Silk pillowcase for curly hair: how to protect your curls at night
In the evening every curl sits just right, and by morning the side you slept on is flat and frizzy. There is a clear reason for that: for hours your head moves across the pillow, and curls suffer more from that than straight hair does. This guide covers what a silk pillowcase changes, what dermatologists recommend for the night and how to keep silk fresh alongside curl products.
Why curls lose their shape at night
A curl is a small spiral. When you lie on it, it gets pressed flat, and every time you turn over it slides across your pillowcase. Cotton has a rough surface full of short fibres that hairs catch on. The curl then comes apart into loose, flyaway strands.
Curly and coily hair is more sensitive to this than straight hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the association of dermatologists in the United States, it is naturally drier and breaks more easily. Friction against your pillowcase can make it frizzy and more likely to break, the AAD says.
What silk changes for your curls
Silk has a smooth, even surface. Put next to cotton, the difference is clear:
Many people with curls also find that their hair feels less dry in the morning.
How to sleep with curls
The AAD gives people with curls clear advice for the night: before bed, tie your hair loosely at the crown, or wear it in a loose plait. That keeps your curls in better shape and means less rubbing against your pillowcase. The AAD also mentions twists and a silk or satin bonnet or pillowcase as ways to cut down friction. Which approach works best depends mainly on the length of your hair:
Shoulder-length to long hair: the pineapple
The back of your head rests on the pillow, while the bundle of curls on top stays above it rather than underneath.
Coily or very long hair: a loose plait or twists
If your hair curls very tightly, or a pineapple keeps collapsing during the night, make one or two loose plaits or a few twists. Secure the ends with a small silk scrunchie instead of a thin hair tie. In the morning, undo them and gently shake out your hair.
Our silk scrunchies are available in two sizes, both cut from 22 momme mulberry silk:
Large, set of twoGenerous and full: holds even a thick head of curls together without pinching. For the pineapple.
Small, set of fourSlim and light: for the ends of plaits and twists.Short curly hair
If your hair is too short to tie up, your pillowcase has to do the job on its own. Simply let your curls rest loose on a silk pillowcase. For more protection, wear a bonnet as well.
Pillowcase, bonnet or both?
A silk bonnet keeps all your curls together. But it can slip down or come off during the night. A pillowcase stays put: on a Silkora pillowcase, the pillow sits fully inside, closed with a hidden zip.
That is why many people with curls combine the two: the bonnet does most of the work, and if it slips off, your hair is still on silk.
Keeping your pillowcase clean when you use curl products
Leave-in, curl cream, gel and oil partly end up on your pillowcase. The residue stays on the fabric, and over time it can turn light colours yellow. Three habits help:
Washing silk is simple: lukewarm water or the silk cycle, a gentle detergent, and air drying instead of the tumble dryer. Our care page explains every step: washing and caring for silk.
Choosing your silk pillowcase
- 22 momme
- 100% mulberry silk
- Grade 6A
- Silk on both sides
- Hidden zip
- OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
All Silkora pillowcases are made from the same silk: 22 momme mulberry silk in Grade 6A, with an OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certificate. The front and back are both silk, so even if you turn your pillow over at night, your curls lie on silk. You can choose from 60x70, 50x70 or 40x80 cm, and 60x70 comes in eight colours. Your pillowcase should match your pillow's measurements. Not sure what size that is? Our article on choosing the right pillowcase size will help.
Looking for a present for someone with curls? Our pillowcases come in a green gift box, so they are ready to give straight away. You will also find them in our gift collection, together with the sleep masks. The scrunchies do not come with a gift box.
Frequently asked questions
Is a satin pillowcase good for curls too?
Satin is smooth too, so curls catch on it less than on cotton. The difference is the material: most satin pillowcases are made of polyester, which breathes less well and feels warm sooner than silk. You can read more in the difference between satin and silk.
Does silk mean less hair loss?
No. Hair loss starts at the root, and a pillowcase has no influence there. What silk can reduce is hair breaking off through friction. If you suddenly lose much more hair than usual, see your GP.
How do you refresh curls in the morning?
Undo the pineapple or plait and shake your hair out at the roots. Spray a little water on curls that have lost their shape and scrunch them back into shape with your hands. Do not brush dry curls: according to the AAD, that can cause frizz and breakage.