Does Pillowcase Fabric Matter For Hair and Scalp Health?

February 28, 2022

Advanced Trichology founder William Gaunitz, FWTS, has been asked this question numerous times over his 20 years of working with hair loss patients: Does the pillowcase matter when it comes to hair quality, scalp condition, or hair loss?

The core answer is usually not. The only time a pillowcase can cause issues is if your hair is physically getting caught on the fabric itself and tugs at the hair strands. Any normal fabric like cotton, silk, or a poly blend should be totally fine in nearly every hair type situation.

The number one thing to think about when it comes to pillowcases is to wash your pillowcases at least once or twice a week because scalp oil can soak into the fibers and attract microscopic bugs like Demodex that love to live off of the oil sitting exposed in a pillowcase.

Satin pillowcases may reduce any negatives associated with alternate fibers of pillowcases because the fabric is smooth and has less rough surface area to hook frizzy or damaged hair. Silk is also another type of fabric that would produce a similar result.

If you have very tangled or frizzy hair you may end up developing some static in your hair when using fabrics like microfiber. At the end of the day, a simple hair wash and condition should be enough to reverse any issue that arises.

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Learn more about William Gaunitz, FWTS and Advanced Trichology at www.AdvancedTrichology.com, and follow us on Instagram at @AdvancedTrichology.