You will likely spend about one-third of your life asleep; don’t you want to make sure your time spent in bed is an oasis-like experience? But then comes the hardest part of figuring out the type of pillowcase you want to invest in. Lots of praise is extended to satin and silk pillowcases.
Although satin and silk pillowcases are commonly marketed as similar products, they are actually quite different. Shop TODAY sought out those differences (and discovered the benefits of each) by speaking with textile experts and hairstylists.
Shop our expert- and editor-approved picks for both satin and silk pillowcases, and read on to determine which is best for your needs.
Satin vs. silk
It's imperative to understand that silk and satin are extremely different things: silk is a fiber, while satin is a weave pattern.
Because satin is a weave pattern, you can have a satin fabric made out of silk fibers. Therefore, a satin pillowcase can (confusingly) also be a silk pillowcase. On the other hand, a satin pillowcase can be weaved with other fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, cotton and more.
Textile expert Karen Leonas says the market advertises silk and satin as very similar because general consumers may not know logistics and details of textiles. However, we're here to explain how you can weigh the benefits of both.
Satin pillowcase vs. silk pillowcase
A satin pillowcase has an iconic sleek surface due to its weave structure.
Satin is characterized by long floats in its weave, explains textile expert Kelly Reddy-Best. Long floats occur when the warp (vertical) yarns cross over four or more weft (horizontal) yarns in the weaving process.
The yarn is uninterrupted in longer increments going over four and under one (in comparison to the traditional plain weave of over one, under one). This creates a smooth, lustrous surface.
Satin pillowcases can be weaved with different fibers (such as polyester and, yes, silk) — so you can utilize specific blends to target different hair or skin needs.
For reference, a smooth surface on a pillowcase is important because it can help prevent hair breakage. “When we’re doing all that tossing and turning, we’re breaking and sort of splitting hair,” she explains. “When you’re sleeping on a satin pillowcase, that's not happening nearly as much.”
Go frizz-free: Bedsure Solid Satin Pillowcase
- Large color range
- Smooth and silky feel
- Affordable price point
- Complaints of fabric snagging
- Users complain too warm
- Polyester may irritate
Colors: 39 | Sizes: Standard, queen and king | Materials: Polyester
Looking to decrease hair frizz and maintain style? The Bedsure satin pillowcase serves as an introduction to a protective place to rest your head. Hairstylist Jennifer Korab recommends this option because of its affordable price, soft material and breakage reducing ability.
Associate editor Kamari Stewart also loves this satin pillowcase because she noticed immediate differences in her hair and skin. “I consider myself a 'hard sleeper,' aka I move around a lot throughout the night, so I’d gotten used to waking up to tangles, frizz and broken hairs left behind," she explains. "That wasn’t the case the morning after using these satin pillowcases."
Easy pillow entrance: ShopBedding Satin Pillowcase
- Range of simple, chic colors
- Durable construction
- Affordable price point
- Not most high quality material
- Users note thin material
Colors: 22 | Sizes: Standard, queen and king | Materials: Polyester
This was my first entrance into the satin pillowcase world to see if I could notice the benefits of a satin weave pattern without investing too much money into a product. Even with this budget-friendly option, I could notice how smooth my pillowcase felt. This pillowcase also secures on your pillow with a zipper, which I enjoyed, as I sometimes seem to shimmy my pillow out of its case.
Silk pillowcases are breathable and moisture-wicking.
Silk is a fiber sourced from the cocoons that silkworms spin around themselves as they go through metamorphosis. This results in a higher price because the fiber is harder and more labor-intensive to obtain, according to Reddy-Best.
She says silk is breathable, which can help keep hot sleepers cool. Korab also enjoys how silk pillowcases can regulate a sleeper’s temperature.
Silk can even wick away moisture, adds Reddy-Best. “[A silk pillowcase] really regulates body temperature and moves moisture away; it sort of wicks moisture away so that it can keep you dry and cool,” she explains.
For the hot sleeper: Quince 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Smooth for hair and skin
- Color and size options
- Easy to put on pillows
- Requires special laundering
- Larger size
- Complaints of thin material
Colors: 12 | Sizes: Standard, queen and king | Materials: Mulberry silk
Quince asserts this high-quality silk pillowcase reduces the appearance of fine lines, minimizes bed head and protects natural oils. The pillowcase includes a zipper enclosure to keep the case in place and is hypoallergenic.
I have been using this pillowcase for a couple of weeks and notice immediate hair changes from my old cotton pillowcase. Every morning when I wake up, my hair is smooth and I never have bedhead. I also tend to be a hot sleeper, and I stay cool with this pillow all night.
The classic choice: LilySilk 19 Momme Oxford Envelope Silk Pillowcase
- Simple, elegant design
- Antimicrobial, hypoallergenic
- Cooling effect for sleepers
- Difficult to care for
- No zipper for secure fit
Colors: Eight | Sizes: Standard, queen and king | Materials: Charmeuse silk
This silk pillowcase, recommended by Korab, checks all the boxes for a luxury pillowcase because it's made from 100% mulberry silk. This pillowcase also contain grade 6A long silk fibers, and the brand states only 5% of silk in the world meets this standard.
More satin pillowcases to shop
Experts and editors agree: Kitsch The Satin Pillowcase
- Available in multiple colors
- Prevents hair frizziness
- Complaints about material
- Not long product life
Colors: 29 | Sizes: Standard and king | Materials: Not listed
Associate editor Sierra Hoeger recommends this pillowcase from Kitsch and says she'll never go back to sleeping on cotton or fleece again. “Even on nights where I don’t wash my hair, I’ll still wake up with smooth, frizz-free hair,” she says.
Hair stylist Tiffanie Richards recommends this pillowcase as well because it is machine-washable, affordable and comes in many different designs.
A simple upgrade: ReTress Pillowcase
- Keeps hair smooth
- Suitable for all hair types
- Moisture-wicking
- Limited size and color options
- Made with polyester
Colors: One | Sizes: Queen | Materials: Polyester
This polyester-based satin pillowcase is a simple and chic way to upgrade your bedding. Not to mention, it's hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking and friction-preventing.
Commerce editor Amanda Fama says she cannot imagine sleeping without a satin pillowcase and particularly recommends this one. "Not only does this one feel cool to touch, but it's also extremely gentle on my curly (and frizzy) hair," she says. "In fact, I usually wake up in the morning with very little frizz and flyaways, which is a nice change!"
More silk pillowcases to shop
A brand we love: Brooklinen Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Cooling for hot sleepers
- Prevents hair breakage
- Luxury feel
- Not durable
- Require special care
- Complaints of rough surface
Colors: Six | Sizes: Standard, queen and king | Material: Mulberry silk
Korab suggests this silk pillowcase as a more mid- to high-end option that is mulberry silk (as so many desire). Additionally, Brooklinen's silk pillowcase has a shiny appearance to elevate your bedrooms appearance, while also supplying a cooling sensation to hot sleepers.
Great for you and your sleep: Blissy 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- 22 momme weight for strength
- Easy zip enclosure
- Acne and wrinkle reducing
- Complaints of zipper breaking
- Specific care instructions
- Complaints of wrinkles
Colors: 86 | Sizes: Standard and king | Material: Mulberry silk
Blissy declares on the brand's website that this silk pillowcase will help you “sleep better, sleep cooler and wake up with clear and beautiful skin.” Since it's also made with hypoallergenic material, this pillowcase will help to reduce allergies and maintain a clean environment that can leave skin glowing while prevent breakouts.
Richards recommends this pillowcase because it is made from mulberry silk and is machine-washable.
Highest standards: The Ethical Silk Company Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
- Guranteed fair trade origin
- Reduces hair breakage
- Won't absorb oils or product
- 19 momme weight so thin
- Laundry guidelines for silk
Colors: One | Size: Standard | Materials: Mulberry silk
This silk pillowcase reduces hair breakage, doesn't absorb face or hair products and is gentle on your skin. Without any chemical or unnatural dyes, this cream-colored case is a great choice to add a luxurious mood to your bedding.
Reddy-Best recommends this product because of the company’s commitment to providing high-quality silk and paying respects to the history of the industry. Especially because of how labor-intensive silk is to obtain, The Ethical Silk Company raises attention to ethical tailoring and local artisanship.
A luxurious choice: Clementine Sleepwear Organic Silk Pillowcase
- Chemical and toxin free
- Anti-wrinkle technology
- Organic mulberry silk
- Complaints pillow slides out
- Higher pricepoint
- No size options
Colors: Six | Size: Queen | Materials: Organic silk
Luxury and style collide in this silk pillowcase boasting the highest quality fibers and non-toxic dyes. Fama loves this pillowcase because it is truly luxurious and reduces morning frizz.
"If I fall asleep with curly, dry hair, I usually wake up without any knots or flyaways," she says. "It's super soft and impressive; I look forward to sleeping on it at night."
Which is best for you?
Again, when it comes to preventing hair breakage, both satin and silk pillowcases are beneficial. However, if you have a specific need you want addressed, here is which pillowcase you should choose:
- Budget-friendly: Satin pillowcase. Satin pillowcases can be made with silk fiber, which could increase their prices, but they can also be made with nylon, polyester or rayon (which are more affordable).
- Hot sleeper: Silk pillowcase. Reddy-Best recommends a silk pillowcase to someone who sleeps warm because the fiber is breathable. She adds that silk is moisture-wicking, so if you sweat in your sleep, the pillowcase will likely dry quickly.
- Hypoallergenic: Silk pillowcase. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic, meaning it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
- Easy to care for: Satin pillowcase. Since you can add different fibers and materials to a satin pillowcase, you can select a satin pillowcase that contains easy-to-care for materials. Leonas also explains that the lustrous appearance of a satin fabric shows dirt easily, so having something that's easy to clean is a must.
- Mature skin: Silk pillowcase. “Silk pillowcases typically won’t crease (like cotton), so your skin is protected by rough fabric causing fine lines and wrinkles,” Richards says.
- Curly hair: Silk pillowcase. Korab recommends a silk pillowcase for curly hair because this hair type is normally dry and silk is not absorbent, so it won't strip natural oils.
- Colored or highlighted hair: Silk pillowcase. Color-treated hair is commonly weak, so Korab recommends a silk pillowcase to help minimize breakage.
- Luxury: Satin-weave pillowcase made from silk fibers. This pillowcase will allow you to reap all the benefits of satin weave while also enjoying the qualities of silk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Textile expert Young says mulberry silk describes silk derived from silkworms who only eat leaves from mulberry trees. Manufacturers label their silk as mulberry silk because the diet supposedly produces a higher quality silk in terms of silk strength and durability.
Momme is a weight measurement for silk fabric and is similar to thread counts. Therefore, if a silk has a higher momme count, then it is heavier and normally more expensive. Young recommends a momme weight of 18 to 22 for silk pillowcases.
Young recommends washing a silk pillowcase on the delicate wash cycle and potentially even line-drying it. Since silk is made up of a protein fiber, she also recommends looking into special detergents because the fiber becomes weak when wet (just like human hair), and you need to make sure to not damage it. Similar to human hair as well, silk is not good with heat, so opt for a cooler setting if you want to use a dryer.
Wash a satin pillowcase in delicate mode and with a light dry mode. If your satin pillowcase is a blend of fibers, Young recommends paying attention to what care needs those other fibers may require.
Reddy-Best suggests always reading the care label of a pillowcase because the Federal Trade Commission only requires companies to disclose fibers that comprise 5% or more of the fiber weight, so some components can be labeled as “other fibers."
How we chose
Shop TODAY sought the advice of textile experts and hairstylists to learn what the differences between satin and silk pillowcases are, as well as what each pillowcase is best for. After taking their guidance and the recommendations of editors, Shop TODAY curated a list of satin and silk pillowcases to shop.
Meet the experts
- Kelly Reddy-Best is a textile expert who teaches as an assistant professor at Iowa State University in the apparel department.
- Deborah Young is a textile educator, consultant and expert who has worked in the textile industry for over 25 years in colleges and textile institutions.
- Jennifer Korab is a New York City- and New Jersey-based hair stylist who has been in the hair industry since she was 17 years old. She also founded Renaissance Salon & Spa.
- Karen Leonas is a professor of textile sciences at North Carolina State University, where she is well known for her education in product development, apparel production and more.
- Tiffanie Richards is a hair stylist based in New York City who specializes in color treating blonde hair.
