The 6 Very Best Silk Pillowcases

Photo-Illustration: Courtesy of retailer

Sleeping on silk is said to reduce irritation, wrinkles, and hair frizz — and even though it sounds luxurious, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make the switch. The practice has become popular in recent years thanks to beauty enthusiasts who note the considerable effects on skin and hair. But all silk is not created equal. The highest-quality silk is mulberry silk, which is made from silkworms who eat from the leaves of the mulberry tree. It’s the most durable silk and also the softest, which makes it ideal for a high-traffic item like a pillowcase. There are grades within silk — A, B, and C scale, with A being the best quality. Grade-A silk has long strands that are naturally white and have a noticeable sheen. From there, there’s different numbers — starting with 2A and going up to 6A, with 6A being the most expensive to produce. All of the pillowcases on this list are made with 6A silk, the highest-quality silk available.

What

we’re

looking

for

Momme

When you’re shopping for a silk pillowcase, one of the most important metrics is momme count, which reflects the weight of the silk. The higher the number, the softer the silk will likely be. For reference, the average momme count is 19, and the popular Slip silk pillowcase — a favorite of Kourtney Kardashian’s that was developed by a dermatologist — is 22 momme. On this list, we’ve included silk pillowcases from 19 momme all the way up to 25.

Color range

Silk pillowcases come in a wide variety of colors, so we’ve noted the amount of colors available. The wider variety of color, the more likely it is to find one that works for you.

Best overall silk pillowcase

ZimaSilk 100% Mulberry-Silk Pillowcase – Queen

$40

now 40% off

From
$24

Momme: 19 momme | Color range: 42 colors

The Zimasilk pillowcase is our top pick for a few reasons. First, the material. It’s made from high-quality 6A mulberry silk and has a standard momme of 19, which, while lower than some of the other picks on the list, still has a thick, soft feel. Additionally, it comes in a wide range of colors — from white to soft pink to cobalt blue. There are even patterned options, in case you’d like something with a little more flair. And they’re incredibly affordable. While a single Slip pillowcase will run you almost $90, a single Zimasilk pillowcase costs you just $25. We’ve written about this pillowcase before. It’s a favorite of our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton, who says it’s a dupe for the pricier Parachute pillowcase. “If the tags were removed, I truly do not think I’d be able to tell the difference between the $25 Zimasilk pillowcases and my fancy $109 pillowcase,” she says. They’ve survived multiple turns in the wash, and have cut her bed head down to a minimum.

From
$24

at Amazon

Buy

From
$24

at Amazon

Buy

Best luxury pillowcase

Slip Silk Queen Pillowcase

From
$89

Momme: 22 momme | Color Range: 15 colors

Though all of these silk pillowcases can help with skin and hair, this dermatologist-developed Slip pillowcase has been recommended by celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and celebrity dermatologists, like Dennis Gross. It’s also a favorite of aestheticians like Candida Lawson, who shared her love for Slip’s silk pillowcases in 2018. “I’m a true believer that they help my blowouts last longer.” Celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union Larry Sims — who counts Gabrielle Union and Janet Jackson among his clients — is also a Slip fan. “It’s great for keeping your hair moisturized and gives it a beautiful shine,” he says. “The slippery smooth texture of silk helps to minimize frizz, breakage, and split ends.” It’s an OG in the silk-pillowcase space and has been around for more than 15 years. I’ve had my fair share of Silk pillowcases (and an endless amount of eye masks) over the years, and can confirm that it has a very luxurious feel. It has a higher momme than our best pick, which is reflected in the price. A single queen pillowcase is $89. They also last a while. Although I’m not a consistent silk sleeper, I do use the same Slip when I do. I will say they’re a bit delicate. Even though the silk is washable, it’s less silky after a regular-cycle wash. After learning my lesson, I started hand-washing it with the brand’s detergent, and it holds up much better. There’s a range of core colors available, but the brand often does limited-edition collaborations (their most recent one was with Alice + Olivia), expanding the color range.

From
$89

at Amazon

Buy

From
$89

at Nordstrom

Buy

Best affordable silk pillowcase

Quince 100% Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

$40

$40

Momme: 22 momme | Color range: 7 colors

Quince makes some of our favorite high-quality, affordable goods — including supersoft cashmere and lightweight linen sheets. Its mulberry silk pillowcase is also impressive. It has a high momme (22) and a convenient zip closure, and it comes in a range of neutral hues. The brand offers a generous return policy — you’ll have 365 days from the date of purchase to decide if it’s right for you.

$40

at Quince

Buy

Best hybrid pillowcase

LilySilk 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase

$19

Momme: 19 momme | Color range: 3 colors

For an even more affordable 19-momme pillowcase, there’s LilySilk, which comes recommended by Strategist UK contributor Natalya Lobanova, who calls them “a dream to sleep on.” They last through multiple washes and because they’re only silk on one side, they can be flipped to look like cotton pillows if you prefer that look. The brand also sells affordable 22- and 25-momme pillowcases, which makes them overall a very good deal.

$19

at Amazon

Buy

$19

at Amazon

Buy

Best silk pillowcase for curly hair

Tafts 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase, 22 Momme

$50

Momme: 22 momme | Color range: 24 colors

When scouring Amazon, we came across the Tafts silk pillowcase, which we dubbed the best option for curly hair. It has a high momme (22) at its price point and is beloved for its ability to cut down on frizz. This is key for curly hair, which is particularly sensitive to friction. It also remains smooth and shiny after washing, which is key to ensuring it holds up over time. Depending on the look you prefer, there are both zippered and envelope pillowcases available.

$50

at Amazon

Buy

$50

at Amazon

Buy

Best patterned silk pillowcase

Brooklinen Mulberry-Silk Pillowcase

$59

$59

Momme: 22 momme | Color range: 7 colors

All of the silk pillowcases on this list come in basic colors like white, black, and beige. Brooklinen has all of those along with funky, limited-edition graphics that will liven up your bedscape. Asides from the fun colorways, it has all of the markers of a genuinely good pillowcase: sturdy, soft, and made from 100 percent Mulberry silk.

$59

at Brooklinen

Buy

Best monogrammable silk pillowcase

ShhhSilk Off White Silk Pillowcase – Queen

$85

$85

Momme: 22 momme | Color range: 14 colors

In case you wanted to add your personal touch to your linens, you can monogram these ShhhSilk pillowcases directly on-site. Choose from 18 different thread colors and four different fonts, and you can include a word up to nine letters. It’s an extra $25 for this service, but worth it if you want to make the pillowcases your own.

$85

at Shhh Silk

Buy

Our

experts

• Candida Lawson, aesthetician and skin therapist
• Natalya Lobanova, Strategist UK contributor
• Rio Viera-Newton, beauty columnist and aesthetician

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