Make Sure Your Head Hits the Right Pillow
In this article, we are providing you with the right information about some types of pillows. All these types are available in the market to buy. There are several bedding choices. After buying the most comfortable mattress, now you want to have a relaxing pillow that could comfort your head. You are conscious of all these things because you want to enjoy a comfortable sleep.
A good night’s sleep depends on a lot of factors, but your pillow is not comfortable for you. You have numerous issues because of a discomforting pillow. For instance, you are suffering from neck pain, shoulders pain or stiffness in back muscles.
Here, we are giving you a list which will help you to understand some of the many possibilities of buying your new pillow.
Following are the general types of pillows
Feather pillows
Feathers’ stuff gives fluffier feel than any other material. The feather pillows are designed to give you more conformability, smoothness, and support. Feathers are the material that is mostly used in the quality pillows.
You will find these pillows usually in small size and a highly curled form. Feathers are also found in the form of strength as carbon fiber.
Down pillows
You are not addicted to a firmer pillow and now you want to buy one of the softest and gentlest pillows. In this context, the down pillows are the best choice for you. The Down pillows are defined as they are made with the softest material as you are going to touch the undercoat of birds’ feathers.
Just imagine, you are going to have feathers without quills under your head. Down pillows are soft, puffy and agile, and known for ultimate luxury.
A popular type of down pillow is European goose down with a full power of 600 and up. Down pillows are fluffy, light and cozy, but are not meant to provide enough support as a firmer pillow provides.
Memory foam pillows
Memory foam pillows are with the great softest material because it will give you a comforting feel throughout the whole night. Theses pillows will remember you all night long in the context of giving you the most relaxing feel.
Your head and shoulder muscles will feel contoured because the pillow adjusts according to your shape. Moreover, it allows your shoulders, neck, and head to rest in a regular position.
During the whole night, your all moves will be accommodated with a self-adjusting Memory foam Pillow. The memory foam material based pillows are being manufactured within a variety of shapes and sizes.
These pillows are designed in a way to give you a little bit bouncy feel. When you will leave this pillow after a long time use then after few seconds it will be back to their original shape at different speeds.
For instance, it could take a few minutes or hours for coming back in its original shape.
Microbead pillows
The Microbead pillows are firmer to provide you the hard support. Microbead pillows are made up of tiny beads called unexpanded polystyrene. The Microbead pillows provide you with a cushioning texture.
The tiny beads material provides comforting hard support to your shoulder and neck muscles. These kinds of pillows are the best choice for the people who are suffering from any problem with their muscles and the people who don’t want to have extra softness under their heads.
The microbead pillows also fall in the category of travel neck pillows which are usually made with the unexpected polyester material.
The initial impression of microbead pillows is defined from the following points
Lightweight microbead pillow
After getting it arrived on your doorstep, you will find it packed in small packaging. You will find it very lightweight. Microbeads are lighter contrary to your expectations. You might think the microbeads would be heavier, like hard plastic.
You will find it in a kidney bean-shaped pillow tucked in a plastic bag along with wrinkled Xeroxed instructions. With this pillow, you will feel lighter than having a traditional pillow. You will find the types in traditional pillow for instance like down or even polyester pillows.
Design of microbead pillow
In the context of design, you will find the Microbead pillow unique. The pillow’s outer shell is divided into different 3 sections. Each of them is containing the polystyrene stuffing or fill.
Its central section is slightly smaller regarding accommodating your head, neck and shoulders’ muscles. The material performs to be some sort of a polyester blend. It’s smooth, almost lubricious. Moreover, it will not seem very durable in terms of design.
Off-gassing
When you will pull this pillow out of the plastic bag, you will feel it a little bit sinking. Secondly, it will be smelly like it is having a sealing or a caulking material inside. Over time, this smell will not be much noticeable as you found it at its first arrive.
It could also possible to have a constant chemical but slight and less noticeable. So, in terms of off-gassing technology, you will find it not too relaxing but not much irritating too.
Buckwheat pillows
The Buckwheat pillows are very popular among Asian countries. You will find the buckwheat hull pillow just like a beanbag. The buckwheat pillow is an adjustable pillow for any kind of sleeper.
This kind of pillows gives a lofty feel with a moderate firmness. The moderate firmness level will make it suitable for any sleeping position. These pillows give relaxing support and are excellent for people with neck, shoulder or upper back pain.
The Buckwheat hull pillows are the ultimate choice in adjustability because it has different firmness settings or levels. It could be fluffed or smoothed to the user’s preference.
It truly depends on the user to adjust firmness level which could be best for him. The user will be able to add or even remove the hulls to fine-tune the loft and firmness further. The hulls are not the heat relieving material.
So, that’s why, the hulls don’t hold heat, and in this way, the pillow doesn’t rise around the sleeper’s face.
Sleep apnea pillows
During sleep, most of the people are having problems regarding air pressure. In this context, they are used to have a good night’s sleep with a CPAP machine. Sleep apnea pillows are designed to accommodate your need for using the CPAP machine.
The sleep apnea pillows are made with polyester fiberfill or foam. It’s important to try out a sleep apnea pillow with your machine to make sure it is the right feel and height for your needs. To some extent, the Sleep apnea pillows fall in the category of microbead pillows.
Neck pillows
The neck pillows are also designed as the travel pillows. The travel pillows help you to have a relief in your neck muscles while you are on the long distanced travels. The neck or travel pillow will cover your neck from all around.
By keeping this pillow on your neck, you will feel a good alignment in your neck and back muscles. Neck pillows are constructed with a baffle that’s designed to support your spine so your head and neck. Both should be positioned correctly for comfortable sleep.
The neck pillows are designed in U-shape just the body pillows but smaller in size. While on the other hand, the body pillows are larger in size.
Body pillows
The body pillows are specifically designed for pregnant females. These pillows will give a balanced feel of contouring to the whole body of a mother to be.
It will allow you to cuddle up with it. These pillows are longer in size. These long pillows could be placed in between your legs for hip and lower back support. They’re great for cuddling up to and hugging in the night. This kind of pillow can be a life-saver during pregnancy.
As a pregnant female have a growing belly, it will give a contoured feel to her body. Keeping a body pillow is the easiest way of spending your nights in peace during your pregnancy time.
Lumbar pillows
You are suffering from back pain and want the right alignment of the spine. Don’t be worried at all; you will get aligned support by using the lumbar pillows.
A lumbar pillow is the best option that you may be needed. These pillows are specifically designed for providing the support to your lumbar area or above to this area. Furthermore, it will allow the lower back to relax naturally.
The lumbar pillows are actually the support pillows. These support pillows are available in several forms. For instance, in a curved form, the curved foam of this pillow offers the constant support to the lower portion of your back.
These pillows are lightweight and also available in different sizes like in smaller and larger sizes.
Wedge pillows
If you are suffering from the snoring of your partner or you have a heartburn problem. The wedge pillows are also useful for the infants.
While sleeping, it is most important to raise the head of your bed because of having heartburn. If you are using the wedge pillow then you don’t need to raise the head of your bed.
It is designed in a way of having 2 sides of a pillow. One side is heightened and the other is lower. You will get relief from snoring and also will get proper alignment of your head and back.
Gravity can work against you when you lie on your back in the supine position. If your spine is not lying in the right way then you may have breakdown your upper airway or lungs as the wrong shift of your neck weight of your abdomen or lower portion.
This may lead to an interruption in breathing during sleep. The contents of your stomach, including acid, may also shift into your throat and lead to heartburn. So, in the problem of heartburn, the wedge pillow will help you greatly.
Shredded memory foam
Shredded memory foam pillows are featured to have the shredded clusters of memory foam for the filling or stuffing. The shredded memory foam material makes the pillows more durable and adaptable to the sleeper’s comfort needs.
By using the shredded memory foam pillow, you will be able to get your desired position. As a result, a shredded memory foam pillow can easily be conformed to your desired position during your whole sleep time.
The breathability will also be better with shredded memory foam as compare to solid memory foam pillows.
Kapok fiber pillows
The kapok pillows are special because of their stuffing. The kapok pillows are not stuffed with a common pillow stuffing like other above-explained pillows. So, you need to know, what the kapok is.
The stuffing pillows are made with the material of the kapok tree and fibers.
The Kapok stuffing has the following amazing qualities
- The kapok stuffing is lighter than cotton
- You will find it super soft and airy
- There will be more loft than cotton or wool pillow stuffing
- Similar to down feathers – but made only from plants
So, all these features make the kapok pillow an outstanding and most comfortable pillow.
Besides the general types, there are the following material based types
Material-based categories of pillows
Gel-infused pillows
If the memory foam stuffing pillow is combined with the cooling gel. The cooling gel-foam pillows bring an advanced level of comfort technology to alter the way you sleep.
These pillows are made by using the material memory foam and the memory foam material will be infused with gel particles and beads. The gel is spread evenly throughout the memory foam – from the core to the surface until the top of the pillow.
Cotton pillows
Cotton pillows are the most common material based types. Softness is the first attribute of the cotton pillows. Cotton the most common used material in all the regions of the world. Most of the people prefer to have a firm pillow.
The cotton pillows could be soft and firm too. Furthermore, these pillows give an appropriate alignment to neck, spine and head muscles. The uncomfortable pressure points get relief by using the cotton pillow. It depends on you that how much firmness you need.
Wool stuffed pillows
The wool stuffed pillows have 3 categories for instance
- Light-weight wool stuffed pillows
- Regular wool-stuffed pillows
- Extra thick wool- stuffed pillows
- More durability
In the manufacturing of pillows, wool is a fantastic material to use. This material is helping to keep you warm in winter and cool in summer because its off-gassing attributes work well.
Everyone has different comfort preferences but wool pillows could be a great choice for numerous people. The wool pillows are the ultimate choice for the people who get hot heads in bed like toddlers, children, and anyone going through the menopause.
2 or 3 LBs of wool are required for stuffing the standard pillows. More stuffing will make the pillows firmer. So, it depends on you that which firmness level you want to have.
For instance, a King-sized pillow will use a minimum of 3 to 4 lbs. A fairly heavy fabric is recommended to use for making the pillow covers. A piece of twill fabric is better than using a sateen cover, for instance — to help even out the feel of the little bits.
Latex pillows
Latex is just like the natural type of foam. It is originally became known as a natural type of foam, made from the fluid of the hevea-brasilienis rubber tree. The sap is frothed to produce an uncountable of tiny air bubbles.
The latex pillows are containing the soft and bouncy texture for you to have. It’s the main feature of latex pillows that you love the most.
A latex pillow is adaptive to the curves of the head and neck, but it doesn’t hold your neck and tissue muscles in such a rigid way. It gives you a much softer feel on the very first touch than the memory foam.
It’s a good choice for those who like the feel of memory foam but does not like its initial impression.
Down-alternative pillows
The term ‘down alternative’ is used for the polyester microfiber material used in pillows and bedding products. The down-alternative pillows are similar to Duck and GooseDown pillows in features.
All these pillows have the same texture of softness. The real down pillows are allergy-causing for few people.
Polyfill pillows
Polyfill throw pillows are the more economical choices for all of you. Polyfill pillows preserve their shape. Furthermore, it will require less maintenance.
The people who are suffering from allergies, the Polyfill is the clear choice for them
Innerspring pillows
The innerspring pillows are designed to relieve the neck pain. You will also get relaxation for your spine pain and it is highly recommended for the allergy and asthma sufferers.
The springs are individually packed inside the pillows. A normal pillow contains 40 individually packed coils inside it. That will work according to motion- isolation technology. So, you will not get disturbed because of someone’s movements sleeping alongside you.
Polyester and poly-cluster pillows
Polyester pillows are the alternative for softness, coolness, and breathability of the natural cotton pillows. Polyester pillows are filled with hypoallergenic polyester fibers.
If you are going to find the less expensive pillows then Polyester pillows are generally the best choice in the market. The poly-cluster or polyester pillows are widely available.
An inexpensive polyester pillow will serve you only for 6 months. On the other hand, a good polyester pillow will work perfectly for 12 to 18 months.
Size-based categories
Standard sized pillows
The Standard pillows are a bit smaller than the sleeping pillows. If you have seen or have any experience with the twin or double bed pillows then you will the standard pillows just like them in size.
While choosing your pillowcases and you are worried that the standard-sized pillows are not common anywhere. In that instance, don’t worry if standard-sized pillowcases are nowhere to be found.
Many pillowcases on the market are labeled as a general standard or queen size covers. These covers are designed to fit options, the queen and standard too.
Toddler sized pillows
The toddler-sized pillows are often sold with crib bedding sets. Mostly, the crib beds are designed for the kids of 1 to 2 years but the pillows are not recommended for children under 2.
If you want to introduce a pillow, it’s best to wait until your toddler moves from a crib to a bed. Toddler pillows are designed with dimensions around 12 inches by 16 inches and you will find its thickness of about 2 to 3 inches.
Queen pillows
Queen-size pillows are slightly longer than a standard pillow. The queen pillows are designed with a typical measurement of 20/30 inches. These pillows are designed with the perfect width for a queen bed.
King pillows
King pillows have an extra-long measurement of 20 inches to 36 inches. The king pillows are designed according to the size of the king beds.
Travel pillows
The travel pillows are mainly designed for keeping it around the neck. This neck pillow is defined as the travel pillows because your neck demands comfortable support to your neck muscles.
You will find it in a semi-circle shape or U-shape just like the body pillow but smaller in size. An expandable pillow or memory foam is an ideal choice for neck support.
When you lean forward while sleeping during your travels, neck brackets will provide the kind of support that you need.
Before buying any kind of pillow, you need to consider how you usually sleep. Secondly, which type of pillow will offer the best neck support while having the most common neck positions?
By reading this article, you will be able to understand your requirements for a pillow in the context of size, material, and other features. According to your bed size, which pillow size is appropriate for you? Consider your sleeping positions too before selecting the right fit for you.
You may also read: Top 10 Best Pillow Reviews
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