- Who’d have thought that a silk pillowcase could make such a difference for your skin and hair?
- My skin looked clearer and younger, my hair was less prone to tangles and creases, and I slept like a baby.
- I had less wild hairs, sleep creases, and had to do a lot less hair maintenance.
When many of us think about beauty essentials and hacks for better skin and hair, the last thing we’d ever think about is our bedding. But the secret to clearer, younger skin, and silkier, healthier hair just might depend on where you lay your head at night.
According to many bloggers and experts, silk pillowcases are a tried and true anti-aging essential, and I decided to put it to the test. I slept with a silk pillowcase for a month and my skin and hair felt so much healthier.
My skin looked younger.
Silk doesn’t just make us feel more elegant. It has very real benefits. Marnie Nussbaum MD, a New York City dermatologist, told Well+Good that cotton pillowcases can increase friction, leading to more wrinkles, whereas silk is more gentle to the skin and can potentially prevent wrinkles from sprouting.
During my month of using a silk pillowcase, I definitely felt like my wrinkles were less pronounced, especially around my eyes and mouth.
My hair was less prone to tangles.
When you sleep with your hair on the average pillowcase, it’s all too easy for your hair to get tangled. Nothing says "good morning" like a head full of knots. Especially when you have curly hair, a silk pillowcase can be a lifesaver.
By the end of the month, my hair felt like it had sustained less damaged than it would have if I’d used my usual cotton pillowcase. Overall, my hair felt smoother and was much easier to work with. Better hair while I slept? Yes, please.
I had less "sleep creases."
Some nights, when you have a rough night of sleep, you wake up with creases on your face. This is often caused by the harsh, thick fabric of a cotton pillowcase.
By sleeping with a silk pillowcase, I was able to cut these "sleep creases" down completely, which made it much easier to roll out of bed and get my day started rather than trying to figure out how to get rid of these unsightly folds.
My acne cleared up.
One unexpected result of sleeping on a silk pillowcase was that I slept much better than usual. I tend to be a hot sleeper, and the cool silk helped me fall asleep more quickly, resulting in a better night’s sleep. As a result, my skin got clearer, and I think it's probably because more sleep means better skin overall.
Too, the elegance of the silk pillowcase made me feel more inclined to regularly wash my sheets, and cleaner sheets gave me clearer skin. These two factors combined definitely helped lessen the likelihood that I’d wake up with a zit.
My dark circles almost disappeared.
Speaking of sleeping better, by getting a cooler and more restful nights sleep thanks to the silk pillowcase, my dark circles lessened in intensity. I didn’t have to rely as heavily on under eye concealer and could instead count on my silk pillowcase to make sure I slept safe and sound.
Getting rid of my dark circles gave my skin a healthier, happier look, and almost made me look like I was glowing.
After giving this experiment a go, I’ve decided to swap out my cotton pillowcase for a silk one permanently. I can only imagine the benefits my hair and skin will reap in the long run based on the positive changes I’ve seen after doing so for just one month.
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