“It’s more the materials they’re using and how they’re making [the sheet] that’s important,” O’Shea says.
Pure linen sheets, which are woven from flax fibres and usually have a low thread count between 80 and 150, could therefore be a viable option for those who sweat overnight. Cotton or percale (a closely woven plain-weave fabric) can also help to regulate body temperature, thanks to their decent airflow.
Cool sleepers
If you shiver in bed despite having the sheets pulled up to your chin, you could try swapping looser fabrics for those with a higher thread count. For example, sateen – a cotton fabric with a glossy sheen – generally traps more heat than pure cotton, due to its tighter weave.
The heavier the sheet, the warmer it will be. A flannel sheet – usually made from wool, cotton or synthetic fibre – may weigh around 150 to 350 grams per square metre (GSM), whereas lighter sheets, like linen, could weigh anywhere between 30 and 130 GSM.
Alongside the weight of a fabric is its ply. A ply refers to the number of strands twisted together to form a slightly thicker and stronger thread, meaning the more ply you have, the thicker – and warmer – the sheet will be.
The best choice for your hair? Silk
“All types of hair textures will benefit from a silk pillowcase,” says celebrity hair stylist and owner of RAW salon Anthony Nader. Unlike cotton and linen fibres, which create friction between your hair and pillow case, the smooth finish of silk allows you to move throughout the night without damaging or dehydrating your hair.
According to Nader, mulberry silk pillowcases, like those from his brand ltn, are especially suited to those with frizzy or curly hair. Beyond keeping strands healthy, these cases help your hair hold its style for longer. “We’re all time poor and want to look a million bucks when we walk out our door of a morning,” he says. “And after having a beautiful colour, cut or blow-dry, you want it to last, don’t you?”
Sensitive sleepers
Those with hay fever or sensitive skin could benefit from bamboo or eucalyptus sheets, according to National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program, which identifies asthma and allergy-aware products.
Bamboo sheets are made from bamboo plant fibres, while eucalyptus sheets (also known as Tencel) are made from recycled wood pulp. They’re hypoallergenic and anti-microbial, meaning they’re less likely to aggravate allergies.
Bamboo and eucalyptus sheets could be a double-win for those struggling with both allergies and overheating because the materials wick moisture, meaning they move sweat to the fabric’s outer surface and dry rather quickly.
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“Everyone’s skin needs to be able to breathe,” O’Shea says. “You just want to have your sheets be neutral enough that they feel good and don’t annoy you.”
For those with irritable or dehydrated skin, silk sheets could also be worth a try. Made from the cocoons of silkworms, this material is hypoallergenic and doesn’t strip away much of the skin’s moisture.
Notably, bedsheets are just one element of a good night’s rest. “Keeping the bedroom temperature and light levels appropriate for sleeping – dark and around 21 degrees Celsius – will likely work for most, but there will be natural variability in what helps different people sleep,” Jordan says.
Specialist sleep physician Dr David Cunnington agrees, noting internal factors, such as anxiety, and an individual’s “microclimate” when sleeping.
Sleep also isn’t static – the quality of one’s sleep can change over time. “Women might notice across the menstrual cycle that they have different temperature preferences because of varying hormone levels,” Cunnington says. “People will notice across life that they have different temperature preferences. They might have health conditions or be on medications that might impact their body’s temperature and the way it regulates temperature.”
Bedsheets are ultimately a personal preference, Cunnington says, and they may not be as important as some may think. “We overthink sleeping too much … If you think about how humans have slept historically: they slept outdoors, in the middle of the day in the shade, fell asleep at night on a simple bed. We don’t need perfect bedding and perfect conditions to sleep.”
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