the fuss or the price tag.
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Having silk bedding has always been a bit of a status symbol. It was first developed in China at the end of the Stone Age, that’s roughly 4,000 years ago but one of the earliest examples 3630 BC. Over the centuries, it was used by the royal families of China and was considered to be too important for anyone else to use. Since then, it has been exported around the world but still used by the super wealthy. Today, silk bedding is still pricey but you don’t need a full bedset to sleep like a queen.
Lets start with some of the rumours that are floating around about using silk pillowcases. The main one is that sleeping on silk helps to prevent wrinkles. There also claims that it helps with keeping your hair healthy, your skin is better, it prevents spots… honestly, the list goes on! And, while I can’t test all of the claims (I would need a lab to test the antibac claims) I can give you guys some idea of what it is like to use a silk pillow case.
Wrinkle Prevention
When it comes to sleeping on cotton sheets, if the pillowcase is wrinkled then it will leave lines on your face. I’m not sure that “wrinkle prevention” is the correct term but it does leave your skin smoother than sleeping on cotton. In fact, I would say that a lot of the skin benefits that silk claims are down to the surface being smooth against your skin. I did notice that my lash extensions lasted longer because the glue wasn’t getting caught on the cotton fibres. The silk also felt cooler on my face and I didn’t suffer with as many spots as I normally would. Keep in mind, I am doing my usual skin care routine, so I can’t place the blame on a different product.
Smoother, Healthier Hair
My hair is a mess. A quick look on Instagram will prove this with my mum bun in nearly all of my selfies. When I use my regular pillowcase, I wake up with a birds nest on the back of my head. It is tatty, fizzy, and a general disaster. I tend to toss and turn at night so my hair can get caught up when I move. However, leaving my hair down and using the silk pillowcase has prevented a lot of frizz. I would assume the same logic applies to wrinkles and extending the life of my lash extensions. The smooth surface isn’t catching my hair and knotting it up, or there is less friction between the silk pillow case and my hair.
The Right Temperature
When you first pop your head on a silk pillowcase, it will feel cold. Especially in the winter. However, it doesn’t take long for the pillowcase to warm up. The silk fibres allow the heat to spread across the pillow surface. I thought I was being silly the first handful of times that I used it, however, my husband agreed. He tested it out one night and noticed how the fabric heated to the ideal temperature after a few minutes. If this is what a pillowcase is like, could you imagine what a full bedset is like? Sure, it might be a bit nippy at first after a few minutes the entire bed will be at the ideal temperature for your body.
A Luxurious Feel
This is one of the benefits that I agree with. There is a lot of back and forth about whether the luxury is worth the hassle, mainly because silk is supposed to be difficult to care for. I popped the pillowcase through a 30 degree wash and it came out of the washing machine in a mass of wrinkles. I thought I had ruined it. However, after putting it on the washing line for around 30 minutes, it was completely dry and the wrinkles in the silk had disappeared. I used to own satin sheets that were washed once and the wrinkles never came out again. Do not let the idea of silk pillowcases being hard to care for put you off because they are very easy to look after.
There is some truth in the rumours, it is good to sleep on silk pillowcases. To be honest, if I had my way, I would invest in a full bedset of silk sheets. It is also worth your while to remember that it will take you a few weeks (possibly a full month) to notice the benefits of using silk in your bedtime routine. And, in this stressful world, if there is something that can help you get a better nights sleep, it is worth trying it out. The frizz free hair and eyelashes are just a bonus.