June 6, 2025
Oily hair: why sleeping on a silk pillowcase changes everything?
Does your hair get greasy too quickly, even after shampooing? Do you often wake up with dull, heavy roots, as if you've never washed them? Before blaming your hair care routine, take a look at an often-forgotten detail: your pillowcase .
At night, your hair rests for several hours against a fabric that directly influences the condition of your scalp. And depending on the material, the impact can be more or less favorable. Cotton, for example, absorbs sebum, attacks the roots, and stimulates oil production. Silk, on the other hand, creates a softer, cleaner, and more respectful environment.
In this article, we explain why silk is ideal for limiting oily hair , how it naturally balances the scalp, and why it should be part of your hair routine, especially at night.
UNDERSTANDING OILY HAIR: A MATTER OF SEBUM (AND THE ENVIRONMENT)
Having oily hair doesn't necessarily mean poor hygiene. It's often a reaction of the scalp trying to protect itself. The culprit? Sebum , the thin lipid layer naturally produced by the sebaceous glands to moisturize, protect, and balance the scalp.
But when there's too much, the roots become greasy, the lengths become heavy, and we feel obliged to constantly re-wash... which only makes the problem worse.
Night plays a central role in this imbalance:
- Night sweats ,
- Repeated rubbing against the pillow ,
- Accumulation of bacteria on tissues…
All of these things can stimulate the sebaceous glands , disrupting the skin's natural balance and therefore promoting excess sebum. The result: you go to bed with clean hair, but wake up with greasy roots.
And this is where the pillowcase plays a crucial role. Depending on its material, it can aggravate or soothe this overproduction.
WHY COTTON CAN ACCENTUATE OILY HAIR
It's the most common material for bed linen, but it's not always your scalp's best friend. Cotton , even good quality, remains an absorbent and textured fabric . It acts a bit like a sponge:
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It absorbs your hair's natural moisture , which can cause your scalp to produce even more oil to compensate.
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2
It retains moisture and care residue , creating an environment conducive to the proliferation of bacteria.
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3
It causes friction which attacks the skin, particularly at the root, once again stimulating the sebaceous glands.
In short, sleeping on cotton can, without you realizing it, maintain a vicious circle : more grease, more washing, more imbalance.
With a silk pillowcase , it's the opposite effect.
THE SILK PILLOWCASE: YOUR ANTI-GREASY HAIR ALLY
What makes silk different is its soft, smooth, and non-absorbent texture. Unlike cotton, it respects the scalp's balance throughout the night.
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It does not stimulate sebum production : its soft surface limits friction. The scalp remains calm and soothed.
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It does not absorb care or natural sebum : this allows it not to unbalance the hydration of the scalp or cause an excessive "repair" response.
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It stays cleaner longer : Silk is naturally hypoallergenic and less prone to bacterial buildup. The result: less risk of irritation or inflammation.
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It regulates temperature better : by limiting nighttime perspiration, it avoids a hot and humid environment, often associated with stimulation of the sebaceous glands.
These benefits are supported by scientific research. For example, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2019) highlights that choosing soft, non-absorbent textiles in contact with the skin, such as silk, helps reduce skin irritation and excess sebum production by minimizing friction and maintaining the scalp's natural moisture (Smith et al., 2019).
It’s therefore a virtuous circle: less friction, less irritation, less sebum .
By adopting a silk pillowcase , you are therefore acting directly on the most common causes of oily hair, without having to overload your routine with products.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN SLEEPING ON SILK
The benefits of a silk pillowcase don't take long to show, especially if your hair tends to get greasy quickly. Within just a few nights, you can already see a real difference in the appearance and texture of your roots.
Lighter hair when you wake up
Thanks to its smooth surface, silk prevents excessive friction and limits the buildup of sebum during the night. Your hair will appear less "flat" and less shiny when you wake up, even without shampooing the night before.
A scalp that regains its balance
By not absorbing sebum or moisture, silk allows the scalp to regulate itself naturally. This means less sebum production, meaning less oily hair , day after day. Silk doesn't treat oily hair like a miracle product, but it creates the right conditions for it to rebalance itself.
Washes more frequently
When your hair gets greasy less quickly, you can finally space out your shampoos. And the less you wash your hair, the less you stimulate it... A virtuous circle that helps the scalp stabilize without damaging it. By combining silk with a gentle hair care routine , you gain in comfort and time.
And that's not all: in addition to regulating excess sebum , silk also takes care of the lengths. It preserves the hydration of the ends, prevents frizz and limits breakage. Real hair care... all while you sleep.
SILK & HYGIENE: THE RIGHT STEPS TO KEEP HAIR SILKY LONGER
Adopting a silk pillowcase is already an excellent habit. But to reap all the benefits, maintenance plays a key role .
Tip #1 : Wash your silk pillowcase regularly, ideally once a week . It absorbs less than cotton, but remains in direct contact with your hair, scalp, and nighttime care.
Tip #2 : No need to wait to wash the entire set ! The pillowcase can be washed separately , like a beauty accessory in its own right. A simple, quick and effective little gesture to integrate into your weekly routine.
Tip #3 : Use a gentle, suitable detergent , such as our Emily's Pillow silk detergent .
Because a well-maintained pillowcase means truly pampered skin and hair. And that, in the long run, makes all the difference.
SILK, A NATURAL SOLUTION AGAINST OILY HAIR
When your hair gets greasy quickly , you often think about changing your shampoo or spacing out your washes . But you forget that hair care also starts... while you sleep . Thanks to its smooth , non-absorbent and naturally soft texture, the silk pillowcase helps regulate sebum production , protect the scalp and preserve the hair's natural moisture .
Less friction , less irritation , and therefore less sebum : silk creates the ideal conditions for spacing out shampoos while keeping roots lighter , fresher , for longer .
Adopting silk in your hair routine means choosing a gentle , natural and sustainable approach to oily hair .
At Emily's Pillow, all of our pillowcases are made from 100% pure 22 momme mulberry silk, providing you with nighttime care that's as gentle as it is effective.
What if the solution to no longer having greasy hair started... while you slept?
