Nightcaps and silk pillowcases are items that reduce hair friction while you sleep, which you see on social media and on TV in winter.
But in the first place, you may be wondering if nightcaps and silk pillowcases really work.
In addition, some people may not know if a nightcap or a pillowcase is right for them.
To be honest, I'm using a nightcap and silk pillowcase every day, and I can tell you my impressions, and I feel that both the nightcap and the silk pillowcase are very effective in reducing friction on my hair.
In this article, I will explain in detail about the effect and item selection while showing the condition of my hair the next morning after sleeping overnight using a nightcap and pillowcase.
What is a nightcap silk pillowcase?
What is a nightcap?
First, what is a nightcap? I will explain from its origin to the present.
Nightcaps are said to have originated in medieval Europe to protect against cold and lice. In the 17th century, while the aristocracy began to prefer large, ornamented hats, the simple Puritan women covered their heads with plain linen.
After returning home and taking off their hats, the aristocrats put on hats similar to the linen hats to keep their hair neat, to protect against the cold and to prevent lice.
In the 18th century, the linen hat evolved into a fringed nightcap, worn by wealthy women to hide their unruly hair.
However, in recent years, it has gained popularity for its ability to prevent “friction” between hair and bedding and “dryness” of hair, and now it is becoming more and more popular as a beauty item.
By preventing friction, you can reduce damage to your hair and not only suppress sleepiness, but also prevent the out-of-bath treatment applied to your hair from transferring to your bedding and skin. The secret to the popularity of nightcaps is the fact that you can easily turn over while you sleep by tying your hair together.
Click here for a more detailed explanation of the types of nightcaps and how to wear them → What is a nightcap? How do you wear it? A thorough explanation by the night cap developer!
What is a silk pillowcase?
Silk bedspreads and pillowcases have long been a symbol of richness due to their luminous texture.
In the 15th century, during the Renaissance, silk and velvet fabrics were used as sheets to cover feathers.
However, recently, as soon as the beauty effects of silk nightcaps and the damage caused by friction between bedding and hair began to attract attention, silk pillowcases also received new attention for reducing friction.
Click here for a thorough comparison of nightcaps and silk pillowcases → Is it true that silk pillowcases are better than nightcaps? Thorough comparison and commentary by nightcap developers!
Effects of friction between bedding and head weight on hair
Before we get into the benefits of chafing nightcaps and silk pillowcases, let's first see what happens to your hair if you don't take care of chafing.
The photo on the left is after taking a bath, drying the hair with an out bath treatment, and finishing with hair oil.
Needless to say, the right side is in a state of sleeping after waking up.
Hair feels dry and rough. Even when I try to pass the comb through, I often find myself getting caught in places, and I often force myself to pull my hair, knowing that it will cut my hair.
The only way to get rid of the sleepiness is to get your hair wet once, and it will take up more and more time in your busy mornings. If you have long hair, it's even more so.
What time did you spend on hair care after taking a bath?
It is clear from this sleeping habit that the adverse effects of friction and dryness far outweigh the effects of hair care.
The real effect of a nightcap
The type of hair I tested was soft and curly. After bleaching it, it is dyed black, so it is in a relatively damaged state.
In conducting the experiment, I do the same hair care every night before going to sleep. After applying an out bath treatment and applying a hair dryer, it is in a state where it is prepared with hair oil.
Experiment with a nightcap made of silk cotton fabric
In the verification photo on the right, I slept with a silk cotton nightcap on all night and woke up in the morning without combing it. As you can see at a glance, sleeping habits are considerably reduced.
Since the hair is covered with a hat, dryness is suppressed and the texture is moist.
Even if you pass it through the comb, it won't get tangled, and even if it's a little peculiar, you can easily fix it with a light blow.
Here are the items I used. Sister Pink Red.
Nightcap for those with shoulder length hair, lined with silk cotton fabric. You can easily put it on by simply tying a ribbon under your chin and it will not come off.
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Experiment with a nightcap made of 100% silk fabric
Even if you use a nightcap made of 100% silk fabric, you won't get a big sleeping habit. Not only that, you can see that there is less fluffy ahoge, probably because the friction is further reduced compared to using a nightcap made of silk cotton fabric.
*Sleeping behind the ears appears when the hair is not dried sufficiently. When wearing a nightcap, please use a hair dryer firmly
The items I used are from the 100% silk lining series towari, and the short night cap Sister Laurier.
The outer fabric is hemp, so it is more breathable and easy to use all year round.
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I hope that you have seen the effects of the nightcap sufficiently through the explanations with photos so far. However, if you can't seem to get into the habit of wearing a nightcap every night, we recommend silk pillowcases .
Pillowcases are more suitable for those who are worried about wearing a nightcap, which reduces the volume of their hair and causes it to become flat.
Also, nightcaps are better for preventing dryness, but pillowcases are recommended for those who want to keep their scalp from getting stuffy .
Click here for an article summarizing the disadvantages and precautions of wearing a nightcap → Is it pointless to wear a nightcap? Rather counterproductive? Are you bald? A thorough explanation by the developer of Nightcap!
Actual effect of silk pillowcases
Next, I used a pillowcase made of silk cotton fabric from the author's brand ITSUKI overnight to verify the effect.
Experiment with a pillow cover using silk cotton fabric
It's not as good as a nightcap, but even if you use a silk cotton pillowcase, it's good enough to keep your sleepiness under control.
The bulges and curls of the hair that can be seen in the photo are not stubborn, but are light enough to be removed by brushing or blowing. There are no tangles that can break your hair.
I used the Kitsumu Kozuchi , a pillowcase with a silk cotton fabric on the side that touches the hair.
This pillow cover is also very comfortable to sleep on. The back of the pillow is made of 100% cotton to keep your neck and head stable while you sleep. The surface that touches the hair is made of 50% silk and 50% cotton.
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We recommend a night cap for those who want a more sleepy hat effect and moisturizing effect than a silk pillowcase.
summary
The author, who develops and sells nightcaps and pillowcases, has been using nightcaps every night for about five years.
That's why I completely forgot what happens if I don't do anything to prevent friction while sleeping, and I was surprised that my hair exploded so much in this verification.
On the flip side, if you haven't used a nightcap or silk pillowcase yet, give it a go and see how it works.
Of course, the anti-friction effect while you sleep is effective for hair care and saving time in the morning, but one of the advantages is that you can feel the effect overnight.