Your Guide to Buying (and Sleeping on) a Silk Pillowcase

Mar 12, 2023

It's time to upgrade your slumber.

You’ve heard about the health perks of a long, uninterrupted night's rest: healthy sleep habits can boost your immune function, metabolism, and mood. But proper sleep doesn't just make you feel better; choosing the right pillowcase to rest your head can offer beauty benefits. Silk pillowcases, such as the luxe iterations from Fishers Finery, deliver dreamy feels along with real-world rewards. The opulent fabric reduces friction that can cause hair breakage and it may also keep your skin smoother and more hydrated. Research has shown that the face can be compressed while you sleep, resulting in wrinkles. Silk can mitigate that. "It has the lowest coefficient of friction, thus providing the least amount of damage [to skin]," says Dendy Engelman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City.

A silk pillowcase is a definite upgrade in your sleep and beauty routine, but there are so many options out there it can be hard to know which one to choose and how to care for it. We’re sharing everything you need to know about what to look for in the dream weave and how to keep it smooth and sleek.

Momme (mm) signifies silk's weight. In other words, the higher the momme, the heavier, denser, and more luxurious the fabric. Fishers Finery silk pillowcases come in three iterations: 19mm, 25mm, and 30mm, the most luxurious iteration. All three have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal and the 25mm was named the best all-around silk pillowcase for its moisture-wicking power, durability, and smoothness. "It stood up well to our abrasion, and at-home testers loved sleeping on it, saying it was smooth and cooling," reports Lexie Sachs, Executive Textiles Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "We also like the value for this pick; some silk pillowcases can cost close to $100, so this one is more affordable despite being a top performer."

Fishers Finery fashions its pillowcases with 100% mulberry silk, which is considered the finest type of silk available. The strands are inherently tightly woven and ultra smooth, which helps give the fabric its gloriously glossy appearance and touchably soft feel. Cotton and linen come from short plant fibers spun together to make longer threads, which is why their texture tends to be rougher.

There's a lot to be said for a pillowcase with a double-sided silk design, which boasts the luxe fabric on both front and back sides so you can feel free to flip it with abandon. If the pillowcase has a traditional side entry that makes it easy for your pillow to glide right in, look for an envelope enclosure that will ensure it stays put no matter where your changing sleep positions take you overnight. The Fishers Finery pillowcases feature all of the above, plus they come in 11 colorways from classic white, silver, and pretty pastels like powdery pink, to jewel tones, including hunter green and dark purple.

The material may be luxe, but depending on which pillowcase you choose, silk can be so much easier to care for than you might imagine. Fishers Finery Silk Pillowcases can be machine-washed on a hand-wash or delicate cycle with lukewarm water. To keep the silk looking shiny and new throughout the case's lifetime, the brand recommends placing them in a mesh wash bag so that they won't be subject to snags. Another pro tip: Load your machine only with other items made from lightweight, delicate fabrics since abrasion from heavier garments can damage silk. Tumble dry on an air-only cycle or delicate-low heat for 10 minutes. And voila, good as new.

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