Did you know we spend a third of our lives in bed? Your bed can be a great place to lay down your burdens and get some rest and unwind; but what if laying in your bed is contributing to your hair loss? Different fabrics have different effects on your hair, and your pillowcase could be working against you. The wrong pillowcase can leave your hair tangled, frizzy, and dry. So we broke it down to what types of fabric are doing what your delicate mane?
COTTON
Cotton pillowcases are the easiest and cheapest type of pillowcase to obtain, but it dehydrates your hair. Because cotton pillowcases are porous, it absorbs a lot of moisture from the hair and skin. Cotton fibers can be rough on the hair, leaving it your hair knotted. After tossing and turning throughout the night and prolonged extended usage of cotton pillowcases, breakage can definitly occur, causing the hair to appear thinner.
SATEEN
A step up from pillowcases made with cotton is sateen. Sateen is a fabric made using a satin weave structure, but made with spun yarns instead of filament. It can be made from different fabrics and materials. Nowadays, cheaper rayon is often substituted for cotton. Better qualities are mercerized to give a higher sheen. Some are only calendared to produce the sheen, but this disappears with washing. You should also be aware of sateen that even though sateen can feel smooth and silky like silk or satin, it is cotton, and will not deliver the same benefits to scalp and hair as using silk would. Despite its appearance, it can still bring damage upon your hair because it retains cotton’s water-wicking properties. So always double check your pillowcase tags you may be surprised!
SILK
A more expensive and natural option for pillowcases is silk. Silk is a natural protein fiber, made by insect larvae. Silks made by moth caterpillars are generally the ones we see in stores. Silk helps keep the hair moisturized and hydrated. People have found that they get great results by using a silk pillowcase. The final decision will have to come down to cost and personal taste.
Pillowcases can make a difference, but if your hair loss is, further along, you may want to consider restoration options with a professional.
So, will you make the switch?