The Science of Silk: What Happens to Your Hair While You Sleep

The most overlooked part of your haircare routine might be the one that happens while you're doing nothing at all.

We spend time choosing the right shampoo, finding treatments that suit our hair and perfecting the routines that make us feel our best. Yet, once the day is over, there's one detail we rarely consider: the fabric our hair rests against for hours at a time.

While we sleep, we naturally change positions. Our hair shifts with us, coming into contact with our pillowcases, bedding and sometimes even itself.

It's a small part of everyday life, but it raises an interesting question: could the fabric we sleep against be worth considering as part of our haircare routine?

To understand why we chose mulberry silk, it helps to look a little closer at the material itself.

The Beauty of Silk Begins With Its Structure

Mulberry silk is more than a beautifully soft fabric. Its distinctive qualities begin with the natural fibres from which it is made.

Produced by the Bombyx mori silkworm, which is traditionally raised on mulberry leaves, silk begins as a fine, continuous filament spun to form a cocoon.

At the centre of this filament is fibroin, a structural protein that contributes to silk's strength and flexibility. Surrounding it is sericin, another natural protein that helps bind the silk filaments together.

During a process known as degumming, much of the sericin is removed, revealing the finer fibroin fibres beneath.

These fibres can then be transformed into the soft, fluid textiles associated with high-quality silk.

The result is a material valued not only for its delicate appearance, but also for the distinctive combination of fineness, flexibility and strength found in its natural structure.

The Science Behind Friction

To understand why fabric matters, we first need to understand friction.

Friction is the resistance created when two surfaces move against each other. It occurs constantly in everyday life, including when hair comes into contact with clothing, bedding and other hair strands.

During sleep, small movements can cause hair to shift repeatedly against the surface beneath it.

The amount of friction involved depends on several factors, including the texture of the fabric, the pressure between the surfaces and the way they move.

A smoother textile surface can offer less resistance during contact, although the precise amount of friction depends on the materials and conditions involved.

This is where silk becomes particularly interesting.

Its fine fibres can be woven into a smooth, even surface that allows hair to move across the fabric with relatively little resistance.

The principle is simple: the surface your hair rests against influences how it moves.

A smooth fabric may help minimise friction during the night, although the extent of any benefit depends on the textile, the hair and how the product is used.

For anyone with fine, bleached or colour-treated hair, choosing gentle materials can be a thoughtful addition to an existing routine.

Mulberry Silk vs Satin: Understanding the Difference

Silk and satin are often spoken about as though they're interchangeable. In reality, they describe two different things.

Silk is a fibre. Satin is a weave.

Mulberry silk is a natural protein fibre produced by silkworms. Satin, on the other hand, refers to a weaving technique that creates a smooth surface with a characteristic sheen.

Satin can be made from several different fibres, including polyester, nylon and silk.

This means a satin bonnet isn't necessarily a silk bonnet.

Polyester satin can also have a smooth surface, so it's important not to assume that every silk fabric will produce less friction than every synthetic satin fabric.

The distinction is primarily about what the fabric is made from, rather than its appearance alone.

At Wake & Bloom, we chose genuine mulberry silk because we wanted a natural protein fibre with the soft, fluid character that makes silk so distinctive.

For us, material matters just as much as appearance.

What Does 16 Momme Actually Mean?

If you've ever looked into silk products, you've probably encountered the word momme.

Momme, abbreviated as mm, is a traditional measurement used to describe the weight of silk fabric.

Unlike thread count, which refers to the number of threads within a given area, momme describes fabric mass relative to its surface area.

A higher momme number generally indicates a heavier silk fabric. However, weight alone doesn't determine quality.

The weave, fibre characteristics, finishing process and construction also influence how silk feels and performs.

For reference, 16 momme corresponds to approximately 69 grams of fabric per square metre.

At Wake & Bloom, our Silk Sleep Bonnet is made with 16 momme mulberry silk, selected for its lightweight feel and smooth finish.

It's a considered material choice, rather than a claim that one particular weight is universally better for every hair type.

Why a Silk Bonnet Instead of a Silk Pillowcase?

Both silk pillowcases and silk bonnets introduce a smooth textile surface into a nighttime routine, but they work in different ways.

A silk pillowcase provides a smooth surface wherever your hair comes into contact with the pillow.

A silk bonnet takes a different approach.

Rather than relying on your hair remaining on the pillowcase, a bonnet gently gathers your lengths within a silk-lined space.

As you change positions throughout the night, the bonnet is designed to move with you, keeping your hair enclosed within the fabric.

This makes a silk sleep bonnet an appealing option for people who prefer to keep their hair gathered while sleeping.

It isn't necessarily a replacement for a silk pillowcase, nor is one automatically superior to the other.

They simply offer different ways of incorporating silk into a nighttime routine.

Why We Chose Double-Layered Mulberry Silk

When developing the Wake & Bloom Silk Sleep Bonnet, our focus was on creating a simple, considered addition to everyday haircare.

We chose 100% mulberry silk, rather than a polyester satin alternative.

We selected 16 momme fabric for its light, fluid feel.

And we chose a double-layered construction, with both layers made from 100% mulberry silk.

This means the bonnet has silk on both sides, creating a smooth fabric finish inside and out.

These choices reflect our approach to materials and comfort. They are not a promise of particular hair results, but an expression of what we value in a thoughtfully designed sleep essential.

Whether your hair is naturally straight, wavy, curly, fine, bleached or colour-treated, your nighttime routine deserves the same consideration as the products you use during the day.

A Little More Intention, Even While You Sleep

Good haircare doesn't always require another complicated step.

Sometimes, it's simply about noticing the small details of a routine we already have.

The fabrics we choose. The way we gather our hair. The habits we repeat each evening.

Mulberry silk offers an interesting meeting point between natural materials, textile science and everyday beauty.

And while no fabric can promise to transform your hair overnight, understanding what touches your hair while you sleep is a thoughtful place to begin.

Gently gather your hair, slip on your bonnet and let your night do the quiet work.

Discover the Silk Sleep Bonnet →

Wake & Bloom. Protect what you grow.