November 5, 2024
What is the difference between silk pillowcase and cotton pillowcase?
Like most people, you probably used cotton pillowcases as a child.
If you are reading this article, it is because you are looking for alternatives, including the silk pillowcase.
Through this blog, let's explore together which option is better between the silk pillowcase and the cotton one, both for the care of your skin and for the health of your hair.
1 – Let’s talk about the origin of its materials
Let's talk about cotton
Cotton is a plant material that comes from the cocoon of the Gossypium plant.
Soft and fluffy to the touch, cotton fiber is widely used and readily available across the world.
According to historians, cotton cultivation dates back about 7,000 years in America and Central Asia.
Furthermore, it is interesting to note that the Egyptians were already cultivating high quality cotton 3,000 years ago.
Today, the major producers of cotton fiber are India, the United States and Pakistan.
What is the process for obtaining quality cotton fabric, for example to make a pillowcase?
After the cotton bolls are harvested in the fall, the fibers are carefully separated from the seeds and any debris that may have attached to them.
Then, spinning takes place to transform these fibers into sewing threads or fabrics. Once these steps are completed, the cotton can be used to create a wide range of products, such as clothing, towels, sheets, blankets, tablecloths, and many more.
And what about silk?
Mulberry silk is also a natural fiber. But it does not come from a plant like cotton fiber. Silk comes from the caterpillars of the Mulberry Silk Moth. The caterpillars spin silk threads in their chrysalis before becoming butterflies.
Silk cultivation has been known for 5000 years, a little less than that of cotton. Silk production began in China, which is still one of the largest producers of high-quality silk in the world.
Silk is a high-end and rare material, because the making of its fiber comes from a more complex process than that of cotton.
To produce silk, butterfly caterpillars are raised in mulberry trees, where they are fed mulberry leaves, which are their only food source. Once the caterpillars have woven their cocoons, they are harvested and boiled so as not to damage the silk fiber. The silk threads are then unwound, washed and treated to remove impurities and knots before being spun into continuous threads which can be woven into silk fabrics.
So the two fibers come from natural materials. Cotton is a more widespread and common material. While silk is a precious and rare material.
Now let's compare the effects of silk and cotton on the skin.
Because yes, the pillowcase is in contact with your skin all night long. Which represents 8 to 7 hours per day. The material therefore affects your skin and its radiance.
2 - Effects on the skin
Let's start with the cotton pillowcase
Cotton has absorbent effects in fact, it allows you to absorb your excess sebum or humidity for example. Which can be useful if you have oily skin. But on the contrary, if you have combination or dry skin, cotton can irritate your skin or even cause dry skin. It can also be noted that the moisture retention capacity of the cotton pillowcase can lead to a significant proliferation of bacteria as well as a proliferation of dust mites.
The cotton pillowcase should be washed once or twice a week to avoid this problem.
The absorbency of cotton also has the effect of absorbing any skincare products you may put on your skin before going to sleep. For example, your night cream, the cotton pillowcase will significantly reduce its effectiveness.
Cotton is a nice material, but it is not extremely soft. That is to say, the different frictions that cotton generates when in contact with the skin all night. These frictions create micro bonds on the skin and promote the appearance of acne.
The silk pillowcase and its effects on the skin
Silk is a very soft natural material. Unlike cotton, silk is known for its extreme softness. Friction is therefore almost non-existent. The silk pillowcase therefore does not cause micro-bonding on the skin during the night.
As a result, your break is smooth when you wake up thanks to the protection the silk pillowcase provides all night long.
Silk has the particularity of being hydrophobic unlike cotton which is an absorbent material. This allows you not to mop up the products that you may put on your skin and to optimize their effectiveness. In addition, it is important to emphasize that silk is a natural fiber that has several proteins, beneficial for the skin. They are particularly recognized for their healing and regenerating properties.
Silk has natural antimicrobial properties that help kill acne-causing bacteria and prevent skin infections.
Additionally, silk also has antifungal properties, which may be beneficial for people suffering from yeast-induced acne.
3 - Effects on hair
The effects that the cotton pillowcase can have on the hair.
As we said previously for the effects on the skin. Cotton is an absorbent fabric, which means it can absorb moisture from your hair, leaving your hair dry and brittle, ultimately causing frizz and hair damage.
Cotton is a material that lacks slip unlike silk which has a smooth texture, cotton tends to snag hair which can cause hair damage. Which can lead to friction, as cotton is a rough fabric and can cause friction with your hair during the night, which forms knots during the night and makes the hair more brittle and split ends.
Now let's talk about silk
The smooth surface of the silk can help to reduce frizz and knots in the hair, which can prevent breakage and hair damage .
Silk is soft and slippery unlike cotton, which reduces friction with the hair. This can help prevent hair breakage and split ends.
The major benefit of sleeping on a silk pillowcase is that it helps preserve hairstyles, as hair glides across the smooth surface of the pillowcase rather than rubbing against the rough fabric that can undo curls and waves.
Silk is truly an ally for your hair , there are only advantages to preferring a silk pillowcase
4 - The practicality of the two materials
Cotton pillowcases are easy to care for and clean, as they can be machine washed in warm water with standard detergents. And cotton pillowcases are also often more affordable than plain pillowcases. silk pillow, making them more accessible.
The silk pillowcase is more fragile than a cotton pillowcase. You have to take the greatest care of it. First of all, the silk pillowcase must be washed inside out so as not to damage its softness. In addition, it must be washed in the washing machine on the gentlest setting. Or by hand for the bravest. The silk pillowcase is also more expensive than a classic cotton pillowcase.
But this is justified because silk is a noble material with many qualities.
To finish
You may have noticed that sleeping on a silk pillowcase has many more benefits than sleeping on a cotton pillowcase. First of all for the skin, but also for the hair.
But we can also point out that the silk pillowcase is an investment that will allow its user to enjoy its benefits during the night.
You won't be disappointed, I assure you. Say goodbye to your cotton pillowcase.
