In 2021, I dyed my brown hair white, and unsurprisingly, it is by no means been the identical. While I do not remorse dyeing my hair, I do miss how naturally wholesome it was, and I remorse not taking higher care of it when it was dyed. Though the bleach is 99% out of my hair, I’ve been left with unwanted effects like frizziness and dullness, whereas my scalp stays as delicate, dandruff-prone and fast to change into oily because it has all the time been.
In my quest for more healthy hair, I’ve taken extra time to analysis my hair sort and what it takes to make mentioned sort wholesome. I discovered that I’ve 2a/2b waves and curls. But once I observe a wavy hair routine, my hair turns into tangled in a single day and requires brushing the following morning. Because I’ve skinny hair, the curls disappear and poof out once I brush it, creating an aura of frizz round my head. The different downside? I’m low-maintenance, so at this level, I’ve hit my effort restrict.
Time and time once more, when in search of a easy resolution, I stored seeing this recommendation: Use a silk pillowcase. Almost each Reddit thread, YouTube video and article I’ve seen promotes silk’s wonders for hair and pores and skin. I used to be doubtful however determined to provide it a attempt. Cozy Earth despatched me its 100% mulberry silk pillowcase (presently on sale for $82) to place to the check.
Before utilizing a silk pillowcase
I’ve been utilizing 100% cotton pillowcases for the previous few years. While I would not say they’ve supplied essentially the most luxurious expertise, they get the job executed. However, I get up each day with tangled, frizzy hair and material traces on my face. This is compounded by the truth that I’m a scorching sleeper, which provides to the chaos – particularly since my cotton pillowcases aren’t cooling.
Following wavy hair routines, post-shower, I might use a leave-in conditioner or wave spray to scrunch my hair, emphasizing my curls. I attempt to not use an excessive amount of product since my hair is skinny and fast to look oily. After that, it dries and appears presentable. But then, I am going to mattress and get up with this…
This hair is tangled to the purpose the place it requires brushing (combing by way of with my fingers will not work). I’m left with a poof of frizz with no outlined curls or waves in sight. This has occurred so typically that I’ve stopped performing my post-shower wavy hair routine since my bedhead is highly effective sufficient to make the entire endeavor really feel pointless.
Silk pillowcases scale back friction and do not soak up as a lot moisture, which helps protect hairstyles, preserve hair hydration and forestall tangles and breakage. Because of the light material, it is usually mentioned to be nice for delicate, acne-prone pores and skin — although it isn’t a one-stop miracle remedy. With this data in thoughts, I switched out my cotton pillowcase for a silk one.
After utilizing a silk pillowcase
Upon resting my head on the pillowcase, I instantly felt a distinction. The lack of friction made it simpler for me to glide my pores and skin and hair throughout the case, whereas the material has extra of a cooling impact than cotton (good for warm sleepers like me). Now, for the actual check: sleeping with the silk pillowcase.
I cherished sleeping with this material. It felt a lot cooler and extra luxurious than my cotton pillowcases. Plus, there have been no residual material traces on my pores and skin. As for my hair, I carried out my post-shower wavy routine, went to mattress and awakened like this…
While my hair nonetheless turned messier in a single day, it wasn’t almost as tangled and frizzy because it sometimes is. I might nonetheless make out extra pronounced waves and slight curls. Usually, once I get up, my hair seems to be prefer it’s mad at me, however this time, it simply regarded perturbed. It was simpler to comb out with my fingers, which means that the hairbrush was solely barely mandatory and, consequently, my frizz poof was lowered. My hair additionally felt softer to the contact and extra hydrated.
Since silk pillowcases could be dearer than cotton ones, I secretly hoped this experiment would not work. But based mostly on these outcomes, I feel silk pillowcases are price it — particularly should you’re ready to care for them to extend their lifespan.
These are Cozy Earth’s care directions for its silk pillowcase: “Machine washable, cool iron, DO NOT DRY, gentle detergent OR HAND WASH delicately.” I’ve seen different manufacturers advocate treating your silk product gently at each step by prioritizing hand washing or utilizing the washer’s light cycle with the merchandise in a separate mesh laundry bag for delicates.
Again, I’m low-maintenance: I used the washer with a gentle detergent. My residence constructing’s mannequin would not have a delicate cycle, so I positioned the pillowcase in a protecting mesh bag earlier than washing it. Then, I let it air dry flat and had no points.
The verdict
If you are uninterested in bedhead, sleep scorching or hate waking up with material traces in your pores and skin — and you’ve got the money to spare or a birthday wishlist — I feel a silk pillowcase is price it. Generally, I consider any product that may enhance your sleep is price it should you’re prepared to care for it correctly.
If you are trying to save and nonetheless reap the advantages of a silky pillowcase, CNET’s favourite finances silk pillowcase is simply $10. As for no extra aggressive bedhead, that’s priceless.