December is only just around the corner, but the Christmas spirit is already here! LAO has surprised you by launching its first gift sets, perfect for Christmas.

The Softness gift set puts silk in the spotlight: it pairs a cleansing product of your choice with a mulberry silk scrunchie, handmade in Alsace.

Silk has many benefits for hair and can be especially helpful in winter, when our hair gets a lot of friction from scarves, hats and synthetic sweaters.

Let's explore together the benefits of silk for our hair and, as a bonus, share with you the benefits of silk for our skin too. Stay with us until the end of the article to learn how to care for your silk clothing and accessories.

What is silk?

A little history to begin with! The production of silk fabric dates back to 2500 BC, and the technique for making silk was developed in China, along with the Silk Road.

Silk is a natural material produced by insects, generally silkworms. It is used for textiles and for cosmetic products.

It is a noble, delicate material, yet particularly durable. It does, however, require special care, which we will cover at the end of this article.

For now, let's discover the benefits of silk together!

1) Silk, a soft material for hair

As we said above, our hair is subjected to a lot of friction, especially in winter and at night. In winter our hair gets damaged by rubbing against our clothes, and at night our hair is in constant contact with the pillowcase.

The materials our hair rubs against, such as cotton, can be harsh on it and damage it.

Silk can be a way to avoid this harshness on hair, because it is a very soft and delicate material. Once you've tried it, you often stick with a silk pillowcase!

At LAO, we decided to create a gift set with a handmade mulberry silk scrunchie that won't damage your hair thanks to its softness, and that makes a lovely gift for the holidays.

2) A material that doesn't dry out hair

Silk is barely absorbent. Unlike your synthetic or cotton pillowcase, it won't absorb the moisture from your hair overnight, nor the mask or oil you apply to your hair before bed (1). So silk won't dry out your hair or make it brittle.

For hair that is already naturally dry, curly or coily, it is often recommended to sleep on a silk pillow, or with a fabric that protects your hair at night, so it doesn't get rough.

3) The benefits of silk for the skin

Beyond protecting hair, silk is also ideal for the skin!

If you have eczema or dermatitis, this article is for you! A study of 30 people with atopic eczema showed that silk could considerably relieve this condition (2). The participants wore silk clothing for several days without any other eczema medication, and a real improvement in their skin was noted.

Likewise, silk could also be used to treat acne. Silk protein fiber is used in some cosmetics, and studies have proven the effectiveness of silk in treating acne (4).

How do you care for silk fabric?

Silk is a delicate fabric, so it requires special care.

When it comes to washing, silk fabrics can be machine washed, but at a low temperature, with a very, very gentle spin cycle, and not with just any product! It is best to avoid detergents containing bleaching agents, as they can weaken the fabric. The best practice is to use a detergent for delicates or Marseille soap and to wash the fabric by hand at 30 degrees Celsius!

Above all, don't wring silk by twisting it, as this could permanently damage its fibers.

Instead, take a towel, blot the water with it, then let the fabric air dry.

As for ironing, iron at the lowest temperature and turn the garment inside out so you don't damage it. Even better, use a steamer, which won't come into direct contact with the fiber.

Sources

1. Washington Post. Silk pillowcases for better hair and skin: what you need to know. Available online at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/silk-pillowcases-hair-skin-benefits-myths/2021/04/05/a7dcad7c-866a-11eb-82bc-e58213caa38e_story.html

2. NCBI PMC. Silk pillowcases for hair and skin health: the science behind the hype. Available online at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7137929/

3. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT00767104: Effects of silk pillowcases on skin hydration. Available online at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00767104

4. PubMed. Silk pillowcases reduce sleep wrinkles. Available online at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28239832/