Silk and bamboo pillowcases are sold with nearly the same promises: soft, cool, kind to hair and skin. If you are comparing the two, it is hard to see from a product page what actually separates them.
The difference starts with what each fabric is, and that explains most of how they feel and how you look after them.
The short answer: choose silk if a smooth, low-friction surface for your hair and skin matters most to you. Choose bamboo if you want something soft and breathable that costs less and goes in the wash with everything else. Both are comfortable. They are simply good at different things.
What each fabric really is
Silk is a natural protein fiber spun by silkworms. The fiber is long, fine and smooth by nature, and it is woven into fabric with very little done to change it.
Bamboo fabric starts as a plant, but the soft pillowcase you buy is rarely bamboo fiber in its raw form. In most cases the bamboo is broken down into pulp, dissolved, and formed into a new fiber. The label will say viscose or rayon from bamboo, or lyocell when a different, more contained process is used. The result is a soft, plant-derived fiber, and it is a fair product. It is just more processed than the word "bamboo" suggests.
How they compare
| Mulberry silk | Bamboo viscose | |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber | Natural protein fiber | Plant pulp regenerated into fiber |
| Surface | Very smooth, with a soft sheen | Soft and matte, or lightly glossy in a sateen weave |
| Friction on hair | Low | Lower than regular cotton, usually more than silk |
| Moisture | Tends to absorb less | Absorbent |
| Breathability | Good | Good |
| Care | Cold, gentle wash, no dryer | Regular machine wash, low heat |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Vegan | No | Yes |
For hair and skin
This is where silk has the clearer case. Hair and skin glide over silk with very little friction, so there is less rubbing and tugging while you move in your sleep. Many people notice less frizz and fewer pillow creases on their face in the morning. Bamboo is gentler than a standard cotton pillowcase, but its surface has a little more grip.
The two fabrics also treat moisture differently. Bamboo is absorbent, which is pleasant if you tend to feel damp at night. Silk tends to take up less, so more of your night cream or hair oil is likely to stay where you put it.
Neither fabric is a skin treatment. A pillowcase will not clear a breakout or fix a dry scalp. If curls are your main concern, we go into detail in whether a silk pillowcase is good for curly hair.
For warm sleepers
Both fabrics breathe well, and both feel cool when you first lie down. Bamboo soaks up moisture and can feel fresher if you perspire a lot. Silk is light and does not cling, and it stays comfortable across seasons. Honestly, on this point the two are close, and your room temperature and your duvet will matter more than your pillowcase.
Care and how long they last
Bamboo is the easier fabric. It goes in a normal wash and comes out soft, though it can pill or thin over time, especially with hot water and high dryer heat.
Silk asks for a little more attention: cold water, a gentle cycle or hand wash, a pH-neutral or silk detergent, no bleach and no tumble dryer. Dry it in the shade. It is a short routine once you know it, and silk that is looked after keeps its feel for a long time. The full steps are in how to wash and care for your silk pillowcase.
Which one should you choose
- Choose silk if you are buying a pillowcase mainly for your hair or your face, you like a natural fiber, and you do not mind a gentle wash.
- Choose bamboo if you want an easy, soft, everyday pillowcase at a lower price, or if you avoid animal products.
- Use both if that suits you. Plenty of people keep a silk pillowcase for their own pillow and use bamboo or cotton for the rest of the bed.
Questions people ask
Is bamboo as smooth as silk?
No. Bamboo is soft, and a sateen weave makes it smoother, but silk has the lower-friction surface.
Is bamboo more sustainable than silk?
It is not a simple comparison. Bamboo grows quickly, but turning it into viscose is a chemical process, and how well that is managed varies by maker. Silk is a natural fiber that takes a lot of land and labor. We would not call either one the clear winner.
Is silk vegan?
No. Silk comes from silkworms. We explain the process plainly in is silk vegan, and how silk is made.
If silk sounds right for you, our silk pillowcases are 100% mulberry silk, Grade 6A, with silk on both sides. The Mulberry Silk Pillowcase 19 Momme is the lighter of our two weights and an easy first one to try.
