I tried a silk pillowcase to fix my head (complete with before and after photos)

In 2021 i dyed my brown hair white and unsurprisingly it was never the same. While I don’t regret dying my hair, I do miss how naturally healthy it used to be and regret not taking better care of it when it was dyed. Even though the bleach is 99% of my hair, I’m left with side effects like frizz and dullness, while my scalp remains as sensitive, dandruff-prone, and prone to oiliness as ever.

In pursuit of healthier hairI spent more time researching my hair type and what it takes to make it healthy. I found that I have 2a/2b waves and curls. But when I follow a routine with wavy hair, my hair tangles overnight and requires brushing the next morning. Since I have thin hair, the curls disappear and stand out when I brush it, creating an aura of frizz around my head. The other problem? I don’t require a lot of maintenance, so I’ve reached my effort limit at this point.

Time and time again, when looking for a simple solution, I kept seeing this advice: Use a silk pillowcase. Almost every Reddit thread, YouTube video, and article I’ve seen promotes the wonders of silk for hair and skin. I was skeptical but decided to give it a try. Cozy Earth sent it to me 100% mulberry silk pillowcase (currently on sale for $82) to test it out.

Before using a silk pillowcase

For the past few years I have been using 100% cotton pillowcases. While I wouldn’t say they provided the most luxurious experience, they do the job. However, I wake up every day with tangled, flyaway hair and fabric creases on my face. This is compounded by the fact that I sleep very hot, which adds to the chaos – especially since my cotton pillowcases are not cooling.

After a wavy hair routine, after showering I would use a leave-in conditioner or wave spray to scrunch my hair, highlighting my curls. I try not to use too much product as my hair is thin and tends to get greasy quickly. Then it dries and looks presentable. But then I go to bed and wake up to this…

This hair is tangled to the point where it requires brushing (finger combing won’t work). I was left with a puff of curls with no defined curls or waves in the eyes. This happens so often that I’ve stopped doing my post-shower wavy hair routine because my head is powerful enough to make the whole endeavor pointless.

Silk pillowcases reduce friction and don’t absorb as much moisture, which helps preserve styles, keeps hair hydrated, and prevents tangling and breakage. Because of the gentle material, it’s also said to be great for sensitive, acne-prone skin – although it’s not a one-stop miracle cure. With this information in mind, I replaced my cotton pillowcase with a silk one.

After using a silk pillowcase

After resting my head on the pillowcase, I immediately felt a difference. The lack of friction made it easy for me to slide my skin and hair over the cover, while the fabric has more of a cooling effect than cotton (perfect for hot sleepers like me). Now, for the real test: sleeping with the silk pillowcase.

I loved sleeping with this fabric. Felt much cooler and more luxurious than my cotton pillowcases. Also, there were no residual fabric lines on my skin. As for my hair, I did my post-shower wave routine, went to bed and woke up like this…

While my hair still got messier overnight, it wasn’t as tangled and flyaway as usual. I could still make out more pronounced waves and slight curls. Usually when I wake up my hair looks like it’s angry at me, but this time it just looked upset. It was easier to comb with my fingers, meaning the hairbrush was only slightly needed and my frizz was reduced as a result. My hair also felt softer to the touch and more hydrated.

Since silk pillowcases can be more expensive than cotton, I was secretly hoping this experiment would fail. But based on these results, I think silk pillowcases are worth it—especially if you’re willing to take care of them to extend their life.

Here are Cozy Earth’s care instructions for its silk pillowcase: “Machine wash, cool iron, DO NOT DRY, mild detergent OR HAND WASH delicate.” I’ve seen other brands recommend treating your silk product with care at each step, prioritizing hand washing or using the gentle cycle of the washing machine with the item in a separate mesh laundry bag for delicate clothes.

Again, low maintenance: I used the washing machine with mild detergent. My apartment model doesn’t have a gentle cycle, so I put the pillowcase in a protective mesh bag before washing it. I then let it air dry and had no problems.

The verdict

If you’re tired of the head of the bed, a hot sleeper, or hate waking up with lines of fabric on your skin—and you have spare cash or a birthday wish list—I think a silk pillowcase is worth it. In general, I believe that any product that can improve your sleep is worth it if you are willing to take care of it properly.

If you want to save and still get the benefits of a silk pillowcase, CNET favorite budget silk pillowcase is only $10. As far as not having a more aggressive bed head, this is priceless.