Silk Pillowcase for Curly Hair: Why Silk Keeps Curls Smoother Overnight
If your curls look their best when you go to bed and their worst when you wake up, your pillowcase is a good place to start. A silk pillowcase for curly hair gives your curls a smooth surface to move across all night, so there is less friction than cotton, less frizz and far less to undo in the morning.
This guide covers why silk suits curly and frizz-prone hair, how to choose the right pillowcase, a simple way to wear your curls to bed, and how to keep your silk fresh. If you would rather go straight to the pillowcase itself, start with our 22 momme Mulberry Silk Pillowcase.
Are silk pillowcases good for your hair if it is curly?
Yes. Curly hair has more texture and more points of contact with the pillow, which is exactly why a smoother surface makes a difference. Mulberry silk has less friction than cotton, so curls glide rather than drag as you move. Silk prevents frizz, keeps curls smoother overnight and makes for easier brush-through and softer mornings.
Why cotton works against curls overnight
Cotton is a fine fabric for many things, but its surface is made of short, slightly rough fibres. Every time you turn your head in the night, your hair moves across that rougher surface. On straight hair you may barely notice. On curls, that repeated friction roughs up the outer layer of each strand, pulls curls out of shape and leaves the familiar halo of frizz across the crown.
How silk keeps curls smoother by morning
Most advice on silk pillowcases and curly hair comes down to one thing: friction. Silk is a natural protein fibre with long, smooth filaments, and that changes how your hair behaves overnight.
Less friction than cotton
A smooth silk surface lets curls slide as you turn. Less friction than cotton means curl shape holds better through the night, with fewer overnight tangles to work through when you wake.
Does a silk pillowcase prevent frizz?
Yes. A silk pillowcase for frizzy hair works because frizz is largely caused by friction, and silk has far less friction than cotton. Curls stay smoother overnight, with less of the fuzz that usually appears where your head meets the pillow. If your hair is frizz-prone rather than curly, the same applies.
Easier brush-through and softer mornings
Because curls arrive in the morning closer to how you left them, there is less to detangle and less restyling to do. Brush-through is easier, a quick refresh with water or your usual product goes further, and mornings are softer. As a bonus, night creams stay on the face too; see our silk pillowcase benefits page for everything silk does for hair and skin.
Choosing a silk pillowcase for curly hair
If you are shopping for a silk hair pillowcase, a few details separate the real thing from a silky imitation. You can compare every style in our silk pillowcases collection, but here is what to look for.
Real mulberry silk, not satin
Satin is a weave, not a fibre, and it is very often polyester. It can look shiny, but it does not have the smooth natural filament of mulberry silk, and that is what curls respond to. For curly hair, silk beats both cotton and satin.
Weight and grade
Weight is measured in momme, and grade describes the length and quality of the fibre. Our Mulberry Silk Pillowcase is Grade 6A, 22 momme mulberry silk, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. That weight gives it a dense, smooth surface for curls and the substance to go in the washing machine.
Hidden zip and the right size
A closure matters more than you might think. Our Mulberry Silk Pillowcase has a hidden zip, so the pillow stays put inside the case and your hair meets smooth silk rather than a loose flap or a seam. It comes in Queen (51 x 76 centimetres) and King (51 x 92 centimetres). If you are not sure which fits, our pillow sizes guide explains both.
Shop the Mulberry Silk Pillowcase for curly hair
A spare for wash day
Curls notice the nights they go without silk. Keeping a second pillowcase means one is always on your pillow while the other is in the wash. Our Set of 2 gives you two hidden-zip pillowcases in the same silk as the single.
Shop the Set of 2 Silk Pillowcases
Wearing curls to bed on silk
A silk pillowcase does most of the work on its own. A large silk scrunchie finishes the routine by keeping hair loosely in place without the grip of a narrow elastic.
- Loosely tie your hair up. Use a large silk scrunchie for a loose ponytail or bun, and keep the hold relaxed, especially around the hairline.
- Settle on silk. Let your head rest on the pillowcase as normal. There is nothing else to do.
- Release in the morning. Take the scrunchie out, shake your curls loose and refresh as you usually would.
Our Large Silk Scrunchie has a fuller silk finish made for thicker hair, curls and loose styles. Browse all our large scrunchies, or see the full range of silk scrunchies for hair.
Keeping your silk pillowcase fresh
Silk only keeps doing its job if it stays clean and smooth. Our pillowcases go in the washing machine: inside out, in a delicates bag, on a cold, delicate cycle below 30°C with a pH-neutral or delicate detergent, then dry flat away from direct heat. For every step, read how to wash a silk pillowcase.
Silk pillowcase for curly hair FAQs
Is silk or satin better for curly hair?
Silk. Satin describes a weave and is often polyester, while mulberry silk is a natural fibre with a smoother filament. Read more on silk vs satin.
What momme is best for curly hair?
We use 22 momme for a dense, smooth surface that is made for nightly use and regular washing. For a side-by-side comparison, see 22 momme vs 19 momme.
Which scrunchie is best for curly hair overnight?
A large silk scrunchie, worn loosely. The fuller silk finish suits thicker hair and curls, and the relaxed hold avoids the tight grip of a narrow elastic.
What size silk pillowcase do I need?
Most pillows take Queen (51 x 76 centimetres). If your pillow is longer, choose King (51 x 92 centimetres). Our pillow sizes guide covers both.
How do I wash a silk pillowcase?
Machine wash inside out in a delicates bag on a cold, delicate cycle below 30°C, then dry flat away from direct heat. Full steps are in our guide on how to wash a silk pillowcase.
Is a silk pillowcase worth it for curly hair?
If you are tired of waking to frizz and flattened curls, yes. For a wider look at what to check before you buy, read is a silk pillowcase worth it?
Smoother curls start tonight
Your curls spend every night on your pillow. Giving them pure mulberry silk to rest on is one of the simplest changes you can make: less friction than cotton, silk that prevents frizz, and softer mornings with less to fix.
Start with the Mulberry Silk Pillowcase, or pair a pillowcase with a silk eye mask in our Beauty Sleep Set.
