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

In 2021, I dyed my brown hair white, and unsurprisingly, it has never been the same. Although I don’t regret dyeing my hair, I do miss how naturally healthy it is, and I regret not taking better care of it when I dye it. Even though the bleach has removed 99% of my hair, I’ve been left with side effects like frizz and dullness, while my scalp remains as sensitive, flake-prone and quick to get oily as ever.

In my quest to Healthier hairI’ve spent more time researching my hair type and what it takes to make said type healthy. I have found that I have 2a/2b waves and curls. But when I follow a curly hair routine, my hair becomes tangled overnight and requires brushing the next morning. Because my hair is thin, my curls disappear and fly away when I comb them, creating a halo of frizz around my head. The other problem? I’m low on maintenance, so at this point, I’ve reached my limit.

Over and over again, when I was looking for a simple solution, I kept seeing this advice: Use a Silk pillow. Almost every Reddit thread, YouTube video, and article I’ve seen touts the wonders of silk for hair and skin. I was skeptical but decided to try it. Comfortable land sent me 100% mulberry silk pillowcase (Currently on sale for $82) to test.

Before using a silk pillowcase

I’ve been using 100% cotton pillowcases for the past few years. While I wouldn’t say they provided a luxury experience, they get the job done. However, I wake up every day with my hair tangled and frizzy and lines of fabric across my face. This is exacerbated by the fact that I sleep hot, which adds to the chaos – especially since my cotton pillowcases don’t cool down.

Following my curly hair routine, after showering, I would use a leave-in conditioner or wave spray to comb through my hair, focusing on my curls. I try not to use too many products because my hair is thin and quick to get oily. After that, it dries and looks beautiful. But then, I go to bed and wake up with this…

This hair is so tangled that it requires brushing (combing with my fingers won’t work). I was left with so much frizzy hair with no defined curls or waves in sight. This has happened so often that I’ve stopped doing my post-shower curly hair routine since my bedhead is strong enough to make the whole endeavor seem pointless.

Silk pillowcases reduce friction and do not absorb as much moisture, which helps maintain hairstyles, keep hair moisturized, and prevent tangles and breakage. Because of the gentle texture, it’s also said to be great for sensitive and acne-prone skin — though it’s not an all-around miracle cure. With this information in mind, I replaced the cotton pillowcase with a silk one.

After using a silk pillowcase

When I laid my head on the pillowcase, I immediately felt the difference. The lack of friction made it easier for me to move my skin and hair through the pack, while the fabric has more of a cooling effect than cotton (perfect for hot sleepers like me). Now, for the real test: sleeping with a silk pillowcase.

I loved sleeping with this fabric. It felt cooler and more luxurious than cotton pillowcases. Additionally, there were no lines of texture left on my skin. As for my hair, I did a curly routine after showering, went to bed and woke up like this…

Although my hair became messier overnight, it wasn’t as tangled and frizzy as it usually is. I can still make out clearer waves and slight curls. Usually, when I wake up, my hair looks like it’s mad at me, but this time, it looked agitated. It was easier to comb with my fingers, which meant that a hairbrush was only slightly necessary, and as a result, the amount of frizz was reduced. My hair also felt softer to the touch and more moisturized.

Since silk pillowcases can be more expensive than cotton, I secretly hoped this experiment wouldn’t work. But based on these results, I think silk pillowcases are worth it — especially if you’re prepared to care for them to extend their life.

These are Cozy Earth’s care instructions for this silk pillowcase: “Machine washable, cold iron, do not tumble dry, use mild detergent, or gently hand wash.” I have seen other brands recommend treating your silk product gently at every step by prioritizing hand washing or using the gentle machine cycle with the item in a separate mesh wash bag for delicates.

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

Judgment

If you’re tired of bed head, sleep hot or hate waking up with stripes of fabric on your skin – and have the funds or a Christmas wish list – I think a silk pillowcase is worth it. Overall, I think any product that can improve your sleep is worth it if you’re willing to take care of it properly.

If you’re looking to save and still reap the benefits of a silk pillowcase, CNET Budget favorite silk pillowcase It’s only $10. As for not having a more aggressive bedhead, that’s invaluable.