Shark pillow
What is a horsehair cushion?
Natural cushions made from horsehair: The horsehair cushion
Products made from natural materials are trending in Germany. People are increasingly valuing sustainable products and a healthy lifestyle. Accordingly, the supply and selection of products that meet this demand in all areas of life is also growing. Bedding products and items are not exempt from this. On the contrary. The supply and selection of cushions, comforters, bed linens, and mattresses made from natural materials is becoming larger. When it comes to cushions and pillows, it is mainly about items with natural fillings, for example
- Cushion items and pillows with a grain filling
- Cushion items and pillows with a natural fiber filling
- Cushion items and pillows with a natural hair filling
Cushions and pillows made from natural hair
Cushions and pillows can be made from the hair of different animals:
- Cushion products with camel hair
- Cushion products with virgin wool
- Pillow products with cashmere
- Pillow products with horsehair
Horsehair is a traditional material for bedding
While camel hair and cashmere are often encountered in other areas, e.g., in the clothing industry, one comes into contact with horsehair less frequently, unless one specifically seeks out products, such as pillows, head pillows, and mattresses with horsehair. Horsehair is a traditional filling material that has been used for the production of mattresses and pillows for over 200 years. In recent decades, this traditional upholstery material has been increasingly used again for pillows, mattresses, comforters, and mattress toppers.
Horsehair pillows for healthy sleep
Pillows and head pillows filled with horsehair consist of 100% of a naturally renewable raw material, namely the body hair, as well as tail and mane hair of the horse. Horsehair is not coincidentally one of the oldest and most proven upholstery materials, as horsehair has properties that are particularly well suited for pillows, mattresses, comforters, and mattress toppers.
Properties of horsehair in horsehair pillows
Horsehair in horsehair pillows has specific properties. These properties distinguish horsehair from other materials:
- Horsehair in horsehair pillows is particularly breathable
- Horsehair in horsehair pillows has a natural dirt-repellent residual fat content
- Horsehair in horsehair pillows is very elastic
- Pillows as horsehair pillows have a pleasant firmness
- Pillows as horsehair pillows are characterized by excellent support strength
- Horsehair in horsehair pillows ensures an optimal sleeping climate
- A bio horsehair pillow is very suitable for children or as a baby pillow
Production of horsehair for horsehair pillows
In the production of horsehair for horsehair pillows, horsehair mattresses, and horsehair mattress toppers, the hair is combed or cut off. Afterwards, the horsehair for the horsehair pillows and horsehair mattresses is washed, disinfected, and dried. For the production of mattresses and pillows, horsehair is curled and fixed with hot air. Horsehair comes in various quality levels. In general, the rule for horsehair for bedding is: the longer and stiffer the horsehair, the higher the quality.
Horsehair pillows are very suitable as baby pillows
Due to their positive properties, horsehair pillows are suitable not only for adults. Horsehair pillows can be very well used as head pillows for small children or as baby pillows.
- Pillows as horsehair pillows are breathable
- Horsehair pillows provide a dry-warm sleeping climate
- Horsehair pillows are soft
Horsehair pillows for children and infants
If you want to use a pillow filled with horsehair for children or as a baby pillow, you should pay attention to:
- the horsehair pillow is covered with a high-quality cover, e.g., made of 100% cotton
- the cover of the pillows is removable and can be washed (zipper available?)
- the horsehair pillow, the horsehair filling, and the pillowcase made of 100% cotton are tested for harmful substances (organic label, GOTS)
- the pillow size of the horsehair pillows fits the needs of children
Horsehair pillows are easy to care for
A horsehair pillow should be equipped with a zipper, i.e., it should have a removable cover. A cover made of 100% cotton allows for washing at 60 degrees. A cotton cover for a pillowcase is also durable. A cotton pillowcase is therefore characterized by longevity.
Horsehair pillows are only conditionally suitable for allergy sufferers
People who suffer from a pet hair allergy should clarify before purchasing horsehair pillows, horsehair mattresses, or horsehair comforters whether they have an allergy to horsehair. Allergy sufferers who, on the other hand, suffer from a house dust allergy should always try to contain the spread of mites in the beds and mattresses as much as possible in order to sleep well:
- Allergy sufferers should use additional mite-proof pillow covers for pillows and horsehair pillows
- Allergy sufferers should use not only mite-proof pillow covers but also mite-proof mattress encasings
- Pillows, comforters, bed linen, cotton mattress covers, and mattresses should be maintained and cleaned regularly
Who is a horsehair mattress suitable for?
If you want to sleep not only on a horsehair pillow but also on a mattress made of horsehair, you will find that there is also a large selection of mattresses from various brands in organic quality with GOTS label. Whether a mattress made of horsehair is individually suitable can be determined by lying on the mattress for testing. Otherwise, the mattress, just like the pillow or horsehair pillow, should meet one's own needs:
- the mattress should have an individually suitable firmness level (soft? firm? medium-firm?)
- the mattress should have organic quality (GOTS)
- the size of the mattresses should fit the beds and the pillow
- the size of the mattress should fit one's own needs
Who are horsehair mattresses suitable for?
Mattresses with horsehair (horsehair mattresses) are very suitable for people who sweat heavily during sleep. If one tends to sweat a lot, a horsehair pillow should also be used, and attention should be paid to using appropriate bed linen.
- Bedding should allow for good air circulation (bedding made from e.g. 100% cotton)
- Bedding should absorb moisture well (bedding made from 100% cotton)
- Bedding should be easy to care for (bedding made from 100% cotton)
Do horsehair mattresses require special slatted frames?
Horsehair mattresses do not require a special bed slatted frame. Just like with a conventional mattress, completely different bed slatted frames can be used:
- Adjustable bed slatted frames
- Roll slatted frames for beds
Slatted frames generally last longer than mattresses and therefore need to be replaced less frequently.
Horsehair pillows should be organic certified
In general, it is always a good sign when bedding items and products have an organic label. This way, consumers can be sure to use a product for sleeping (organic pillows, organic mattresses, organic duvets, organic bedding, etc.) that is health-safe. Meanwhile, many brands offer one or another organic-certified product. Additionally, there are organic brands that specialize exclusively in organic-certified products. One of the most important organic seals is the GOTS textile seal. A textile product can only be certified organic with the GOTS organic seal if it consists of at least 70% natural fibers. The requirements for GOTS certification also apply to accessories.
Organic labels on the GOTS website
Anyone needing more information on the topic of organic labels can retrieve this information on the GOTS website. For any questions regarding organic labels, organic cotton, organic horsehair mattresses, organic pillows, organic duvets, organic children's bedding, organic baby pillows, one should not hesitate to seek advice. Consulting regarding the organic topic helps to gain an overview of organic bedding. Generally, regarding organic horsehair pillows: organic certification and a product made from natural materials are good partners.