Silk pillowcase guide
A silk pillowcase is luxurious to sleep on with amazing beauty benefits. Here's our guide to why you should sleep with a silk pillowcase and perhaps a silk eye mask too! And which type of silk pillowcase is the best.
Emily spent over a year testing a silk pillowcase and eye mask and learned a lot along the way. She loved the final product so much that she now wears a silk eye mask and sleeps on a silk pillowcase every night! From scooms of course...
- Which type of silk is best?
- What grade silk should I get?
- What is a Momme and why is it important?
- How to wash a silk pillowcase
- Are silk pillowcases worth it?
- What type of pillowcase opening is best?
- Silk pillowcase size guide
- Satin pillowcases v silk pillowcases, which is best?
- What accreditations should I look out for?
Which type of silk is best?
There are a number of different types of silk, but Mulberry silk is the best. Mulberry silk is spun by the Bombyx mori silkworms who feed exclusively on mulberry leaves. It is incredibly soft, very durable and has an amazingly luxurious feel. We insist on Mulberry silk for our silk pillowcases and silk eye masks.
What grade of silk should I get?
Silk is graded on an A, B, C scale. Each letter referencing a different type of silk quality. 'A' being the highest quality silk product and 'C' being the lowest. An additional number takes the grading a step further, '6A' being better quality than '5A'. So when you see a silk product that is graded 6A, you can be sure that it is the highest quality for that specific type of silk. scooms silk pillowcases and silk eye masks are all 6A grade silk.
What is a momme and why is it important?
Momme is a unit of measurement, similar to thread count for cotton. You can’t use thread count to measure silk because silk fibres are much thinner in diameter than cotton, so momme is used instead.
Momme denotes the silk’s weight and density. Higher momme measurements mean there are more strands of silk per 100 yards of fabric, so the silk is a higher quality and more durable. For example, if the weight of the fabric is 19 pounds, the momme measurement will be '19-momme'. Momme measurements range from 11-25-momme.
However, 25 Momme is too heavy for clothes or bedding and is usually used for homeware such as curtains. 22 Momme is the ideal momme weight for the best quality silk bedding. At scooms we only sell 22 momme silk pillowcases and silk eye masks.
How to wash a silk pillowcase
A silk pillowcase can be washed by hand or machine washed on delicate using mild detergent. See our detailed guide to How to wash silk bedding.
Are silk pillowcases worth it?
Silk pillowcases are more expensive than pillowcases made from cotton or other fabrics. So is a silk pillowcase worth the investment? Yes, we think so. As long as you buy the right pillowcase made from 100% 6A grade 22 momme Mulberry silk. Don't compromise if you want the real silk experience and to reap silk's natural beauty benefits.
Which type of pillowcase opening is best?
We chose an envelope stye opening for our silk pillowcases. An envelope enclosure ensures that the pillowcase is easy to put on and will hold the pillow firmly in place. A valuable tip to remember is to steer clear of silk pillowcases with hard metal zip enclosures, as they can detract from the silk's delicate feel.
Silk pillowcase size guide
Silk pillowcases come in standard and king size. A standard size silk pillowcase measures 50cm x 75cm and a King size silk pillowcase measures 50cm x 90cm.
Satin v silk pillowcases, which is best?
Satin and silk can look and even feel similar but they are two very different fabrics. Whereas silk is a 100% natural product, satin is not.
Satin is a type of weave, rather than a specific fabric. Satin can be made from man-made plastics such polyester and rayon. It can also be a blend of several materials, including cotton and silk. Satin does not contain the natural proteins and amino acids of silk, meaning it won’t provide the beauty benefits of silk.
The big no for us is that satin fabrics can contain petro-chemicals, which we definitely don’t want in our bed!
What accreditations should I look out for?
Ensure that your silk meets the Oeko-Tex 100 Certification.
Emily spent over a year testing silk pillowcases and eye masks and learned a lot along the way. So if you need to know more, try our other silk guides:
Top silk pillowcase FAQS:
What is the best silk pillowcase?The best silk pillowcases are 100% mulberry silk, 6A grade, 22 momme, with an envelope enclosure (avoid nasty zips), OEKO-TEX certified and delivered in plastic free packaging. Is it worth buying a silk pillowcase?Silk helps your skin to retain more moisture than other bedding materials like cotton, which can prevent dry, itchy skin. As silk is less likely to absorb the facial creams you use in your bedtime skincare routine, this also benefits your skin. Your hair will be more manageable too as the non-absorbent surface of silk helps to maintain your hair’s naturally occurring oils. What is the downside of a silk pillowcase?If you don't choose the best quality silk, you could find the material is a bit flimsy and less durable. The best quality silk is strong and long-lasting. Are there actual benefits to silk pillowcases?Yes, silk contains naturally occurring proteins and oils that can benefit your skin. As silk doesn't pull moisture from your skin, it also helps to keep your skin hydrated and resists absorbing your skincare creams. Resulting in your facial lines and wrinkles appearing smoother and your skin cells repairing more quickly. |
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