Silk Vs. Silver Pillowcases: Which One Is Better for You?

Every time we turn around, there are new innovations to improve sleep. This is a good thing, but can also become a hassle when you’ve hopped on one trend train and here comes another.

As a wife and mom, I take my sleep seriously, and I want the best for my family, within reason. So, I’ve done some research on two premium pillowcase materials: silver-infused cotton and silk.

I didn’t realize until a few years ago that there were more types of materials for sheets and pillowcases beyond the jersey cotton ones that I bought at my local Target. Of course, they have other options, but I thought the jersey cotton felt soft and I could easily wash it, so I never thought much about upgrading.

But once I started researching bedding online, I realized there were plenty of premium pillowcase materials designed for specific needs, including silk and silver-infused cotton.

Unlike your standard jersey cotton pillowcase, silver-infused and silk pillowcases can support a better sleep environment, but they are designed to solve different problems. Silk pillowcases are best known for their smooth, luxurious feel, reduced friction, hair-smoothing benefits, and temperature regulation. Silver-infused pillowcases, on the other hand, are designed more for antimicrobial protection, odor control, and a fresher sleep surface between washes.

How to Choose a Pillowcase

When choosing a pillowcase, there are some things to take into consideration:

• Skin and hair benefits
• Breathability and temperature regulation
• Durability
• Antimicrobial properties and freshness between washes
• Material (Cotton or silk)
• Ethically sourced 
• Handling and care requirements
• Cost

There are likely more things to take into consideration, but these are the top things to consider when you’re comparing silk against silver-infused cotton. 

Satin and Silk: What’s the Difference?

It can be easy to get satin and silk confused. Silk is a natural fiber, while satin is a type of weave. Satin can be woven with silk; however, satin is now usually made with synthetic fibers instead of silk. Synthetic satin can still give a smooth feeling, but it usually does not have the same breathability, temperature regulation, or luxury feel as real silk. Silk is ultimately the more luxurious option.

Why Silk Pillowcases Became So Popular

Although silk has been around and produced for centuries, silk pillowcases became especially popular around 2020, largely because of social media. They were promoted for their smooth feel, how they transformed hair by reducing frizz, and helped with temperature regulation. Many influencers at that time were speaking on the benefits to hair and skin.

Out of all the materials that can be used for pillowcases, silk tends to have the best feel. With silk, there is also less friction, which is why hair has less frizz. Depending on your hair and skin type, this might be why silk has a real advantage over many pillowcase materials, including silver-infused cotton. 

Temperature regulation is also a major selling point for us hot sleepers who will do anything to wake up without sweat. Silk is ideal in this case. Saatva and Blissy are two of the better brands out there. 

Types of Silk 

Let’s talk about what silk pillowcases are actually made of.

There are different types of silk, but some of the most common are Tussah, Eri, and Mulberry. Mulberry silk is said to be the most smooth and strongest of the silks, which is why it is so sought after for bedding. Mulberry silk is produced from silkworms that are only fed mulberry leaves.

Tussah silk is produced in the wild, so there are typically variations in what the worms eat, which can change the feel and texture of the silk.

Eri is not as luxurious as Mulberry, but is said to be more sustainable and ethical in how it is produced.

Silk Cons:

The benefits all sounded great, but no one mentioned there were downsides, too.

Very specific handling instructions

First of all, I had no clue that you were either supposed to handwash silk pillowcases or place them in a mesh bag with very specific washing instructions, depending on which option you choose. Although getting a mesh bag is not a big deal, it doesn’t just stop there.

Silk pillowcases need to be placed on a gentle cycle with a gentle detergent. That seemed annoying since I always have laundry, and that wouldn’t be the most productive two to three hours every week (this includes both the washing AND drying process). 

Air Dry Only

Air drying is ideal for silk, as heat can damage the fibers. This means you can’t just place your pillowcase in the dryer like you normally would with cotton or most other pillowcase materials. It also cannot be in direct sunlight when drying. It must be laid flat on a dry towel, and this will likely take hours. So, don’t think you can pop it in the dryer without facing the consequences. You’ll likely be buying another one very soon after.

Damages Easily

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that silk doesn’t hold up well if it is washed like regular bedding. I kept wondering why after one or two washes with my regular bedding, the pillowcases would not feel the same. I also noticed that they would easily snag. This happened after trying several different silk pillowcase brands. After wondering if I needed to get a new washing machine, I realized, nothing else was coming out that way. 

Silk has a lot of pros, and if you have the time and energy to spend caring for it the way it needs to be cared for, it’ll take care of you. I truly enjoyed the feel and benefits to my skin and hair when I would wake up in the morning, while it lasted. 

Ethical Considerations

For some consumers, the thought of how silk is produced sounds unethical. Silkworms are caterpillars that eat mulberry leaves and then begin spinning a cocoon. This is what makes the silk production process seem unethical: because an emerging moth would break the cocoon filament, the silkworm is killed in the cocoon with steam or hot air. Every time a silkworm spins its cocoon, it is eventually killed in order for the silk to be harvested. Some consumers won’t buy silk for this reason alone. 

What Are Silver-Infused Pillowcases?

Silver-infused pillowcases are pillowcases that are made with cotton and are infused with antimicrobial silver. To break down what “infused” means, they basically have fibrous strands of the silver woven throughout the cotton. Brands like Miracle Brand and Silvery produce silver-infused products.

Is It Safe?

With all the talk of heavy metals, this is an important question, and the answer is yes, silver-infused bedding is safe! There are no known major health concerns with silver ions in bedding, but they can cause some skin irritation in certain individuals.

Although silver is a metal, it is not categorized as toxic like certain other heavy metals, such as mercury or lead. It does nothing for nutrition and is not a necessary nutrient like iron and zinc, but silver has been used medicinally for centuries. 

Durable Or Not?

For both silk and silver-infused pillowcases, this can be a concern, depending on how the silver is used. However, with silver-infused cotton, if the silver is woven into the fabric and not sprayed on, this can make it more durable than silk and help increase longevity. 

The Truth About Self-Cleaning

This is a tricky subject because although silver-infused fabric is antimicrobial, it is not self-cleaning in the sense that the pillowcases should still be put through the laundry about every 10 days or less. Self-cleaning sounds like it does its own laundry, but unfortunately, you either have to be the one to wash and dry it or have your robot do it. The silver ions help to kill bacteria and lessen odor, but they don’t get rid of dead skin cells, skincare products, or drool that ends up on your pillow. 

How to Stay Cool

Most people don’t like to wake up in the middle of the night on a hot pillow or wrapped up in sweaty sheets. Both silk and silver are said to be temperature-regulating, but silver is also made with 100% breathable cotton, and this allows heat to escape. This prevents overheating during the night. Although silk can help with temperature regulation, it cannot as easily let heat escape and is not as breathable.

Cost of Silk Versus Silver

Cost is important to me, and buying any luxury item is not always in the budget. Silk and silver pillowcases are not cheap, but products that are truly better for your health rarely are. To give a you general idea of how these premium pillowcase options compare, here are a few popular brands in each category. 

One queen-size Saatva silk pillowcase and one queen-size Blissy pillowcase both cost about $105. Miracle Brand’s silver-infused pillowcases are about $129 each for the same size. Silvery ends up being the cheapest at around half the price at $49.95. These prices are not including promotional discounts. Either way, this is an investment in improving your sleep and your sleeping environment.

Conclusion

 Whether you are considering buying a silk or silver-infused pillowcase, you are investing in an overall better sleep experience. Both are hypoallergenic and have a more luxurious feel than your typical cotton pillowcase. The best option truly depends on what matters most to you.

If you want a slightly smoother feel, better hair and skin, temperature regulation, and you have the patience and time to spare for the somewhat annoying care instructions, then Blissy or Saatva might be what you’d choose. However, some consumers may also want to consider the ethical concerns around traditional silk production.

On the other hand, if you want something without those same silk-production concerns, with antimicrobial properties, easier handling instructions, can be washed and dried regularly, better freshness between washes, and increased durability, then Miracle Brand’s or Silvery’s silver-infused cotton pillowcases will be your best bet.