If you haven’t heard, silk pillowcases are all the rage, and for good reason.
Not only do they feel incredibly cool while you sleep the night away, but they also house astonishing benefits for your hair and skin — I would know, as I own quite a few myself.
However, knowing where to begin your silk pillowcase journey can be difficult.
What are the best silk pillowcases? What are the specific hair and skin benefits? Can you wash silk? And what the heck is the difference between silk, satin, and sateen?
We answer all of those questions and more down below.
Get ready to ditch the cotton pillowcase, grab your favorite pillow, and give it the luxurious upgrade it deserves (trust us, your head will thank you later). Keep reading to discover top silk pillowcases from brands such as Blissy, Brooklinen, Amazon, and more.
Plus, you’ll want to check out our FAQ section for more on silk pillowcases.
Click to go straight to our winners of the best silk pillowcases by category:
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- Best overall: Blissy Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Best budget: Quince 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Best luxury: Cozy Earth Silk Pillowcase
- Best for hair: Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
- Best patterns: Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Best color selection: Fishers Finery 25 Momme 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Best faux silk: Kitsch Satin Pillowcase
- Best washable: Lunya Washable Silk Good in Bed Pillowcase
- Best on Amazon: ZIMASILK Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
How we tested
We put over 20 silk pillowcases to the test for this article, from Slip to Blissy and Lunya, Amazon to luxury retailers, and judged them based on the following criteria.
- Momme: How high (or low) is the momme count (more on this in our FAQs)? How weighty is the silk overall? Does it stay smooth or does it wrinkle easily?
- Comfort: Is it soft? How comfortable is it to sleep on? Does it pull on hair or skin?
- Performance: How does it affect the skin and hair? What are the results upon waking? What about sustained use?
Testing silk pillowcases involved assessing various factors to determine their quality and effectiveness. One crucial aspect was evaluating the type and grade of silk used, such as mulberry silk, the primary type in our article, and assessing its momme weight, which indicates the density and durability of the fabric. Additionally, the smoothness and texture of the pillowcases were examined to ensure they offer the utmost comfort and hypoallergenic properties.
Testing also involved assessing the pillowcase’s performance in reducing friction and static electricity, which can benefit hair and skin health. Furthermore, durability tests were conducted to ascertain the pillowcase’s ability to withstand repeated washing without losing its luxurious feel or compromising its effectiveness.
Best Silk Pillowcases
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Best overall: Blissy Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- 22-momme for durable quality
- Available in 5 elegant colorways
Cons
- Limited color options compared to some competitors
The silk pillowcase mogul, Blissy, offers an array of silky pillowcases including white, pink, silver, black, and gold to find your perfect hypoallergenic and natural silk pillowcase. The smooth material will also have your hair and skin praising you when you wake up with bedhead-free locks and a smooth, non-irritated face.
We named Blissy the best overall for its supremely smooth feel, elegant colorways, machine-washability without deterioration, Oeko-Tex certification, hypoallergenic qualities, and…did we mention the supremely smooth feel? Sleeping with Blissy let our hairstyles last days without getting greasy or frizzy and allowed our skincare to stay put rather than soaking it right up (gross). The colors are elegant and the price point, while high, isn’t astronomical for how well it performs.
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Best budget: Quince 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- 22-momme for quality at a lower price point
- Wide selection of 12 colorways
Cons
- No significant drawbacks noted
Available in standard, queen, and king sizes as well as twelve color options, this mulberry silk pillowcase from Quince has our hearts (and our heads). Not only will it not break the bank, but that color selection (!!). And, if you buy two or more pillowcases, you’ll get $15 in store credit for more washable silk and cashmere goodies.
Quince is known for offering high-quality goods and clothing at (pretty much) wholesale prices. We don’t know how they make it work, but we’re glad they exist. This pillowcase not only performs well and looks beautiful, but it’s low enough in price to cover all our pillows — bye bye, cotton!
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Best luxury: Cozy Earth Silk Pillowcase
Cozy Earth Pros
- Luxurious feel due to aloe vera treatment
- 7 sophisticated color options
Cons
- Higher price point may not fit everyone’s budget
Though a splurge, Cozy Earth’s Silk Pillowcase is a dream and a half that’s made from 100% mulberry silk, sand-washed, and treated with aloe vera. Available in silver, champagne, and pearl colorways, this smooth-to-the-touch pillowcase was lovingly woven from the highest grade of 6A long fiber silk too — making it one of the best in the industry.
Not only do we agree, but, if not for the price, it would be named our best overall. If you’re looking for something that’ll withstand wash after wash, do the most for your hair and skin, and look elegant to boot, Cozy Earth’s silk pillowcase is for you. We love it for its especially soft feel — it’s definitely the most luxurious option we tried.
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Best for hair: Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- High-quality 22-momme silk
- Wide range of 15 colorways to choose from
Cons
- Price may be higher compared to other options
You are guaranteed to fall in love with this pillowcase. Look forward to shine, thickness, softness, and durability when it comes to both the pillowcase and your hair. A renowned brand for a reason, Slip crafts some of the best silk pillowcases and hair accessories on the market. We love the brand for its accessibility, which feels as though it’s almost in spite of how great the quality is.
But, truthfully, it’s the unmatched effect it has on hair — exactly what it was designed for — that kicks so many competitors to the curb. Our curls were more defined, our smooth blowouts unmussed, and our strands overall behaved as though they just had a keratin treatment. This is thanks to the luxurious 22 momme weight, which is on the higher end of the typical range. Remember: The higher the momme, the more luxe the silk.
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Best patterns: Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Brooklinen Pros
- Luxurious 22-momme weight
- Offers 7 colorways including fun patterns
Cons
- Tends to sell out, especially the patterns
As the brand says, this is a “big win for your sleep, hair, and skin.” Choose from solid colors like ivory, blush, and more, or choose a fun, funky pattern, like these chunky stripes. Whatever your choice may be, you’ll enjoy cool, breathable, and insulating fabric.
We stan Brooklinen in pretty much all cases, but the brand’s silk pillowcase is an honorable mention. Put simply, it performed. It did the silky hair thing as well as the hydrated and unirrigated skin thing. But something else sets it apart. The patterns are not only unique but fun and attractive — perfect for anyone with a funky bedroom design or even just someone who wants to know which one is their favorite pillow straight away.
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Best colors: Fishers Finery 25 Momme 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Premium 25-momme silk for serious luxury
- Extensive selection of 14 colorways
Cons
- May come at a higher price point
Available in over 10 color options, the 25 momme silk option features 32% more silk than the brand’s 19 mm silk pillowcases. This option also helps regulate sleep temperature, which is a bonus!
First of all, for us: That 25 momme count? Not only is it the highest on our list, but it comes at a price that’s smack dab in the middle of the silk pillowcase market price range — not cheap, but not too high. The most impressive, or perhaps equally impressive, feature? The rich color selection. Other silk pillowcases may have even more prints, patterns, and colors available, but these colors are particularly stunning — almost as though they were chosen specifically to make pillows shine like gems.
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Best faux silk: Kitsch Satin Pillowcase
Kitsch Pros
- High thread count of 600 for a smooth feel
- Available in 23 colorways
Cons
- May not provide all the benefits of genuine silk
Crafted with a sumptuous 600 thread count, this pillowcase offers a silky-smooth feel that rivals traditional silk. With an extensive palette of 23 captivating colorways, you can effortlessly elevate the aesthetic of your bedroom while enjoying the benefits of satin’s gentle touch on your skin and hair.
For us, the Kitsch pillowcase, while not silk, is worth every penny. It offers almost every advantage that a silk pillowcase does, just without the natural wear and tear of washing and drying — a bonus of synthetics. Night after night, it gave us skin and hair benefits, allowing us to wake to hydrated face and silky-smooth hair. This level of consistency makes it a serious competitor to even the highest momme count silk pillowcases. As we said, worth every penny.
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Best washable: Lunya Washable Silk Good in Bed Pillowcase
Lunya Pros
- High-quality 22-momme
- Silk that’s machine washable
Cons
- 1 colorway
- Washing often causes mild degeneration
Known for its proprietary washable silk, Lunya is a total winner when it comes to silk pillowcases that can withstand the test of a washer and dryer time and time again.
We love Lunya’s washable silk because it gives us all the benefits of silk on our hair and skin while also being easily washable — no unsanitary pillowcases here. The Lunya pillowcase remains smooth wash after wash, although its texture does change mildly after the first wash. Be sure to care for this pillowcase the way you might your delicates and you’ll reap its rewards for years to come.
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Best on Amazon: ZIMASILK Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Pros
- Available in various sizes and 8 color options
- Over 45,000 positive reviews and 4.5 stars
- 22-momme
Cons
- Quality may be less than some competitors
Available in toddler, standard, queen, and king sizes and eight color options, this mulberry silk pillowcase from ZIMASILK will win your approval. It also has almost 47,000 reviews, which proves that others love it just as much as us.
Speaking of, we were incredibly impressed by the ZIMASILK pillowcase for its price and its apparent quality. Made of 6A silk (among the highest level qualifications), it’s at a surprising caliber of material and craftsmanship, which is apparent from the first use. It kept our hair and skin smooth by the morning, but it’s truly the ease of Amazon delivery paired with its low price that set this pillowcase apart for us.
An FAQ on Silk Pillowcases
What are the benefits of silk pillowcases for hair and skin?
It’s true, silk pillowcases can help tame your mane.
While cotton creates a gritty, rough surface that causes friction, silk creates a slippery surface that helps your hair glide along the pillowcase while you sleep. Thus, prolonging the look of smooth, glossy strands.
This concept also applies to skin.
When you choose to sleep on a silk pillowcase, the slick silk helps your skin move effortlessly across the fabric without holding onto excess oils. This is especially beneficial for those struggling with acne.
A recent clinical trial proved this, as those who slept on “silk-like” covers had minimized breakouts in comparison to those who slept on cotton pillowcases. This is because the thick and sometimes rough cotton acts as a magnet that absorbs oils and bacteria from our skin.
Essentially, the small switch to a silk pillowcase can help both your hair and skin immensely.
What’s the difference between silk and satin pillowcases?
As already mentioned, silk pillowcases have increased in popularity due to their astounding benefits. With their growing interest, similar fabrics, such as satin and sateen, have also entered the sleeping space. However, silk, satin and sateen are not the same thing — at all.
In a haircare article, natural hairstylist Bridgette Hill explained that silk is made of natural fibers while satin is not. Instead, satin is simply a blend of various fabrics, thus minimizing the benefits we are actually seeking. This also goes for sateen, which is simply cotton with a different weave.
Due to these various production methods and the lower-priced materials used, satin and sateen pillowcases are much cheaper and more accessible than silk.
While you may be tempted to save a few bucks, it’s important to remember that satin and sateen is not silk. The fabrics may feel similar, but they won’t create that same slick surface as silk nor will they execute the hair and skin benefits you are trying to achieve. Therefore, we recommend dishing out a few extra dollars for a silk pillowcase if you can.
How to wash silk pillowcases
While silk is a delicate fabric and must be properly cared for, it’s not impossible to wash.
You can carefully clean your silk pillowcases one of two ways: by hand or by machine.
To wash your silk pillowcase by hand, first turn it inside out. Then, fill a sink, tub or basin with water and add in some gentle detergent. Next, submerge your inside-out silk pillowcase into the water. Combine the water and detergent and ensure the pillowcase is fully engulfed in both water and soap. Let the pillowcase sit for no more than 30 minutes. After, rinse the pillowcase with cool water until all of the soap is gone. Push the excess water out of the fabric with your hands, but do not ring it out, as this can damage the silk threads. To dry, lay the silk pillowcase on a flat surface or hang it on a drying rack without clamps or hangers.
To wash your silk bedding with the use of a machine, set the machine to a cold, low-spin delicate cycle. If you have a mesh laundry bag handy, place the silk within it and wash without any cotton items. To finish, air dry the pillowcase by laying it on a flat surface or hanging it on a drying rack without clamps or hangers.
What is mulberry silk?
While there are a few types of silk, that made from the filaments of mulberry silkworms is the most prevalent and what you’ll see makes up the bulk of our list. Mulberry silk is made from the white or pale yellow cocoons in which silkworms mature. The cocoons are cooked and softened in a temperature-regulated vessel before being moved to a reeling machine where they are brushed and pulled into strands. Those fine strands are then woven into silk! It’s a process as intricate and detailed as the silk itself.
What is momme (weight)
The quality of silk is measured by weight, a metric known as “momme”. Think of it as the thread count of silk, except we’re paying close attention to the weight of the material vs. the number of threads that make it up. The momme of solid silk quality ranges from 19 (good) to 30 (exceptional), and the price of the silk ascends right alongside the number. Shopping for silk sheets and pillowcases is truly a “get what you pay for” scenario.
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