The best silk pillowcases for smooth hair and skin

Curious about the miraculous benefits of a silk pillowcase? Promising an end to bedhead and no more crinkly skin first thing in the morning, we just had to investigate.

So many Mumsnetters swear by a silk pillowcase, and the list of benefits goes on and on. For a simple, zero-effort beauty hack, they’re hard to beat.

Thanks to its natural properties, silk doesn’t conduct static or absorb moisture like cotton does, giving you smooth, calm hair when you wake up, and leaving skincare products on your skin instead of your bedding. What’s more, it’s hypoallergenic and temperature regulating, so it won’t irritate your skin or make you sweaty.

With such an impressive reputation, the only question remaining is: which one to choose? We’ve combed through the Mumsnet forums, as well as expert review sites, to bring you the best silk pillowcases to buy.

Here are the best silk pillowcases to buy in 2022.

1. Best overall silk pillowcase: Jasmine Silk

Price: £14 | Buy now from Amazon

“I have several of the Jasmine Silk ones from Amazon and they’ve all been good and are holding up well” - Talisin

They really help stop my curly hair getting too tangled and frizzy overnight. I use these ones, the underside is cotton so they're not too slippy - Abelino

The 300TC cotton underside of this Jasmine Silk pillowcase means it’s affordable and it won’t slide around at night. The silk is high quality and provides all the skin and hair benefits Mumsnetters love in a silk pillowcase.

This pillowcase has an envelope closure, and you can pop it in the washing machine with a mild silk detergent. The silk stays smooth after being washed, meaning you can wake up with unrumpled skin and frizz-free hair.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

2. Best budget silk pillowcase: Spirits of Vietnam

Price: £10 (19 momme; £17 for 25 momme) | Buy now from eBay 

"I use an eBay store direct from Vietnam. Spirits_of_Vietnam. Double sided 25 momme silk pillowcase with a zip. Usually cost around £20. Excellent quality" - LongIslandIcedT

Spirits of Vietnam on eBay sell direct from the manufacturer in Vietnam and the silk pillowcases are a real bargain. We love this 25 momme style but you can get a more standard 19 momme pillowcase for under £10. The eBay store has lots of colour options as well as different shapes and sizes.

They do take a couple of weeks to reach the UK, so it’s worth factoring that in before you place an order.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

3. Best silk pillowcase for skin: Lily Silk Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

Price: £17 | Buy now from Amazon

"Definitely worth the investment! Mine are from Lilysilk" - TheVeryHungryTortoise

"I have Lilysilk pillowcases, they're lovely and reasonably priced, I have eczema and these are much better for my skin" - crocusesandtulips

Another product with a cotton underside, LilySilk pillowcases are gorgeously smooth and the hypoallergenic silk is 100% chemical free, perfect for even the most sensitive skin. Because of the fineness of silk fibres, using a silk pillowcase means less friction against your skin.

LilySilk also uses natural dyes for its five colour options, and the low absorbency of silk means it won’t dry out your skin either.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

4. Best silk pillowcase for hair: ZIMASilk Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

Price: £20 | Buy now from Amazon

"ZIMASILK is my favourite one from Amazon" - Cardoon

This pillowcase from ZIMASilk is a great choice for thick or unruly hair that gets tangled while you sleep. The silk is nice and thick, and reviewers say you’ll wake up with better hair that may not need washing as frequently. Plus, with 14 colours to choose from, you’ll be able to match the pillowcase to your bedding set.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

5. Best organic silk pillowcase: Thomas and Guy Organic Silk Pillowcase

Price: £19 | Buy now from Etsy

For a luxurious treat, check out Thomas and Guy’s organic silk pillowcase. It comes in a gift bag so it’s perfect for giving as a present, and is made from 100% organic mulberry silk on both sides.

No chemicals whatsoever are used in the production of organic silk, so keep this in mind if you have very sensitive skin.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

6. Best silk pillowcase for curly hair: OnlyCurls Silk Pillowcase

Price: £40 | Buy now from OnlyCurls

"DP has Afro hair and has also found it keeps the texture better than cotton pillowcases" - silkypyjamasallday

"I have a silk one from a company called onlycurls. It was £40 but it’s lovely quality, washes well and their customer service is great. It doesn’t have that shiny slippery feeling you get on cheaper satin ones either" - Jas1985

Designed specifically for curly and Afro hair, OnlyCurls’ silk pillowcase will keep curls intact and frizz-free all night long.

At £40, it’s at the higher end price-wise but you’ll get a very high quality silk for your money. The science behind silk’s effect on curly hair? Silk reduces static and won’t absorb moisture from your hair, so compared to a cotton pillowcase, it leaves your hair relatively unruffled after a night’s sleep.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

7. Best mulberry silk pillowcase: John Lewis & Partners The Ultimate Collection Silk Pillowcase

Price: £45 | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners

"I've got this one from John Lewis which is lasting well. Wash it at 60 along with the rest of the bedding. Have had cheaper ones but they have ripped and fallen apart more quickly" - Cardoon

Mulberry silk is made from the cocoons of silk worms that feed exclusively on leaves of the mulberry bush, which produces one of smoothest silks available. This pillowcase from John Lewis features super-soft silk and you can even tumble dry it on a low setting.

We love the range of 13 gorgeous, muted colours and the chic, simple design. At £45 it’s one of the pricier pillowcases in our roundup, but the price is reflected in the quality and durability of the silk.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: Yes

8. Best king size silk pillowcase: Ethical Silk Company

Price: £55 | Buy now from The Ethical Silk Company

"The ethical silk company uses a process that harvests the cocoons after the moths have abandoned them so they are not hurt in the process, donate 10% of profits to two charities, and use fair trade production. I have given their pillowcases as gifts" - Thelegohooverer

This king size pillowcase from the Ethical Silk Co is left undyed, so there are no chemicals whatsoever involved in the making of the fabric. Many Mumsnetters are concerned about the ethics of silk production, and if you’re one of them, buying from the Ethical Silk Co will set your mind to rest. They use fair trade practices with their suppliers and tailors in Jaipur, and all their products are made of mulberry silk, which is harvested after the silkworm has left its cocoon.

The silk in this pillowcase has a more matte finish compared to others, so it’s perfect if you dislike the slipperiness of other silks.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

9. Best silk pillowcase for acne: Alaska Bear

Price: £23 | Buy now from Amazon

Boasting chemical-free dyes and 19 momme silk with a 600 thread count, the Alaska Bear pillowcase is a great choice for sensitive or acne-prone skin. With its hypoallergenic and breathable properties, a silk pillowcase will give you a less sweaty night’s sleep. Thanks to silk’s naturally occurring cellular albumen, it’ll also speed up the metabolism of skin cells, which may help spots to heal more quickly.

This pillowcase is available in over 30 colours and patterns, and the only drawback is the manufacturer recommends hand washing only.

Key specs

• Machine washable: No

• Tumble dry: No

10. Best silk pillowcase for wrinkles: Slip Beauty Sleep Collection

Price: £95 | Buy now from Amazon

"Was given a Slip silk pillowcase from Net a Porter for a ‘big’ birthday. Bloody love it. Need to sell some stuff on eBay to raise funds for another one"- Newsfromnowhere

"Silk pillow case plus matching eye mask here. Not a single face crease and beautifully smooth hair every morning" - Lily193

For a truly indulgent night’s sleep, treat yourself to a Slip silk pillowcase. This one comes with a matching eye mask and Mumsnetters say it’ll leave you frizz and wrinkle-free.

Slip has developed its own 22-momme silk weave, manufactured for a smooth, soft and frictionless fabric. We love Slip’s range of tasteful colours and patterns, as well as its collection of scrunchies, turbans and facemasks which make them a one-stop-shop for all your silk needs.

Key specs

• Machine washable: Yes

• Tumble dry: No

What are the benefits of using a silk pillowcase?

There are many benefits to sleeping on a silk pillowcase. It’s gentler on your skin than cotton because of its smoother texture, hypoallergenic properties and the fact that it doesn’t absorb skin products. It keeps you cooler than cotton and doesn’t absorb moisture and oils from your hair, meaning you wake up without a bedhead.

Can silk pillowcases improve sleep?

Silk is more breathable than cotton, so it keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter, which may result in a better night’s sleep.

How do you wash a silk pillowcase?

Most manufacturers recommend hand washing or using a machine hand wash setting and a gentle silk detergent. Tumble-drying isn’t advised as the heat can warp the silk’s fibres, but the fabric dries so quickly that it’s not too big of a drawback.

What’s the best silk pillowcase to buy?

We rate the Jasmine Silk pillowcase for its balance of quality and affordability. We also love Slip for a bit of pure luxury.

How we chose our recommendations

Most of our recommendations for silk pillowcases came from Mumsnet users themselves. We searched the Mumsnet forums for posts about which pillowcases Mumsnetters really rated. We also researched various review sites to find out which silk pillowcases both looked and performed well across the board.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.