In This Article: Look for Real Silk Check for Grade 6A Silk Choose the Right Momme Weight Look for a Zipper Closure Buy Machine Washable Choose the Correct Size Select a Color You Love Where to Shop Listen to an audio transcription of this post It’s not an exaggeration to say you’ll pay about the same price for an overnight stay at a luxury hotel as you will for a set of most silk pillowcases. The difference is, most luxury hotels don’t actually provide their guests with a real silk pillowcase. Sure, you’ll get a bright white cotton pillowcase on your bed, but where's the luxury in that? Luxury, it seems, isn’t a necessity even in the luxury market. So, why do it, then? Why splurge on a 100% pure mulberry silk pillowcase when luxury hotels won’t? Because in a world where an "everything-is-disposable" attitude is damaging our environment and health, a high quality silk pillowcase is a luxury that is becoming a necessity. But if you're going to make an investment in a silk pillowcase that will last you 10 years, what are the criteria you need to look for? Let's dive in. 1. To Save Your Skin and Hair, Look for Real Silk In our culture, the words “beauty sleep” conjure up visions of Sleeping Beauty just waiting for Prince Charming to kiss away the evil spell and wake Beauty from her slumber. And in true fairy tale fashion, when Beauty wakes up, she’s truly a beauty. No frizzy hair. If she has sensitive skin, you wouldn’t know it. She’s basically flawless, despite having slept for a century or so. Goes to show you what a long spell of good beauty sleep can do! Bed head versus silk Fairy tale fantasy aside, here’s the reality. According to Dr. Ophelia Veraitch in an interview with Stylist, sleep, or more specifically, tossing and turning while you sleep, causes pulling and friction on your hair, leading to a case of the frizzies. Dr. Veraitch cites evidence which supports the idea that sleeping on a real silk pillowcase can protect your locks while you sleep. What sets pure mulberry silk apart from silk blends and other materials, including synthetic satin pillowcases, cotton pillowcases, and bamboo, is that mulberry silk is considered the highest quality material available. The threads are much smoother and stronger than other types of silk, which means less friction and pulling on your hair and skin. Mulberry silk is made by Bombyx mori silkworms that feed on mulberry tree leaves. They are known to spin the strongest, purest silk in the world. Your skin and Blissy silk Here’s the other reality. The same friction that’s bad for your hair is also bad for your skin. However, as an NBCNews.com article points out, one acne-prone user who tried a Blissy silk pillowcase saw changes to her skin quality in about a week. She experienced less puffiness, redness, and irritation once she started sleeping on a high quality silk pillowcase. Learn about the benefits of silk pillowcases for hair, skin, and sleep here. What about cost? But all of this isn't just about beauty and looking younger. It's about the cost to you and the environment. Here’s something to consider. The average cost of acne treatments runs about $60 a month for creams and tinctures and up to $200 a month for oral antibiotics and more specialized treatment. And at nearly $70 a pop, some anti-frizz hair treatments cost just as much per month as acne treatments do. Let's not even talk about the environmental cost of having all those products go down the drain when you rinse them off your hair and skin. A one-time splurge of $75 for a high quality real silk pillowcase (queen size) costs you and the environment far less by comparison. (Read why Blissy is a better choice than more inexpensive silk pillowcase brands.) To ensure that you get the most eco-friendly silk pillowcase for this purpose, read through product descriptions carefully to make sure you’re getting a pillowcase that is made of 100% mulberry silk. Here's a hint: Start with a real silk pillowcase that has OEKO-TEX certification. Now that's true beauty sleep! Shop Real Silk Pillowcases 2. Check for Grade 6A Silk Silk grade Buying a mulberry silk pillowcase involves looking for the best grade, which indicates the highest quality. Silk grades can range from A through C. To get the best quality silk pillow case, look for Grade A mulberry silk. This silk grade features silk fibers that are smooth, but durable enough to be unwound without any breakage. Blissy Silk Pillowcases are Grade A OEKO-TEX certified mulberry silk, which means they're safe enough even for your toddler's skin. Silk number Grade isn’t the only factor to look for when you’re choosing a pure silk pillowcase. Look for the right number as well to make sure you’re getting high quality. Grade A silk ranges from A through 6A. Blissy Silk Pillowcases Grade 6A offers the finest quality on the market. This high-quality, natural silk pillowcase is naturally hypoallergenic and protects skin from dryness and other damage while also protecting your hair from frizziness and hair breakage. A note on satin One thing to note is that products marketed as a "satin pillowcase" (where the word silk does not appear) are not silk. So do avoid these products as they are nowhere near the same quality. "Silk satin" is okay to buy—but do check that it is made from grade 6A 100% pure mulberry silk. 3. Choose the Right Momme Weight Pay attention to momme count As you look for a mulberry silk pillowcase, pay close attention to the momme weight. Momme is a Japanese unit of measurement that is sort of like thread count for cotton and is another indicator of silk quality. Momme weight indicates the weight and density of silk used for pillowcases and other silk products. But which momme weight is best for your new silk pillowcases? 22-momme makes the best silk pillowcases Ideally, you should look for 22-momme silk for pillowcases. You’ll find momme weights ranging from 11 through 30 (or even up to 40 in some cases), but 22-momme makes for the best silk pillowcases. Pillowcases with a 19-momme weight can still feel extremely soft, but they’re considered a lower silk quality and won't convey as strong of benefits or last you as long over time. If you want a pillowcase that's super soft but also durable, 22-momme pillowcases are the way to go. A durable silk pillowcase means a silk pillowcase that lasts a long time. It's one you won't be throwing out for a while, which cuts down on the environmental and personal costs of your home products in the long run. Higher momme weight does not always mean better While a natural silk pillowcase with 25-momme weight or 30-momme weight might seem to indicate better quality than 22-momme, this isn’t the case. Silk in these momme weights tends to be heavier, so it isn’t as soft when used for pillowcases. Silk with higher momme weights tends to work better for other silk products, such as curtains or robes. Shop 6A 22-Momme Pillowcases 4. Look for a Zipper Closure Silk Pillowcase to Protect Your Pillow It’s easy to overlook this factor when choosing a silk pillowcase, but it’s an important one. The kind of enclosure your silk pillowcase has can affect how comfortable it ends up being when you sleep on it. It will also affect how dirty your pillow will get, and therefore, how long your pillow will last. Silk pillowcases are generally available in two types of enclosures. This means how your pillowcase is tucked over the pillowcase to stay in place. They usually come in a zipper enclosure or an envelope enclosure. Envelope closures don't stay in place Keep in mind that silk is a slippery material due to its softness and smoothness. Using an envelope closure silk pillowcase might not be the best idea. These pillowcases leave your pillowcase open to the elements. Pillows are like allergen and dust mite magnets, so it's best to keep them fully encased to protect them. Furthermore, envelop closures do not lay flat the same way a zipper enclosure does. One side will have a seam while only one side will be flat. Laying on seams can lead to sleep wrinkles, so this is to be avoided. Being able to flip your pillow and lay on both sides of the pillowcase can help you extend time between launderings—helping you be more eco-friendly and saving you time. Enter the zipper closure. Hidden zipper closures are best for real silk pillowcases To make sure your luxurious mulberry silk pillowcase stays on throughout the night and looks sleek, look for one with an hidden zipper closure. This type of closure provides a secure way to keep your pillowcase on at all times as long as it's fully zipped. Since the zipper is hidden, you won’t have to worry about it being visible on your pure mulberry silk pillowcases. Zipper cases protect your pillow from wear and tear. They also allow you to use both sides of your pillowcase equally so that one side doesn't become threadbare. This extends the life of both your pillow and your pillowcase. Th best affordable silk pillowcase is the one that lasts for years. Shop Zippered Pillowcases 5. Avoid Dry Cleaning: Buy Machine Washable Natural Silk Pillowcases Many people associate silk fabric with dry cleaning. According to The Spruce, there are only a few dry cleaning methods that are safe for the environment. And many dry cleaners don't use those eco-friendly methods. Fortunately, nowadays, buying the best quality silk doesn’t mean you’ll need to hand wash it or dry clean it. Look for a silk pillowcase that you can machine wash, since it doesn't require as much maintenance. Hand washing silk can take considerable time and effort. When you buy real silk pillowcases that can be machine washed, this provides greater convenience. Just make sure you read through the washing instructions for your new pillowcases to avoid damaging them. How to wash a mulberry silk pillowcase Most 100% mulberry silk pillowcases should be washed in cold water in a mesh lingerie bag on your washer's delicate cycle or gentle cycle to protect the pillowcase. Read our top tips for keeping your Blissy silk pillowcase looking it's best here. Air drying is recommended for best results. This is more environmentally friendly and keeps the satin finish gleaming for many years. It also keeps the beauty benefits of your silk pillowcase working for a long time to come. Use special silk detergent for best results To get even more out of your pillowcases for years to come, look for a special silk detergent to wash your real silk pillowcase in. This type of detergent will get your 100% mulberry silk pillowcases clean without causing any damage. The pH in silk detergents is neutral. You can place your pillowcases in a mesh laundry bag to keep them safe, then put them in the washing machine. Your pillowcases can then be air dried or placed in the dryer at the lowest heat setting for up to 20 minutes. Shop Silk Detergent 6. Choose the Correct Size to Avoid Wear and Tear One of the most important factors to think about when you buy mulberry silk pillowcase is the size. Measure your pillow if you don’t already know what size it is so you can choose a silk pillowcase in the right size. Real silk pillowcase size range Your pure silk pillowcases should be the same size as your pillows or slightly larger. Depending on your pillow size, you might need to buy standard, queen size, or king size pillowcases. If you’re buying pillowcases for kids, look for ones in a youth or toddler size. Why size matters, especially for a real silk pillowcase Having the right size pillowcases helps ensure a secure fit over your pillows, which reduces wear and tear. Pillowcases that are too small won’t fit at all, while pillowcases that are much larger will be too loose and will look rumpled. You want a pillowcase that allows the silk to slightly stretch and show off its beautiful sheen. Plus, buying the correct size means your pillow and pillowcase, as well as your skin and hair, don't get as beat up over time. A silk pillowcase for the hair, skin, and environment is one that fits snuggly on your pillow. 7. Keep Your Real Silk Pillowcase Longer: Select a Color You Love Mulberry silk pillowcases are available in tons of colors and designs. At Blissy, we carry the widest color and pattern selection available for high quality mulberry silk pillowcases. Blissy has more than 3 dozen to choose from, with new colors and prints constantly being released. And what does the color of your silk pillowcase have to do with beauty and the environment? A color you love is a color you keep. When it comes to your silk pillowcase options, buying a real silk pillowcase or silk pillowcases in colors you love means you're less likely to toss the pillowcase out because you're tired of it. From White, Taupe, and other neutral colors to bold Orchid and Hibiscus hues, you can choose real silk pillowcases that not only go with your bedroom décor, but also encourage you to keep them for years to come. Truly a win for you, your home, and for the environment. Shop Bright Colored Pillowcases Buy the Best Real Silk Pillowcases at Blissy Choosing the best overall silk pillowcase that's durable, eco-friendly, and easy to care for can be a challenge. So it helps to have a reliable place to purchase it from. At Blissy, we carry the highest quality 6A 22-momme 100% mulberry silk pillowcases that are perfect for your home, your beauty routine, and the environment. Choose from a wide range of sizes, colors, and designs, including neutral colors, vivid hues, jewel tones, and novelty prints. All of our silk bedding is machine washable for your convenience. They are also OEKO-TEX certified, so you know you're getting a product that's safe, non-toxic, and eco-friendly. Visit us to explore our selection of 100% mulberry silk pillowcases, and choose the best ones for your home. Shop Mulberry Silk