InStyle January 9, 2025
InStyle
Hair
The 13 Best Silk Pillowcases That Flattened Frizz and Smoothed Wrinkles, Tested & Reviewed
Sweet dreams are made of these silky smooth pillowcases
Silk pillowcases are a multifunctional purchase. They look pretty and bring a touch of luxury to any bedroom. Yet, their hair and skin beauty benefits far outweigh the rest. “Silk pillowcases are universally beneficial to all hair types and textures,” says Jenna Spino, hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “Silk will help to maintain the moisture in the hair, leaving it more hydrated, shinier, and less frizzy.”
The market, however, is flooded with options, and it can be tricky to parse what’s worth the investment and what’s too flimsy to fare long-term. From favorite bedding brands to the top Amazon picks, our team of editors, beauty experts, and product testers set out to find the best of the best. We tested each one, evaluating the fabric’s breathability level, skin- and hair-smoothing abilities, and the variety of color options available. As a result, only the best, silkiest, and dreamiest pillowcases that will completely rejuvenate your hair and skin come morning earned a spot on our list.
Best Overall
Slip Pure Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Over the past several years, Slip has become a go-to among wellness experts for all things beauty sleep—from eye masks and hair scrunchies to silk pillowcases and beyond. From our experience, we must admit the products live up to the hype. The high price tag for a single queen-size pillowcase may feel shocking at first, but the brand’s proprietary silk blend that took years to develop has been proven to outperform its peers when it comes to reducing friction (goodbye, frizz) and absorption (all those expensive face moisturizers will actually melt into your skin and not your pillowcase). Not only did we wake up to softer, more manageable hair that allowed us to extend our blowouts another day or two, but our sensitive skin appeared less red in the morning.
Who It’s For: We recommend this pillowcase to anyone with acne-prone skin, as we noticed the congested skin around our chin and jaw looked better, breakouts and bumpy whiteheads became less frequent, and after a few weeks we rarely have a breakout in that spot at all.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Queen, king | Colors: 9
Best Budget
Bedsure Satin Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Satin offers a more affordable alternative to silk with many of the same hair smoothing and skin clearing benefits. This set from Bedsure seriously impressed us and we found ourselves loving it just as much as the silk options—sometimes even more. Given that the price point is under $20, and the fact they come in a set of two, it's a true value purchase that is worth far more than the price tag.
Who It’s For: The shopper on a budget—you don’t have to sacrifice quality by opting for a more affordable option here.
Material: Polyester satin | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 39
Best Satin
Kitsch Satin Pillowcase
Why We Love It: This budget-friendly pick from Kitsch gets the job done with a chic look that provides a restful sleep experience and smoother strands come morning, especially if you shower at night. When we went to sleep with wet hair on this silk pillowcase, our curls were more defined, less frizzy, and much shinier than the nights we used a cotton pillowcase. Another unexpected perk? Its cool sensation felt amazing on our slightly sunburned skin after spending a summer day at the beach.
Who It’s For: If you’re prone to irritation from synthetic materials, take note that this satin blend is made from polyester and not true silk, rendering the price right, but the experience a tad less luxurious—though it still yields a soft overall feel.
Material: Polyester satin | Size: Queen, king | Colors: 42
Best for Frizz
Tafts Pure Mulberry 6A Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: An excellent choice that comes in numerous hues and prints, this pillowcase will keep your hair frizz-free and leave you feeling refreshed each morning, particularly if you're prone to overdoing it with hair dryers and hot tools. Sleeping on this pillowcase really made a difference on our frizz-prone hair during those humid summer days. It helped keep our hair looking smooth and flyaway-free, allowing us to squeak one more day out of our blowout. We also liked being able to choose one of two pillowcase closure styles—an envelope flap and a zipper closure—and though the weight of this silk fabric was thinner than others we tested, it was a great choice for summer.
Who It’s For: The 100 percent pure mulberry silk material is great for people with frizzy and/or curly hair as it helps to flatten flyaways.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 22
Best Machine Washable
Fishers Finery Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: A silk pillowcase with super easy care instructions? Count us in. In addition to coming with a mesh bag that makes machine washing easy and risk-free, the Fishers Finery pillowcase boasts a high-quality natural silk fiber, breathable and cooling feel, and thoughtful envelope flap design that keeps it aligned all night long—no matter your tossing and turning habits. We already thought our sleep setup was pretty great, but throwing this silk pillowcase into the mix really upped the ante: We found ourselves sinking right in and falling asleep within minutes from night one. We should note that the standard size fits most regular pillows, but if yours are extra fluffy, it's a good idea to size up.
Who It’s For: A fantastic summer option, this cooling and breathable pillowcase is ideal for anyone who experiences night sweats or simply has trouble sleeping when it’s hot.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 11
Best for Wrinkles
Celestial Silk Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Silk pillowcases that help smooth hair and prevent breakage are a dime a dozen, but finding one that actually improves skin texture is a different story. That rare benefit requires extra softness and high-quality fibers, factors this Celestial Silk pillowcase provides in spades. We noticed a difference in our hair from the very first night we slept on it, and at the end of our 10-week test, not only did our hair look healthier overall, but our fine lines and crow's feet had improved too. Our formerly deep creases started to appear more shallow and subtle, which we are still genuinely jazzed about.
Who It’s For: You’ve tried creams and serums, and want to make sure you’re tackling your wrinkles from a 360-degree approach. This silk mulberry pillowcase could very well be the final step to reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 25
Best for Oily Hair
Adubor 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Let’s be real, silk pillowcases aren’t just functional for hair and skin health—they also happen to look pretty in your bedroom. With 22 shade options, there’s something to complement every decor scheme. Our tester’s fine hair gets frizzy fast, and their roots tend to feel heavy and greasy within a day of washing it. While they were definitely excited about the smoothing effects of this silk pillowcase, they were surprised that it helped regulate the oiliness, too. As a bonus: The hidden zipper is a plus that gives the pillowcase a more refined look.
Who It’s For: This pillowcase is very moisture-absorbent, so perhaps it’s not the best for people who sweat at night as it may trap bacteria. That being said, it can do wonders for people with frizzy and oily hair.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 22
Best for Curly Hair
Hill House Home Sisi Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Even compared to other pillowcases we tested in a similar price range, the Hill House Home Sisi stands out from the rest, thanks to its luxurious, buttery feel. It's especially important for curly hair types to sleep on high-quality silk to lock in moisture and prevent breakage. Our curly hair is especially vulnerable due to years of highlighting and gloss treatments, but after three or four weeks, it seemed like our delicate curls weren't breaking off at the ends the way they used to with cotton or linen pillowcases.
Who It’s For: If you're into frilly prints and girly colors, there's no better brand for your sleep style than Hill House Home’s hand-crafted prints (although we do wish they had queen size pillowcases and not just king sets).
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, king | Colors: 7
Best for Hot Sleepers
Parachute Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Parachute is one of our absolute favorite home and bedding brands. According to the brand, they prioritize organic materials using high-quality fibers and sustainable production practices. Their silk pillowcase is no different, making for a calming and cooling night’s sleep. It felt very breathable, which made us feel confident about putting our sensitive skin on top of the fabric. We woke up each morning feeling clean and light, and we believe the natural fibers prevented any sweat from registering on our skin or hair. Plus, most silk pillowcases have a bright shine to them; we love that the Parachute one appears slightly matte, giving it a cooler and more modern edge.
Who It’s For: Although it's definitely on the more luxurious end, the superior quality is obvious when you feel it as well as when you look at it. Tack on the fact that it’s great for sensitive skin, and we think it’s well worth the investment.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, king | Colors: White
Best for Thick Hair
Jocoku Mulberry Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: We love our thick, curly hair, but it can be temperamental and unruly, too. We were a little skeptical that a silk pillowcase would do much for our coils, but we were thrilled to see how much tamer our hair looked each morning, even after the nights we didn't sleep well and knew we were rolling around on our pillowcase. Falling near the middle price point of all the pillowcases we tested, Jocoku offers a quality silk that feels exceedingly soft and cool to the touch (although we did notice some luster fading after several weeks and multiple washings).
Who It’s For: You’re certain you want a 100 percent mulberry silk pillowcase (as opposed to satin) but don’t want to dish out $100. This is a great compromise that offers quality at a slightly reduced price point.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 8
Best for Skin Health
Lunya Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: We shamelessly spend hundreds on skin care products, but have you considered putting a good dime towards a silk pillowcase? It made such a difference in our tester’s skin condition after just one week. As someone who normally breaks out (particularly after a night of drinking or a bad night’s rest), this pillowcase ceased such breakouts instantly, replacing it with a smooth and glowy appearance instead. We also noticed that we were waking up with a less damp neck and hair after some night sweats—it’s likely the pillowcase absorbed and wicked away moisture and kept oils from clogging up pores. We do recommend, however, to wash the pillowcase more frequently for this reason, and luckily it’s machine-wash approved.
Who It’s For: This pillowcase is great for anyone dealing with recurring acne, night sweats, and frizzy hair. The extremely luxurious and soft silk pillowcase helps to smooth out both skin and hair.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Queen | Colors: 1
Best for Small Pillows
Quince Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: Quince not only provides an affordable, 100 percent mulberry silk option, but all three pillowcase sizes as well. In other words, if you’re someone who likes to bury their face in a six-pillow fort, then you can get those pillows all covered by Quince—and it won’t even set you back a ton since each piece retails for less than $50. Unlike the previous option, though, this pillowcase comes with more complicated wash instructions.
Who It’s For: If you run hot during their sleep, this pillowcase helps keep you cool overnight. Not just cool, but our tester woke up feeling cleaner and fresher than with a cotton pillowcase. This particular sleeper also likes to sleep bellies down, and normally a cotton pillowcase would create a few creases on their face. The silk pillowcase did the opposite—it smoothed their visage that no one would know they just came up from a deep nap.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: Standard, queen, king | Colors: 12
Best King Size
Slip Pure Zippered King Silk Pillowcase
Why We Love It: We used this king size pillowcase in our bedroom and we have to say, there’s something so comforting about snuggling your face in a large, silk pillow. While the extra fibers do bring the price up a few notches, we had no trouble throwing it in the washer along with the rest of our bedding without it losing any of its exquisite quality. The Slip pillowcase caused fewer sleep lines to occur, so we were able to wake up fresh-faced and ready for the day. More importantly, we typically wash our hair at night and this pillowcase helped shape the hair nicely for the morning, reducing breakage and damage to the hair.
Who It’s For: You want a washable mulberry silk pillowcase that can caress your hair through the night and keep your skin looking fresh and bright for the morning.
Material: Mulberry silk | Size: King | Colors: 10
Our Testing Process
After extensive market research, our editors settled on a list of 41 silk pillowcases with highly rated reviews, media hype, and brand recognition. We then sent them out to our team of in-house beauty experts and freelance product testers to sleep on, night after night. We made sure to pick testers with different hair textures and skin types. They then judged each pillowcase based on their quality and feel, while noting changes in their hair and skin’s health and appearance, and taking account of washing and care ease. After 10 weeks of testing, we compiled the info to narrow down our recommendation list and provide you with the best silk pillowcases of 2025.
What to Keep in Mind
Material: When purchasing a silk pillowcase, it’s important to look for fabric that is 100 percent silk. Mulberry silk is the highest quality out there and products labeled “22 momme” or “25 momme” offer superior softness and durability. The number accounts for how much silk is present per square inch of material, meaning the higher the number, the better the quality. Some brands may try to market their bedding as silk, when it’s actually satin or a polyester blend—though satin and silk look similar, satin doesn’t provide the same caliber of skin and hair benefits. That said, satin is a good option for those shopping on a budget.
Size: This may seem like a no-brainer, but know what size your pillows are before purchasing pillowcases. I’ve made the mistake of ordering too-small cases before and it’s a hassle. And, if you want to be extra precise, examine the exact measurements of the product against your personal pillow—“standard” sizes can be different across various countries and manufacturers, so it doesn’t hurt to double check. And no matter the size, don’t be alarmed if you have to buy two; most silk pillowcases are not sold in sets.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you wash a silk pillowcase?
Product care for silk pillowcases can vary from brand to brand. These days, most are machine washable, though it's recommended to use a mesh laundry bag and wash on a delicate setting. Air-drying will ensure the greatest life extension of the product, though machine drying can also be fine. Wrinkles are unavoidable with silk and will typically smooth out after a few days. Read the product care info for your specific pillowcase for best results.
Are silk pillowcases good for skin?
Yes! According to Reid Maclellan, M.D., board-certified plastic surgeon and adjunct professor at Harvard Medical School, silk pillowcases are beneficial for skin because they don’t pull as much as other fabrics like cotton. “This prevents creasing of the skin and can help to minimize fine lines and wrinkles long-term,” he says. “And because silk is a less absorbable fabric, a silk pillowcase will not absorb as much product from the skin as other pillowcases might, leaving products on the face so they do their job overnight.”
Why are silk pillowcases better for hair?
Silk pillowcases benefit hair similarly to how they benefit skin, by reducing pulling. “Silk is smooth and soft, causing less friction and static on the hair,” says Spino. “Friction from cotton or other fabrics disrupts the cuticle layer, leading to frizz, tangles, breakage, and dry strands. With silk, the hair just slides on the pillowcase instead of creating tension which causes breakage and tangles.”
The benefits of silk aren’t just for frizz and curls. Straight strands will see reduced static when sleeping on silk too. “They also help prolong a blowout because silk encourages the outer layer of the hair cuticle to lay flat, maintaining your style and keeping the strands looking and feeling smooth,” adds Spino.
Are silk or satin pillowcases better?
They’re different. Silk is a naturally occurring, organic fiber, while satin is an artificial material, commonly made from polyester. Silk is definitely the more luxurious option—and for that reason, it’s often much more expensive. Satin is a great budget-friendly alternative that offers similar effects. But, if you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation from synthetic fabrics, you’ll want to make the investment and spring for silk.
Why Shop With Us
Linne Halpern is a freelance beauty, fashion, and lifestyle writer and master of the curly hair routine. For this story, she assisted InStyle editors with testing and interviewed the following experts.
Jenna Spino is a hair stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
Dr. Reid Maclellan is a board-certified plastic surgeon and adjunct professor at Harvard Medical School.