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For millennia, silk has been associated with refinement and luxury. This fabric was so coveted that it created trade routes spanning thousands of miles so that silk, which was once only produced in China, could travel to Europe where only royalty and aristocracy used to be able to afford it.
The Value of Mulberry Silk
It is remarkable that today, in the modern age, silk has not lost its value or reputation. Pure mulberry silk remains one of the finest and most luxurious fabrics available on the market.
Why has silk been so prized throughout history?
The hidden powers of mulberry silk
We have known about the strength and durability of mulberry silk for a very long time. In 2017, a piece of Queen Elizabeth I's only surviving dress, the embroidered silk skirt, was discovered being used at a church in Herefordshire. It had been used as an altar cloth for centuries, untouched by decay or dust mites.
Aside from it's ability to stay intact for hundreds of years, mulberry silk contains other hidden qualities—the powerful benefits of silk on beauty.
The Magic of Pure Mulberry Silk for Hair and Skin
Silk fabric is woven from natural protein fibers yet is completely different from any other natural protein or animal fiber fabrics like wool or mohair. It's ultra soft, slippery, and smooth texture is cooling to the touch, which makes it completely unique.
It is these qualities that make mulberry silk the only fabric known to enhance the health and appearance of hair and skin. One of the proteins silk is made of is called sericin. This protein is rich in antioxidants and helps skin and hair retain their natural oils.
Pure Silk Pillowcases for Beauty Sleep
The pillowcase is one of the items we most commonly use that is made from fabric. Our pillowcases touch our hair and skin for long hours each night. So naturally, they leave their mark on us physically. When comparing cotton pillowcases to the benefits of mulberry silk pillowcases, it's easy to see why silk is far superior for both skin and hair.
How Silk Pillowcases Promote Healthy Hair
There are many benefits of using a pure mulberry silk pillowcase for your hair. Unlike other cotton pillowcases, silk does not absorb moisture from your hair. This means it won't strip your hair of its natural oils. This is important because those oils are what keep your hair moisturized and prevent breakage. When your hair doesn't have to fight to stay hydrated overnight, you wake up with softer, less tangled hair.
Goodbye frizzy hair, hello smoother hair
A pure silk pillowcase will help to keep your hair hydrated and prevents frizz. This is especially helpful for those with curly or coil-textured hair which needs more moisture than straight hair.
For these hair types, it's important to retain as much moisture as possible at all steps in your hair routine. Using a mulberry silk pillowcase will help stop that dreaded frizz halo from forming and stop bed head, providing tamer hair that is more manageable.
Smooth surface reduces hair breakage
Silk is also less likely to cause friction on your hair, which can lead to breakage and split ends. Those with coarse or coil-patterned curly hair are most vulnerable to breakage and should avoid cotton pillowcases for this reason. A silk pillowcase will help reduce hair breakage, lock in natural moisture, and keep your coil-patterned curls intact and healthy.
The smooth surface of a natural mulberry silk pillowcase will also protect the hair cuticle, making hair stronger and less likely to break.
Silk Pillowcases and Benefits to Skin
Silk is gentle and smooth, so it won't tug at your delicate facial skin like other fabrics can. It also helps to keep your face hydrated—which is crucial to prevent wrinkles!
Silk pillowcases are also less absorbent than cotton, meaning they won't steal away moisture from your skin overnight. If you wear night creams and moisturizers, using a natural mulberry silk pillowcase will ensure that the product stays on your face instead of being absorbed into your cotton or satin pillowcase.
Unlike cotton, silk won't absorb your skin’s natural oils either. This means that it can help keep your skin hydrated and reduce the appearance of sleep lines and wrinkles. If you are looking for an anti-aging pillowcase, silk is a good choice.
The best silk pillowcases for sensitive skin issues
Using a mulberry silk pillowcase can also help to reduce acne breakouts. Silk does not absorb dirt and oil from your skin like cotton pillowcases can. Silk pillowcases are a good choice for those with sensitive skin or who are prone to breakouts.
Silk is also a naturally hypoallergenic fabric, making it perfectly fine to use even if your sensitive skin is allergy prone.
Silk or Satin Pillowcase? The Answer Is Obvious
There are a few key reasons why silk has more beauty benefits than satin. Satin is a synthetic fiber while satin is a natural fiber. This means that silk is much more gentle on the skin and won't cause any irritation or sensitivity.
Additionally, silk is less likely to cause static electricity and will not absorb moisture from your skin like other fabrics do. Silk pillowcases can help to reduce frizziness and static in your hair, giving you smoother, healthier-looking locks.
Although satin pillowcases might cause less friction damage to hair than cotton pillowcases, satin has none of the inherent benefits to skin that silk pillowcases do.
Further reading:
Finding the Best Silk Pillowcase for Hair and Skin
When shopping for a silk pillowcase it's important to note that not all silk pillowcases are created equally. Even if a product says it's made of 100 percent mulberry silk, this does not necessarily mean it's great quality.
The best quality silk pillowcases will be made of grade 6A long strand mulberry silk. This type of silk is more durable and less likely to tear or pill over time.
A high-quality 100 percent mulberry silk pillowcase will also have a high momme weight. Momme weight measures the density of the fabric and indicates how much silk is actually in the fabric.
Silk quality matters
Standard momme weight ranges from 12-19 and 16-19 momme are considered high quality. 22-momme and above is considered deluxe. When comparing the difference between these momme weights, there is a significant difference you'll be able to feel. 22-momme silk will feel much thicker and lusher than 19-momme.
To ensure that you are choosing a pillowcase that will provide the highest silk quality, opt for Good Housekeeping's Best Bedding Award Winner, Blissy.
Blissy's silk pillowcases are made of naturally hypoallergenic, 22-momme 100% pure mulberry silk pillowcase. The 22-momme weight means it's durable and will last you for years to come. Plus, they are sewn with double-stitched hems and a hidden zipper closure for a cleaner look than a standard envelope closure.
Beyond Beauty Sleep
Regular pillowcases just don't stack up when compared to naturally cool, pure mulberry silk pillowcases. Only silk pillowcases offer great benefits to hair and skin along with durability and longevity. Choose the best silk pillowcase for hair and skin, Blissy's 22-momme pure mulberry silk pillowcase, to ensure that you are getting the best silk pillowcases available.
