Silk Bedding: Expert Answers Your Questions About Silk Pillowcases, Sheets, Bedding, and More

Let's get you some answers:

Why do people say a silk pillowcase is good for bedhead?

Sleeping on a pure silk pillowcase is great for bedhead, frizz, and tangles. It also prevents hair breakage and protects delicate hair regrowth. This is all due to the silky smooth surface of silk that is super gentle on hair. A typical cotton pillowcase (even a soft one!) has rough fibers that can tug and tear at your hair. A silk pillowcase, on the other hand, is practically friction free. No matter how much you toss and turn, your hair slides across the surface of your silk pillowcase. Say goodbye to split ends! Whether you want to minimize tangles or protect that pricey blowout, a silk pillowcase is the way to go.

What else can a silk pillowcase do for my hair and skin?

The short answer is: A LOT. Silk fiber contains essential amino acids and a special protein known as sericin. 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 and your hair and skin retain natural moisture. In fact, many spa-quality hair and skin treatments are made with silk protein. Your regular cotton pillowcase actually dries out your skin and hair; cotton is known for its absorbency, so it can actually act as a reverse conditioner, leaving hair and delicate facial skin dried out.

Along with helping your skin retain moisture, a mulberry silk pillowcase can also help prevent wrinkles. Remember how we said your hair simply glides across the smooth surface of a silk pillowcase? The same goes for your skin. By reducing friction, your silk pillowcase minimizes fine lines and sleep wrinkles. Talk about beauty sleep!

I have allergies. Can silk bedding help?

Not only can silk bedding help, it is often recommended specifically for people who have allergies and sensitive skin. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic and non-irritating to even the most sensitive skin types (including babies!). Sleeping on a silk pillowcase and sheets is wonderful for anyone with acne prone skin, eczema, psoriasis, or other skin conditions. Silk also naturally repels mold, fungus, and dust mites, which common allergens.

I "sleep hot." Are silk sheets for me?

Natural mulberry silk sheets are a great choice for anyone who sleeps hot—or cold! Silk fibers have a unique structure with a hollow center. This makes silk bedding naturally temperature regulating so you sleep comfortably in all conditions. In warm weather, or when you sleep hot, silk wicks away moisture without getting damp, which keeps you cool and dry. In cold weather, silk's low conductivity means it can create a thin layer of air insulation that keeps you warm. Silk sheets are the perfect year-round bedding.

Are silk sheets hard to care for?

Actually, silk pillowcases, sheets and bedding are fairly simple to care for and require only a bit of extra attention. Your Mulberry Park Silks silk items can easily be machine washed at home using the gentle cycle in cool water. We highly recommend using a detergent specially formulated for silk, and placing your silk items in fine mesh wash bags to protect them from damage in the wash; this is particularly important if your machine has an agitator wash mechanism. You may also hand wash your silk. Silk sheets should not go in the dryer; hang them indoors or outside away from direct sunlight and they will dry in a short amount of time. Iron lightly—if at all—on the lowest setting. A light steam will allow the iron to glide gently over the fabric and remove wrinkles. You can also put your sheets on the bed while still slightly damp and smooth wrinkles out by hand.

Do silk sheets have thread count like cotton sheets?

No, but they have something similar, known as momme. This is a unit of weight measurement used for silk that is abbreviated as MM or mm. Silk fabric that is less than 20mm is considered on the lighter side; 20 to 28mm is considered medium-weight; and anything above that is considered heavyweight. Most Mulberry Park Silks products are made of 19mm (which equates to a 600 thread count) and 22mm silk (which parallels to a 900 thread count). We also offer a super luxurious, heavyweight, 30 momme pillowcase. Learn how to choose the ideal weight pillowcase for you here.

How do I know I'm getting good quality silk?

Mulberry silk is the finest in the world. It comes from the cocoons of a specific species of silkworm -- Bombyx mori -- whose diet consists of leaves from the Mulberry tree. The environment of these silkworms is carefully controlled and monitored to allow the larvae to spin threads that are considered the best on Earth. These luxurious threads are finer, smoother and consistently colored than any other variety of silk. More than just beautiful, mulberry silk fibers are even stronger than steel fibers of the same diameter. Everything we produce is made of pure mulberry silk.

Silk is also graded A, B, or C, with A being the highest. It is also further differentiated by number; grade a silk comes in A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A, with grade 6A being the highest quality. This silk is long-strand silk from cocoons that are pearly white in color. It is very pure and can be unraveled to great lengths without breaking. All silk used in Mulberry Park Silks sheets, pillowcases, bedding, and accessories is Grade 6A.

Finally, all of our silk is charmeuse weave. This style features silk threads woven to create a smooth luster on one side of the fabric and a matte finish on the reverse.

Will satin bedding give me the same benefits as silk?

No, satin will definitely NOT give you all the benefits of silk. Silk is a natural protein fiber while satin is typically made of synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon (both of which are petroleum-based). Natural silk and synthetic satin feel different against the skin. Unlike satin, silk is hypoallergenic and resistant to mold, mildew, fungus and dust mites. You can learn more about the important differences between silk and satin here.

Is silk safe for my family?

Pure mulberry silk is naturally hypoallergenic. But at Mulberry Park Silks, we've taken the extra step to have all of our silk products independently tested and certified safe according to the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. This global testing and accreditation program successfully sets standards for the screening of harmful substances in consumer textiles. Textiles can only be certified if all components meet the requirements submitted. This means that all of All Mulberry Park Silks products have been tested and guaranteed to be free of all harmful substances, including toxins and irritants. You can be assured that the Mulberry Park Silks products you bring into your home are safe, natural and healthy.

Why am I hearing so much about silk these days? Is it a new trend?

Once a secret of beauty insiders, the benefits of sleeping on silk have definitely gone mainstream in recent years. However, the history of silk goes back thousands of years. China began to trade silk outside of Asia as early as 1000 BC through a network of routes through Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Europe; these routes are known collectively as The Silk Road. The Silk Road also opened up paths for exploration from Europe to the East, most notably the Italian explorer Marco Polo who traveled the route to reach Mongolia in the 13th century.

I'm getting excited about silk. What else do you sell besides silk pillowcases and sheets?

Yes. Along with our silk pillowcases and sheets, we have expanded our collection to include silk duvet covers and pillow shams. We also offer baby and children's silk pillowcases and bedding and a line of accessories including silk sleep masks and lavender eye pillows; travel pillows; head scarves, robes,  and scrunchies.

Our collection is expanding all the time, as we work hard to offer you the finest silk items in the market at fair and affordable prices. Please connect with us by visiting our store or call us at (800) 860-1924 to learn more or ask questions! We'd love to hear from you. And please visit our comprehensive FAQ page here.