There are many likenesses between silk and satin pillowcases. Both help to keep your hair hydrated as the fabrics don’t wick water. Both decrease damage to your hair by lessening the friction between your hair and pillowcase. Finally your hair and skin stay cleaner since neither fabric soaks up oils which could coat your hair or create skin breakouts. Silk is a natural fiber which is produced mainly by the silkworm insect while satin is technically a type of weave rather than a fabric. There are other differences. Silk fabric breaths which is better for your skin and hair. It is also hypoallergenic and naturally resistant to mites, mold, fungus and other allergens. Silk is an all natural fiber containing no synthetic materials. Meanwhile satin is a more economical choice often costing half the price of silk. Because it is created from synthetic material it is more abundantly available on the market. Satin is easier to clean as it can be thrown into the wash with all of your other laundry. Finally, some find it actually softer and silkier to the touch than real silk. A word of warning though, Sateen is not the same thing as satin. Sateen is a type of weave but it is most often used in cotton fabric as opposed to Satin which uses synthetic fibers. You do not get the same benefits from sateen as the shared benefits of silk and satin. Don’t be fooled.