Mulberry Silk Pillowcases
Cool-touch mulberry silk for smoother hair and calmer nights.
100% natural grade 6A silk, 19 or 22 momme.
The Pair
Two Pillowcases, 15% Less
Add any two silk pillowcases to your bag and 15% comes off both, applied automatically at checkout. One to sleep on, one folded away for the nights the first is drying.
What Is a Mulberry Silk Pillowcase?
A Sensoire mulberry silk pillowcase is made from 100% Grade 6A mulberry silk in 19 or 22 momme, certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100. The cool, low-friction surface is far less absorbent than cotton, so skin keeps its moisture and hair snags less overnight. That means fewer sleep creases and less frizz, on a fabric that stays breathable and naturally temperature-balancing.
The Silk Difference
Why switch to a Sensoire silk pillowcase?
A smoother surface that works with your skin and hair while you sleep, for softer mornings without the friction of cotton.
Fewer Sleep Creases
Silk glides instead of dragging, so skin wakes with fewer pillow lines.
More Hydrated Skin
Far less absorbent than cotton, so skin keeps its moisture overnight.
Smoother Hair
Low friction means less frizz, fewer tangles and gentler nights for hair.
Kinder to Skin
Naturally hypoallergenic and breathable, gentle on sensitive, reactive skin.
Less friction, more comfort, gentler on skin and hair
Fibre Guide
Silk And Your Hair, Honestly
A smoother surface gives hair fewer chances to snag as you move through the night. That can mean fewer morning tangles, less friction related breakage and a curl set that holds a little better.
It will not feed a follicle, restart growth or treat hair loss. Our guide explains what a silk pillowcase can realistically do for frizz, curls, extensions and fragile hair, and who tends to notice the difference most.
Silk Pillowcase Specifications
| Material | 100% mulberry silk, Grade 6A |
| Weight | 19 momme or 22 momme |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
| Closures | Envelope, Oxford flange, tie |
| Sizes | 40 x 40 to 80 x 80 cm, 9 sizes |
| Care | Hand wash cold, line dry in shade, or dry clean |
Not sure which weight or finish to choose? Read our guide to choosing the best silk pillowcase by momme, grade and weave.
Which silk pillowcase size should you choose?
Sensoire silk pillowcases come in up to nine sizes. Measure your pillow flat, not the pillowcase you already own. Read the full size guide.
| 65 x 65 cm | The square pillow, the most common size in France |
| 60 x 60 cm | A square pillow, a little smaller than 65 x 65 cm |
| 50 x 70 cm | The rectangular pillow used across most of Europe |
| 40 x 60, 40 x 80 and 80 x 80 cm | Standard formats in Northern Europe and the German-speaking countries |
| 50 x 75 cm | The UK standard, which also fits a US queen pillow |
| 50 x 80 cm | A standard pillow size in Italy |
| 40 x 40 cm | Small cushions and travel pillows |
Silk vs Cotton vs Satin
| Mulberry silk | Cotton | Synthetic satin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friction on hair and skin | Low | High | Low to medium |
| Absorbency | Low, keeps moisture | High, draws moisture | Low |
| Breathability | Natural, temperature-balancing | Good | Poor |
| Feel | Cool, soft natural sheen | Matte, can drag | Slippery, glossy |
| Natural fibre | Yes | Yes | No |
Fibre Guide
How to Tell If Silk Is Real
Shine, stretch and a burn test are the checks that circulate online. Most prove less than they seem, and two of them destroy the fabric you are testing.
Our guide walks through all five, what each one can and cannot show, and why the fibre composition printed on the label is still the fastest way to know what you are buying.
Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Silk Pillowcases
How to distinguish genuine silk from synthetic satin?
Real silk has a soft, natural sheen that changes gently with the light. It feels smooth and cool at first touch, then becomes warm against the skin. Synthetic satin often looks intensely glossy, feels more slippery, and lacks natural breathability.
What should the label say on a real silk pillowcase?
100% silk or 100% mulberry silk, written as a percentage, with the momme weight beside it. Silk is a fibre and satin is a weave, so a pillowcase sold as satin, silky or satin silk can be polyester woven to look the part. Silky describes a feel and names no fibre at all. Read the composition line first, then look for a stated momme weight, the fibre grade and an independent certificate. Our pure silk pillowcases are 100% Grade 6A mulberry silk in 19 or 22 momme, certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and each of these is stated on the product page.
Read our guide: How to tell if silk is real
What does momme mean, and should I choose 19 or 22 momme?
Momme is the traditional unit of weight for silk fabric. One momme is about 4.34 grams per square metre, so the higher the number, the more silk in the cloth. It measures weight, not grade: both of our weights are Grade 6A mulberry silk with the same smooth face. 19 momme is lighter and more fluid, and some people find it sleeps cooler, which suits warm rooms and summer. 22 momme has more body, a fuller drape and a deeper sheen, and it resists thinning and snagging for longer. For one pillowcase to use every night through the year, choose 22.
Read our guide: How to choose the best silk pillowcase
Why do Sensoire silk pillowcases have no zip, and will the pillow stay in?
A zip is where many silk pillowcases eventually give out. It is a separate part in a different material, stitched into lightweight silk along a single line, and every wash and every change of bedding pulls on that line. Ours close with fabric alone: a hidden envelope flap, also behind the border of our Oxford styles, or slim silk ribbon ties. No hardware sits near your face or catches your hair. The envelope flap is 8 to 10 cm deep and folds back over the end of the pillow, so the pillow stays inside through the night, even if you turn often. Match the pillowcase to the size of your pillow and it will not work loose.
How long does a silk pillowcase last?
There is no single number. It depends on the weight of the silk, the quality of the seams and the way the pillowcase closes, and after that on how it is washed. A closure with hardware is usually the first thing to go, then stitching at the corners. The woven silk is the last part to wear, and it thins slowly. Sensoire pillowcases close with fabric only, which removes the most common point of failure. Heat, enzyme detergents, bleach and abrasion from stubble or a pet's claws shorten the life of any silk. A cool gentle wash, drying in the shade and two pillowcases in rotation, so each is washed half as often, extend it.
Read our guide: How long silk pillowcases last
Why does a real silk pillowcase cost more than satin?
Most satin pillowcases are polyester, a manufactured fibre that costs little to produce. Mulberry silk is a natural fibre reeled from cocoons in long continuous filaments, and a 22 momme pillowcase simply contains more of it. Both have the smooth face of a satin weave. What the fibre adds is separate: silk is a breathable protein that manages moisture, so it does not trap heat against your head the way a sealed synthetic can, and it builds less static. With Sensoire you are paying for Grade 6A mulberry silk, a stated momme weight, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification and a closure with no hardware.
Read our guide: Silk vs satin pillowcases
Is a silk pillowcase good for your hair?
Yes. A silk pillowcase creates a friction-free surface, helping strands glide effortlessly while you sleep. This helps reduce overnight tangles, visible frizz, and friction-related breakage.
Does a silk pillowcase help your skin and reduce wrinkles?
Yes. The smooth surface of a silk pillowcase helps care for your skin and reduce temporary sleep creases caused by overnight pressure and fabric friction.
Is a silk pillowcase worth it, and who notices the difference most?
It is worth it if you want a smoother, more breathable surface under your face and hair every night. It is a change of fabric, not a treatment, and it works alongside the rest of your routine. The people who notice it soonest tend to have dry, curly, coily, fine or colour-treated hair, or sleep on their side and wake with pillow lines. Hot sleepers like the cool first touch. Many people only realise what it was doing on the first night they sleep without it, in a hotel or a guest room. One pillowcase on the pillow you use most is enough to find out.
Read our full answer: Is a silk pillowcase worth it?
Silk pillowcase or silk bonnet: which should I choose?
A pillowcase looks after both hair and face, and asks nothing of you once it is on the bed. A bonnet protects the hair only, but it holds every strand in place whichever way you turn. Choose the bonnet if your hair is very long, curly or set in a style you want to keep, or if you move a lot in your sleep. Choose the pillowcase if you dislike wearing anything on your head, or if your skin is the reason you are looking at silk. Plenty of people use both, with the pillowcase as the surface underneath for the nights the bonnet slips off. A bonnet is also the easier one to pack when you travel.
See the collection: Silk bonnets
Is silk too slippery? Will the pillowcase slide around?
Silk is smoother than cotton, and the first few nights can feel different. Most of the sliding people describe comes from a pillowcase that is too big for its pillow, so the cover moves over the filling. Measure your pillow flat and match it: Sensoire silk pillowcases come in up to nine sizes, from 40 x 40 to 80 x 80 cm, and the 8 to 10 cm envelope flap keeps the pillow tucked in. If you turn often, or your pillow tends to travel, choose our dual-sided pillowcase, with silk on the side you sleep on and Tencel underneath. The Tencel side has more grip, so the pillow stays where you left it.
See the pillowcase: Mulberry Silk and Tencel Dual-Sided Pillowcase
Does a silk pillowcase sleep hot?
Real silk is breathable, and it takes up moisture and releases it again, so the surface under your face stays drier and less sticky through the night. It does not trap heat against your head the way polyester satin can. Satin is smooth like silk, but the fibre absorbs very little and can feel warm or clammy. If you run warm, choose 19 momme, the lighter of our two weights. Expect the difference where your face meets the pillow: a pillowcase will not cool the room or the rest of the bed, so keep the other layers breathable too.
Read our guide: Silk pillowcases for hot sleepers
How do I wash and care for a silk pillowcase?
Hand wash with a mild, pH-neutral silk detergent in cold or lukewarm water. Avoid bleach, harsh enzymes, tumble drying, and direct sunlight. Line dry in the shade and iron inside out on the lowest silk setting if desired. You can also have it professionally dry cleaned instead.
Can I machine wash a silk pillowcase?
We recommend washing by hand. It takes three to five minutes: cool water below 30°C, a little silk detergent, a gentle swish and a thorough rinse. What wears silk out in a machine is heat, a fast spin and the enzymes in everyday detergent, together with zips and hooks on other laundry. If you do use a machine, turn the pillowcase inside out, put it in a fine mesh laundry bag, choose a cold silk or delicate cycle with a low or no final spin, and wash it away from towels and denim. Either way, press the water out in a clean towel instead of wringing, dry it in the shade, and keep it out of the tumble dryer.
Which detergent should I use, and what should I avoid?
A mild, pH-neutral detergent labelled for silk or wool. Silk is a protein fibre, like hair, and biological detergents contain enzymes designed to break down protein stains. Over repeated washes they work on the silk as well, and the surface turns dull and rough. Keep chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, optical brighteners, fabric softener, dish soap and ordinary stain removers away from silk. Use the amount stated on the bottle, not more, and dissolve it in the water before the pillowcase goes in. Rinse until the water runs clear, because leftover detergent is a common reason silk loses its sheen.
Read our guide: How to wash silk pillowcases and bedding
How long does silk take to dry, and do I need a second pillowcase?
A silk pillowcase dries quickly, usually within a few hours. Lay it flat on a rack or hang it in the shade, away from radiators and direct sun. Washed in the morning, it is ready for the bed that evening. A second pillowcase is still worth having: each one is washed half as often, the one just washed has time to dry properly, and there is always a fresh one for the night. Silk can feel slightly crisp when it has just dried. Smooth it over the pillow, or iron it inside out on the lowest silk setting, and the softness returns.
Will night cream, hair oil or makeup stain silk, and how often should I wash it?
Oils and pigments mark any fabric over time, silk included. Give your skincare ten minutes to settle before you lie down, and take off eye makeup, since mascara is the hardest mark to lift. Wash the pillowcase every 7 to 10 days, and sooner in hot weather or when night cream, hair oil or styling products transfer onto it. For a fresh mark, work a drop of silk detergent in with your fingertips without rubbing, then wash the whole pillowcase by hand in cool water. Bleach and ordinary stain removers should never touch silk. Regular gentle washing is kinder to the fibre than waiting for a mark to set, and deeper colours are more forgiving than pale ones.
Why does my silk look duller or feel stiffer after washing?
Usually for one of three reasons. Detergent or hard-water minerals left in the fibre dull the sheen, so rinse thoroughly instead of adding more detergent. Heat and direct sun make silk feel harsh and fade its colour, so wash it cool and dry it in the shade. And silk that has air-dried can simply feel crisp at first: it relaxes once it is on the pillow, or after ironing inside out on the lowest silk setting. If the surface has turned rough instead of stiff, the usual cause is an enzyme detergent, and changing to one made for silk stops it going further.
The Silk Pillowcase
A Third Of Your Life Is Spent Face To Fabric
The question is simple. Does your pillowcase work with your skin and hair, or against them? Cotton is absorbent and it drags. Mulberry silk is far less absorbent, so skin keeps its moisture overnight, and its low-friction surface means fewer pillow lines in the morning and less frizz in your hair.
- Grade 6A
Mulberry Silk - OEKO-TEX®
Standard 100 - Several Colours
And Sizes