Road Test: I tried silk hair wraps and pillowcases to see if they improved my hair health
IMAGE VIA SHEET SOCIETY
Words by Alyssa Forato
I trialled three silk hair products to see if I noticed a difference in my hair’s health and natural wave pattern.
For a long time, I was a firm believer in ‘less is more’ when it came to hair care. In its virgin state, I only ever washed my hair with supermarket shampoos and conditioners and could easily deprive it of hair masks. My locks were long and healthy and I was always showered with compliments whenever I visited my hairdresser. Then I was introduced to hair dye.
I’ve been bleaching my hair on and off over the years since I was 14. With all the endless colour possibilities, I wanted to dye my strands every shade under the sun. And with that came colour damage. Partnered with my love of straightening irons, these two damage-causers shook hands and set to work ruining my hair. Years later, I finally decided to re-think my approach to hair care in a bid to restore my hair health.
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I’ve tried and tested a variety of hair treatments and hacks, but one thing I’ve never tried is sleeping on silk. I’d heard that silk pillowcases are great for your skin, while also having benefits for your hair’s health. My desire to try everything I see on social media has led me to road-testing the silk hair turban from Damn Gina, along with silk pillowcases from Go-To Skincare and Sheet Society to compare the results.
Before my little experiment, I spoke to founding dermatologist of ODE Dermatology, Dr Shammi Theesan, to get her insight on the benefits of silk hair wraps and pillowcases. Dr Theesan tells me that the main benefit of sleeping on silk is reducing friction, which damages both new hair follicles growing and existing strands.
“We’re spending about eight hours sleeping on our hair, on a pillow, and we’re tossing and turning,” Dr Theesan says. “[With this comes] static, fraying at the ends, and loss of our natural hair oils onto a pillowcase.”
Silk pillowcases and hair wraps have antimicrobial properties, meaning they kill microorganisms including bacteria and mould. I don’t know about you, but I don’t change my pillowcase nearly as often as I should. Knowing that I’m not marinating in bacteria as I sleep by opting for a silk pillowcase is a soothing thought.
Dr Theesan explains that silk hair wraps are great for keeping all hair types frizz-free. While they are especially great for holding natural curl patterns, they also can hold hairstyles such as blowouts overnight.
“The outer lining of your hair shaft will not be frayed again because you’ve sealed it with heat, and now you’re going to be cocooning it in this warm, microenvironment,” Dr Theesan says.
As for the long-term benefits of opting for a silk hair wrap or pillowcase? It’ll help with maintaining your hair quality. “It’s not going to regenerate hair from your follicles… and it’s certainly not going to increase your hair [growth cycle]… But by losing less hair, you’re going to have more hair at any given time on your scalp,” Dr Theesan explains.
It’s important to note that head wraps have played a significant role in sub-Saharan African culture and history. Different methods of styling head wraps were used in these cultures to symbolize things like social and marital status and were worn with a sense of pride.
But head wraps have also symbolised oppression – in America, enslaved people of colour were often forced to wear a headwrap to indicate their enslavement and make it easy for White people to identify slaves.
After America abolished slavery, head wraps saw a resurgence as Black people reclaimed the accessory as a badge of pride, not shame. Head wraps are also commonly worn by Black women to protect and maintain Afro-textured hair, braids and natural hairstyles. With all that in mind, I trialled each silk hair product for two weeks to test if I noticed a difference in my hair’s health and natural wave pattern.
Damn Gina Silk Hair Wrap, $65
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First up on my list of silk products to try was the silk hair wrap from Damn Gina. Trying to get my hair into the turban for the first time was an absolute mission, but with trial and error (and Abbie Chatfield’s tutorial), I managed to stuff my hair in. And boy, I was not a pretty sight – my friend likened my new look to the tip of a penis. I silently hoped the results would be worth it and went to bed.
The silk hair wrap was extremely comfortable to sleep in. And upon removing the turban in the morning, I noticed that while my hair wasn’t as wavy as the day before, it certainly maintained its curl pattern far better than if I were to sleep directly on my ordinary pillowcase. After half an hour or so, my hair bounced up quite a bit more.
While my hair wasn’t entirely frizz-free – that would be a dream – there was significantly less frizz than usual. Throughout the two weeks, I noticed my hair maintained its curl pattern for longer than it ever has. Usually, my waves only look good on first-day hair, and the second I go to bed my locks develop a mind of their own. But this turban kept my curls looking fresh for three to four days, up until I washed it again.
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Go-To Face Case, $65
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When I took Go-To’s silk pillowcase out of the packaging and felt how amazingly soft it was, I couldn’t wait to use it. It also has a ‘hi, cute face’ confidence booster embroidered in the bottom corner to make you smile when you go to sleep and wake up.
The first thing I noticed in the mornings after sleeping on this pillowcase was the shine my hair had. I’d never noticed this sleeping on my usual pillowcases, and it felt good to know the silk was working its magic. There were multiple occasions where I noticed my hair somehow looked better than the day before. No styling, just my natural waves. While my roots were flatter compared to the volume the silk hair wrap maintained, I was very impressed by Go-To’s silk pillowcase.
I also noticed that I experienced less breakage. When I wash my hair, I’m usually met with a large handful of broken strands that can fill the entire palm of my hand. But not this time. There were a few sad stragglers in the drain, but the rest of my hair stayed where it belonged.
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Sheet Society Fleur Silk Pillowcase, $100
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The priciest of the bunch, Sheet Society’s silk pillowcase was last on my list to try. This pillowcase felt different to the one from Go-To, it was thicker and while both felt luxurious, this was on another level.
My hair definitely looked the nicest during my two weeks using Sheet Society’s pillowcase. I did not have to touch up or style my waves at all, my hair was shiny, and I experienced the least amount of frizz. I went to bed with my hair looking like a bit of a mess one night after washing and not drying it properly, and my hair miraculously looked calmer the next morning (usually it’s an hour-long task to tame my hair after sleeping).
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While I loved all three of these silk items and will be integrating them into my daily life, Sheet Society’s Fleur Silk Pillowcase was the clear winner. However, Go-To and Damn Gina were a close-tied second and both worked wonders for my hair. I suggest sticking to what’s within your budget, as all three options are effective at reducing frizz, maintaining curl patterns and overall hair health.
For more on the benefits of silk for your hair and skin, head here.
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