Best Silk Pillowcase for Skin and Hair: How to Choose

The best silk pillowcase for skin and hair is 100% mulberry silk, between 19 and 25 momme, grade 6A, woven as charmeuse, and certified free of harmful dyes (OEKO-TEX is the label to look for). Most people do well at 22 momme. It is heavy enough to survive regular washing and light enough to stay cool. The rest of this guide explains how to read a listing, because the word "silk" on a product page covers everything from heavy mulberry charmeuse to a polyester blend.

What silk does for skin and hair, and what it won't do

Silk is made of long, smooth filaments. When you turn over at night, your hair slides across the surface instead of catching on it the way it can on a rougher cotton weave. People with curly, coily, color-treated or fine hair tend to notice this most, usually as fewer tangles and less frizz in the morning.

For skin, the same smoothness means less tugging on your face while you sleep, and the creases you sometimes wake up with may be softer. Silk also soaks up less than cotton, so a night cream or hair oil is more likely to stay on you than in the pillowcase.

A silk pillowcase won't treat acne, remove wrinkles or repair hair damaged by bleach or heat tools. And a dirty silk pillowcase is still a dirty pillowcase. How often you wash it matters for your skin as much as what it's made of.

What to check on the label

Fiber: 100% mulberry silk

Mulberry silk comes from silkworms fed on mulberry leaves, which produce long, even threads and a smoother fabric. Words like "silky", "silk-feel" or "satin" usually mean polyester. Satin is a weave, not a fiber, so a satin pillowcase can be made of anything. If the listing doesn't say "100% mulberry silk", assume it's a blend or a synthetic.

Momme weight

Momme (pronounced "mommy") measures how much silk is in the fabric. Higher numbers mean denser, heavier silk that usually lasts longer, though it also costs more and can feel a little warmer.

Grade

Raw silk is graded A, B or C, with A the best, and 6A is the top of the A grade: the longest and most even filaments. A listing that names 6A is telling you something useful. A listing that names no grade at all usually isn't using it.

Weave

Charmeuse is the standard for pillowcases. It has a glossy face and a duller back, and the glossy side is the one you sleep on. Some cheaper cases use silk on one side and cotton on the other. That's fine if you know about it (the cotton side grips the pillow better), but flip it over at 3 a.m. and you lose the benefit.

Closure

Envelope closures have no hardware, so nothing can snag your hair, but the pillow can work its way out of a loose one. Hidden zippers keep the pillow snug. If you choose a zipper, check that it's tucked behind a fabric flap so the teeth never touch your face or hair.

Dyes and finishes

Your face spends a third of the day on this fabric. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification means the finished textile was tested for a list of harmful substances. Some silk is also given an antimicrobial finish to help keep it fresher between washes.

Size

Match the case to your pillow: standard, queen or king. Silk on a pillow that's too small bunches and slides around. On a pillow that's too big, the seams strain and the fabric wears thin at the corners.

Which kind of silk pillowcase suits you

• If you have curly or textured hair, or wear braids or twists to bed, a 22 to 25 momme case is a good choice, since those weights hold up to the hair oils and leave-ins many people use overnight.
• If you're buying your first silk pillowcase and aren't sure you'll like it, 19 momme lets you try the feel for less, with the understanding that it will wear out sooner.
• Hot sleepers should know silk feels cool when you first lie down and breathes well, but it's a thin layer. If you sweat heavily at night, a pillowcase built for cooling may suit you better than silk.
• For a gift, 22 momme in a neutral color is a safe pick that most people will use.
• If you avoid animal fibers, skip silk. It comes from silkworm cocoons. A smooth synthetic or plant-based case is the alternative.
• If you want something you can throw in with the towels, silk will frustrate you. It needs gentle washing and air drying.

Well-known brands such as Slip and Blissy sell mulberry silk pillowcases, and the same checks apply to every brand: look at the stated momme, grade and certification rather than the name on the box.

Caring for silk so it lasts

Most silk pillowcases that wear out early were washed too hot or dried in a machine. A few habits make a large difference:

1. Turn the case inside out and put it in a mesh laundry bag.
2. Wash on a delicate cycle in cold water with a pH-neutral detergent made for silk or wool.
3. Skip bleach and fabric softener. Both break down the fibers and dull the sheen.
4. Air dry out of direct sunlight, which can fade dyes.
5. If it needs ironing, use a low setting on the back side.

Owning two cases helps. You can swap one out a few times a week without washing the same one constantly. Let face creams and hair oils sink in before bed, too, since heavy oils can leave marks on silk that are hard to remove.

Where the Dosaze silk pillowcase fits

Our 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase sits in the middle of the range described above: 100% mulberry silk, 22 momme, 6A grade. It has a Silvadur silver antimicrobial treatment and is OEKO-TEX certified, so it's been checked for harmful substances. It's designed to protect skin and hair from friction, and like other mulberry silk it is cool to the touch and breathable.

It's a good fit if you want an everyday silk pillowcase at the weight most people settle on, with the certification and grade printed clearly. It's not the right pick if you want a heavier 25 or 30 momme case, if you don't use animal fibers, or if you want bedding that goes in a normal wash.

A silk pillowcase is not a barrier. Sweat and spills pass through it into the pillow. If you want to protect the pillow underneath, our Cooling Pillow Protector zips on under the silk case and has a waterproof lining and silver-infused fabric.

If you mainly sleep hot, look at the ThermaCool Pillow Case. It's made for temperature regulation, is cool to the touch, and comes with a 60-night trial. You can see the rest of our pillowcases, sheets and protectors in the bedding collection.

Frequently asked questions

What momme is best for a silk pillowcase?

For nightly use, 22 momme is the most common choice because it balances durability and breathability. 19 momme is lighter and cheaper but tends to wear out sooner. 25 momme and above feel heavier and usually last longer, at a higher price.

Is a silk pillowcase good for acne-prone skin?

A silk pillowcase won't treat acne. It is smooth and absorbs less than cotton, so it causes less rubbing and holds onto less of your skincare. What helps most is washing the case often and keeping heavy hair products off your face at night.

Can you put a silk pillowcase in the washing machine?

Usually yes, if you use a mesh bag, a delicate cycle, cold water and a detergent made for silk. Avoid bleach, fabric softener and the dryer. Always check the care label first, since some silk is hand-wash only.

How do I know if a silk pillowcase is real silk?

The label should say 100% mulberry silk and ideally list a momme weight and grade such as 6A. Terms like satin, silky or silk-feel usually mean polyester. Real silk also has a softer, less mirror-like sheen than most synthetic satin.

Does a silk pillowcase help hair stay styled overnight?

It can help. Hair slides across silk instead of catching, so curls, blowouts and protective styles often hold their shape better by morning. Many people with long or curly hair pair a silk pillowcase with a loose braid or bonnet for extra hold.