The SOIEA journal
Silk, sleep and the science.
Plain answers to the questions people ask about silk, each one checked against the published evidence. Where the evidence is thin, we say so.
The fibre
Does silk absorb less moisture than cotton? The 11% figure explained
Not from the air. In standard conditions silk takes up about 11% of its weight in moisture from the air, and cotton 7 to 11%, so silk holds as much or a little more. It holds far more than polyester satin, at 0.4 to 0.8%. No study has tested what this means for your skin overnight.
· 4 min read
Hair
Do silk pillowcases help curly hair? What dermatologists actually say
UK and US dermatology guidance for curly and Afro-textured hair suggests sleeping on silk or satin to cut overnight friction, and the AAD adds it may help preserve your style. That is expert advice, not a trial result. No study has tested a silk pillowcase on hair, and the guidance names satin and silk equally.
· 4 min read
The fibre
Silk vs satin pillowcases: what is the difference?
Satin is a weave, not a fibre. It can be woven from silk, but most low-cost satin pillowcases are polyester. Both are smooth, and dermatology guidance for curly hair says satin or silk, not one over the other. The clearest measured difference is moisture: silk takes up about 11% of its weight from the air, polyester under 1%.
· 4 min read
Buying guide
What does momme mean? 19, 22 and 25 momme explained
Momme is a weight. One momme is 4.34 grams per square metre, so 19 momme silk is about 82.5 g/m², 22 momme about 95.5 g/m² and 25 momme about 108.5 g/m². A higher momme means more silk and a denser, heavier fabric. It is not a grade of quality.
· 3 min read
Skin
Do silk pillowcases stop wrinkles? An honest look at sleep lines
No study shows that a silk pillowcase prevents or reduces wrinkles. Sleep lines come from your face pressing into the pillow when you sleep on your side or front, and a pillowcase does not change that pressure. Sleeping on your back helps most. Silk gives your face a smooth, soft surface to rest on.
· 4 min read
Be first to sleep on it.
22 momme mulberry silk, launching December 2026. Shipping to the UK and Ireland.
Join the pre-order list