Why Upgrading To Silk Can Do Wonders For Your Hair
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Estimated Read Time: 3.5 minutes
Summary: Is a silk pillowcase best for hair and skin? Learn why upgrading to silk can be the best thing you can do for your hair in this blog...
The last thing you’d think would save your hair and skin is your bedding, right?
There’s hype in the hair and skincare world surrounding the super power of silk and what it can do when you choose to sleep on it. So, what makes a silk pillowcase the best thing for your hair and skin?
A Silk Pillowcase Can Protect Your Hair From Breakage
With a silk pillowcase, you can kiss goodbye to bed hair! The natural properties of silk, including its super smooth surface, means less friction will occur between your hair, head and pillow! Friction during sleep can cause split ends and breakage, so a silk pillowcase significantly reduces that happening as you slumber.
Sleeping on silk can also help with controlling oil (sebum) production on your scalp. Unlike common cotton, silk doesn’t absorb the scalp’s naturally occurring oil (which is necessary for hair shine and scalp health), meaning the scalp isn’t trying to replenish the sebum levels lost to cotton! Great news for those with oily hair…
In addition, because silk is a natural material with a sleek texture, it’s been found to improve the quality of hair, help reduce thinning, prevent split ends and reduce frizz. Amazingly, the natural properties and anti-static qualities in silk means it can help extend the life of a blow-dry by up to two days! This, in turn, helps reduce the effects of heat damage as you can go longer without restyling your mane!
Did you know that silk fibres are very similar in structure to our hair strands too? This means sleeping on silk helps keep your hair sleek as it moves across the pillow, because it’s supporting the maintenance of the hair shaft’s integrity!
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A Silk Pillowcase Can Prevent Wrinkles
As our skin ages, it stops producing collagen and so loses its bounce and perkiness. When we sleep, we are applying pressure and friction between the material and our face, which can induce crease marks and enhance the appearance of wrinkles. Sleeping on silk can help reduce this friction by up to 43%!
A Silk Pillowcase Can Help Skin & Hair Retain Moisture & Reduce Acne
So, traditional cotton pillowcases are really absorbent. They pick up dirt and oil from your skin, meaning what you left there last night, will be there tonight and this can lead to the clogging of pores and dreaded breakouts! So, silk pillowcases are way more hygienic and can help keep your skin clean!
Natural 100% silk pillowcases are less absorbent. So, your skin and hair will stay more hydrated because your pillowcase won’t be stealing it away!
Silk also contains naturally occurring amino acids, which can bond with the protein keratin located in your skin and hair, helping it regenerate as you sleep… There’s a lot of science behind silk, you see!
Cel Pro Tip: Wash your bedding once a week minimum to help keep skin and hair clean and breakout free!
A Silk Pillowcase Can Keep You Cool
Did you know that silk has the ability to naturally regulate heat? Neat, right! This means it can help your body stay at a good temperature, and prevent your face and scalp from sweating and in turn, clogging pores and follicles.
It doesn’t conduct heat, so can help you stay cool in summer, but it will organically retain heat when it’s cold for winter!
A Silk Pillowcase Is Naturally Hypoallergenic
Silk is a natural hypoallergenic material. This means that it’s naturally resistant to mites, mould and fungus growth, which is great news for your skin and hair, particularly those who suffer from acne, folliculitis or general breakouts.
What About Satin? Silk Vs Satin Pillowcase For Hair
Yes, satin’s cheaper which makes it much more appealing when deciding between satin and silk. Satin is readily available, and much easier to clean (most silk’s are hand wash only whereas satin can go in the machine).
However, the perks silk has over satin is that it’s hypoallergenic, it allows skin and hair to breathe, doesn’t involve synthetic material and is generally better at helping promote a healthy complexion.
Both fabrics can help your hair, but for both skin and hair, silk is marginally a better option.
If you’re truly dedicated to your mane, and are already using top of the range products and methods to support and celebrate your locks and skin, the natural next step is a silk pillowcase!
Silk Scrunchies
Don't stop your upgrade at your pillowcase! If you tie your hair back during the day or sleep with your hair up, invest in silk scrunchies to help stop breakage from elastic bands too! Like with a silk pillowcase, because less friction occurs between hair strands and silk when compared to cotton, hair fall is reduced too!
"Use [a silk scrunchy] to tie your hair back when it’s windy and at night time to stop hair breakage occurring. If you are going to wear your hair up, make sure that you keep the tension in the hair strands very soft – too tight hairstyles pull on the hair at the root and can lead to hair thinning and loss!" - Eva Proudman MIT AIT, Cel's in-house trichologist
