Things to consider about what makes the best silk pillowcase are:

a white silk pillowcase
  • The weight of the silk known as Momme weight.
  • What type of silk is it?
  • The weave of the silk
  • The price of the pillowcase. You don’t want to pay too much… or too little.

There’s been increasing interest in silk bedlinen of late, especially silk pillowcases. The benefits of sleeping on silk are now frequently extolled by beauty journalists and bloggers, hairdressers and skincare experts as well as silk retailers and more.

If you decide to take the plunge and try out the benefits of resting your head on silk for yourself, you may be a little baffled by all the choices out there. When you don’t really know what a momme count or charmeuse weave is – or why mulberry silk is so-called – how do you know what is the best silk pillowcase to invest in?

We have made a whole post about silk pillowcase F.A.Qs. It will explain everything you need to know about silk and why its so good to sleep on.

Momme Weight – How Silk Is Measured

The quality of silk is measured by the momme count. This compares to the way cotton is labelled with a thread count, and the same general rule applies. The higher the thread count, the better quality the cotton, and so it goes with silk. A higher momme number means that the silk is of better quality, as it is made from heavier thread.

A momme count above 19 is very good indeed, with 22 momme silk being the absolute optimum for silk bed linen. Retailers of the very best quality silk bedding, including those all-important pillowcases – tend to offer bedlinen that has a momme count between 19 and 25.

Mulberry silk

The silkworms that produce mulberry silk are fed a diet of mulberry leaves – alleged to be their favourite food of all. It certainly makes for very fine silk indeed – the silkworms produce long, luxurious strands of the purest silk, which are then woven to create the finest silk pillowcases, sheets, duvets and other products such as soft furnishings and clothing.

The long strands of mulberry silk make a far smoother silk fabric than that which is made using shorter strands. The silk from the latter simply isn’t as soft as mulberry silk, nor is it as durable. In short, mulberry silk strands are smoother, rounder, lighter, finer and a purer white than any other kind of silk money can buy. Mulberry silk strands are also very strong indeed, making top quality silk far easier to care for than its cheaper counterparts.

Charmeuse weave

The other crucial factor when choosing a silk product is the weave. Charmeuse refers to the weave rather than the fabric itself, and silk that is carefully woven using this technique has a lustrous sheen to its surface that ensures it looks luxurious and drapes very well. It also feels super smooth, and utterly luxurious, against the skin.

The smoothest, softest silk

If you want to achieve the softest skin and smoothest hair possible, it stands to reason that the softer and smoother the surface, the gentler it will be on your skin and hair. Sleeping on the finest silk means you will reap the maximum beauty benefits from your silk pillowcase.

Do you want moisturised, glowing, youthful skin and to minimise eczema, psoriasis or other skin conditions? Would you love to have smooth, frizz-free hair? Then the answer to, ‘what is the best silk pillowcase?’ is one made from the finest 22 momme mulberry silk, crafted from charmeuse weave fabric.

July 01, 2020 — Michelle Smith