If you’ve got a beard, you can definitely benefit from sleeping on a silk pillowcase. This article outlines the many benefits of silk for beards of any length.
Inside this Article:
A Silk Pillowcase Can Help Your Beard Grow Beautifully
Do you have a beard? Do you love someone who has a beard? If so, you definitely know that cultivating a luxurious, beautiful beard is quite a commitment. And along with time, patience, and excellent grooming, a good beard requires the right products such as beard wash, beard oil, and even beard wax to keep it looking its best.
But you may not be aware that there’s one more thing you should do to protect your beautiful beard: sleep on a pure silk pillowcase. (In fact, sleeping on your regular cotton pillowcase can actually be really BAD for your beard!)
So read on to learn more about why you should be switching to a silk pillowcase today. Your beard will thank you!
Why Are Silk Pillowcases So Good for Hair and Skin
Here at Mulberry Park Silks, we welcome any opportunity to discuss the benefits of sleeping on pure silk. The bottom line is that silk is great for both hair and skin and delivers a great night of beauty sleep. Here’s why:
- Silk is a protein-based natural fiber that helps your hair, scalp, and skin retain their natural moisture. (Silk protein, known as sericin, is often used as an ingredient in salon and spa quality hair and skin conditioning products).During the silk processing, the water-soluble protein sericin is removed. The protein retained in the silk is called fibroin, which is rich in 18 amino acids. These amino acids bestow silk with its inherent resistance to dust mites, mold, and fungus, as well as its hypoallergenic properties. Anyone with dry hair or dry skin should be sleeping on a silk pillowcase.
- The soft, supple surface of silk is nearly friction free, which prevents tugging at both hair and delicate facial skin. This tames tangles, bedhead, frizz and hair breakage while also preventing sleep creases, fine lines, and wrinkles. The gentle environment of a silk pillowcase can also prevent unnecessary hair loss and encourage new hair growth. If you’re looking for better hair and skin, sleep on silk.
- Silk is naturally hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites and non-irritating, even to sensitive skin. Dermatologists recommend sleeping on Silk to their patients with acne, eczema, and other skin conditions.
- Silk is breathable, wicks away moisture and regulates body temperature to keep you comfortable in all seasons and sleep conditions.
- Just as important, silk is a great alternative to cotton. Cotton is by its nature absorbent, and can actually pull moisture away from hair and skin; it actually acts as a reverse conditioner, especially on curly or frizzy hair which is already prone to dryness. Your cotton pillowcase—even if it’s made of the finest weave fabric—contains tiny fibers that can pull and tear at your hair and skin. Read more about why silk is a better choice than cotton here.
And if all these aesthetic and wellness benefits weren’t enough, silk feels absolutely luxurious to sleep on. Truly, no other fabric can compare to the comfort and indulgent feel of silk.
The Benefits of Silk Pillowcases for Beards
The good news for anyone sporting a beard is that all of silk’s many benefits to hair and skin translate directly to the look, feel and health of your beard.
Moisture: Let’s start with silk’s naturally moisturizing properties. As you’ve certainly noticed, the hair on your face is probably coarser, more wiry, and drier than the hair on your head. This is because the hair follicles on your facial skin are larger than those on your head. If you’ve taken time and made the effort to grow your beard out long, you know that facial hair is drier, which makes it more vulnerable to damage like breakage and split ends (hence the popularity of special beard shampoos, conditioning treatments and grooming tools). Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is a naturally moisturizing environment that protects and conditions your facial hair overnight.
Gentleness: Along with being prone to damage from dryness, your coarse/wiry beard hair is more vulnerable to breakage than the hair on your head. This is due to the unique cuticle structure of coarse/wiry hair. Unlike a straight hair strand, where the cuticle lays flat, wiry hair has a cuticle with raised edges that are more prone to snagging, breaking and tearing. The friction-free surface of silk minimizes that damage as you move and turn during the night.
Antidote to Cotton: Cotton is an incredibly popular fabric for sheets and pillowcases. But it can do some serious drying out and damage to your beard both by removing moisture and being a source of friction. You—and your beard—deserve better.
Choosing The Best Silk Pillowcase for A Healthier Beard
If you’re new to silk, knowing where to start shopping for a beard-friendly silk pillowcase can be a bit of a challenge. Silk has grown increasingly popular, and there are a lot more options in the marketplace than ever before. Here are a few quick tips to get you started:
- Buy a pillowcase that is clearly labeled 100 percent pure mulberry silk. Do NOT purchase a silk blend or satin pillowcase, which is made from petroleum-based polyester and will not deliver the many benefits of pure silk. Learn more about silk vs. satin here.
- A charmeuse weave—soft and lustrous on one side with a matte finish on the reverse—is the way to go for your silk pillowcase.
- Purchase silk of the highest grade, 6A, for the best performance and durability.
- Silk weight is measured in momme, which is similar to thread count. Look for silk pillowcases over 19 momme weight; the higher the momme, the heavier and more silk is used in the item. Genuine silk will have a label showing momme weight.
- Pay attention to design details. For example, some individuals don’t like the feel of a zipper closure on their pillowcase.
- Purchase your silk pillowcase from a reputable company; visit the website and see what they have to say about their silk. A trustworthy manufacturer will be very transparent about both the quality and pricing of their silk.
If you’d like to learn more, visit our helpful blog that explains what to look for when buying a silk pillowcase. Also check out this blog which explains how to tell genuine silk from artificial satin.
If you are not sure which silk pillowcase is right for you, take our helpful quiz:
Welcome to the Mulberry Park Silks Family
Of course, we’d love you to choose a silk pillowcase from Mulberry Park Silks! All of our products are made from 100% pure mulberry silk of the finest grade—6A—in a luxurious charmeuse weave. We offer pillowcases in 19, 22, and 30 momme weights. All of our pillowcases come with a comfortable envelope closure to hold your pillow in place with no need for a zipper. Along with being hypoallergenic, our silk has been certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® which means it has been independently tested for harmful substances according to strict international textile criteria; we prominently showcase the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® label and logo on our products and website.
Our silk pillowcases come in a range of weights, sizes and –most importantly—designer colors that will definitely suit any décor. The bearded gentlemen working in our office and warehouse swear by their silk pillowcases; their favorite shades are Black, Silver, Gunmetal and Ivory in our signature 22 momme weight silk (these versatile shades go with any bedding and also match our sheet sets).
Lastly -- unlike many other silk companies -- we are proudly based in the United States. Our offices, and warehouse are headquartered in Connecticut. We can easily be reached via phone or email to answer any questions or concerns.
How to Care for Your Mulberry Park Silks Pillowcase
Fortunately, your silk pillowcase is easy to care for. It can be washed by hand or machine right at home. We recommend using a gentle, enzyme-free detergent made for silk like Heritage Park Silk and Wool Laundry Detergent and washing on a gentle/silk cycle inside out in a fine mesh laundry bag. Don’t use bleach or fabric softener and hang your silk pillowcase to dry indoors or outside away from direct sunlight (it will dry quickly!) Click here for more guidance on silk care.
