Sleep is an invariable part of our life, making up about a third of it. Adequate sleep certainly has a beneficial effect on a person. In order to make it so, you need to choose the right bedding, especially a pillow. If it is easy to use, it means your sleep will be restful and long. Currently, this product is available on the market in a huge range: with natural and synthetic filler. Today we will talk about a camel hair pillow. Consumer reviews about it, as well as its sizes, pros and cons are given below.
Myths about camel hair pillows
There are several myths about products made from this filler; we will take the liberty to refute them.
- Smell: Pillows filled with camel hair have an unpleasant smell. This is not true. Wool does have an aroma - slightly sweet, but with proper processing it disappears, so a high-quality product has no odor.
- Thermal conductivity. According to reviews, a camel hair pillow is indeed very warm, but this warmth is dry. All the moisture of this wool is absorbed into the fibers, and the pillow itself is always dry.
- Taunting. Another myth concerns the fact that the pillow is supposedly prickly. Perhaps camel wool is indeed a little prickly, but with high-quality processing of raw materials and a good bedstead, it is impossible to get itching and burning during sleep.
Washing and care
Even if the pillow additionally contains down or feather, it can be washed in a washing machine, the main thing is to follow some rules:
- washing temperature - 30° C;
- you should choose the “Wool” or “Delicate Wash” or “Hand Wash” modes
- it is necessary to use special liquid detergents for washing woolen products;
- Do not tumble dry.
After washing, be sure to dry the pillow by laying it flat.
Pros and cons of camel hair pillows
It should be noted that there are no contraindications to the use of pillows. People with asthma and allergy sufferers should be careful when using pillows with this composition. Those suffering from rheumatism, arthritis and arthrosis, radiculitis, nervous system disorders and respiratory diseases need to have such a pillow. Like all products, camel hair pillows have their pros and cons.
Sleeping accessory with unique properties
Camel hair is usually obtained from the two-humped “ships of the desert” Bactrians - the largest representatives of their family, also distinguished by the thickest coat. The main feature of this camel is its two humps, which are the main “suppliers” of wool.
Camels are bred in many countries, but the most valuable wool is considered to be that produced by Mongolian Bactrians.
Features and properties of the filler
Camel wool is considered a natural material that includes lanolin. This component resembles sebum in composition. When in contact with the body, it is able to produce a softening effect and improve the condition of the skin.
In addition, the material allows air to pass through and absorbs moisture. Another feature of such pillows is considered to be reliable protection against electromagnetic radiation.
Pros and cons for pillows
Before purchasing, the benefits and harms should be analyzed in advance. Such models have many advantages:
- They repel dust and dirt, and also form a barrier that provides protection from electromagnetic fields. The products help neutralize the effects of static materials and electricity.
- They absorb moisture and evaporate it easily. Thanks to this, it is possible to get rid of sweat that appears during sleep.
- They retain their performance characteristics for a long time. With proper use, the product will be durable.
- Lanolin present in the material helps to avoid the development of pathogens that pose a danger to humans.
- Lets air through. Thanks to this, the pillows keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Pillows are considered beneficial for people's health. Thanks to their use, the following results can be achieved:
- Soften mucous membranes. Such materials prevent pathogenic bacteria from entering the body.
- Expand blood vessels and capillaries. This improves blood circulation. In addition, soft tissues and muscles can receive more oxygen. Due to this, it is possible to improve the condition of the skin - give it a beautiful shade and minimize the likelihood of wrinkles.
- Remove toxic substances from the body that accumulate during the day.
- Get rid of systematic headaches and constant fatigue.
In addition, camel filler helps eliminate pain in the spine. It helps to cope with discomfort that occurs in joints and muscles.
At the same time, camel pillows also have disadvantages:
- If the rules of care are violated, the hair immediately falls off.
- Dust mites can accumulate inside the down, causing allergies.
- Such products have a high price.
Advantages of camel pillows
It has long been known that products made from sheep and camel wool, be it blankets, pillows or clothing, have a beneficial effect on the human body. This is explained by the special structure and properties of natural fiber, which has many advantages.
- Good thermoregulation. It is cool to sleep on a camel wool pillow in the summer and warm in the winter, because it has excellent thermoregulation. In nature, this property of fibers helps camels survive in the desert, where the air temperature can change dramatically during the day.
- High hygroscopicity. Products with wool filling easily absorb moisture and dry quickly. This occurs due to the fact that the hollow fiber does not have a scaly structure.
- Breathability. Thanks to the voids inside the fiber, wool easily allows air to pass through. A pillow with such filling has excellent air exchange - simply put, it “breathes”.
- Antistatic. Camel hair does not accumulate electrical charge, so it does not attract small debris and dust. In those homes where there are many devices that create an electromagnetic field, you should use bedding made from this natural material.
- Medicinal properties. Inside each villi there is a cavity filled with animal wax lanolin. From the heat emitted by the human body, this healing substance softens, penetrates the skin and heals muscles and joints, neutralizes toxins, increases blood circulation, and rejuvenates the skin.
- Resistant to stains. Thanks to lanolin, which impregnates the fibers, the wool filling not only becomes dirty with difficulty, but also cleans itself. Therefore, products made from camel wool are practical and durable.
Easy breath
Even after washing, camel wool retains lanolin - a natural wax, but not beeswax, but produced by the animal itself. This component softens the respiratory tract and has an antiseptic effect.
Thermoregulation
Camel wool improves thermoregulation. In warm weather the pillow is not hot, but in cold weather it is warm.
Antistatic
Camel wool does not accumulate static, which means it does not attract dust, easily absorbs moisture and dries quickly.
Healing properties
Camel hair is believed to have health benefits such as relieving muscle pain and pain in the joints and spine. It is recommended for the prevention of ENT diseases and diseases of the genitourinary system.
Does camel hair have any disadvantages?
The main disadvantage of camel wool filler, which is present in any animal raw material, is its high allergenicity. This is due to the content of lanolin and keratin in Bactrian pile, as well as the chemicals used to process the filler. Keratin serves as a breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms, whose waste products can cause allergies.
Other disadvantages of products with camel filler include high price, difficulty in maintenance, and short service life (up to 5 years). In addition, a pillow with camel hair is not orthopedic, because it does not support the head well, it is too soft. People suffering from neck pain are not recommended to sleep on such a product.
Allergenicity
Like any other, camel hair is allergenic. Hairs are made of keratin, which is readily eaten by numerous parasites. Their waste products can also cause allergic reactions. And allergies to beneficial lanolin also occur.
Insufficient support
The pillow cannot be called orthopedic; it does not hold its shape, which means it is not suitable for people with spinal diseases.
Loss of elasticity
Wool tends to mat and it is almost impossible to untangle it later.
Difficult care
A wool pillow must be aired in the shade for several hours before use. During operation, ventilation is repeated at least once a year.
pros
The advantages include the following properties:
- High thermoregulation. The habitat of camels is the desert, and in it, as is known, temperature changes range from -45 °C to +50 °C. That is why camel wool has thermoregulating properties.
- Hygroscopicity. Camel hairs have a scaly structure. They absorb up to 35% of moisture relative to their weight, and the water evaporates easily. According to reviews, a camel hair pillow always remains dry.
- Ease. At first glance, camel hair may seem coarse and heavy. But in terms of lightness and softness it is comparable to bird down. Sheep wool, similar in properties to camel wool, is twice as heavy.
- Breathability. Thanks to the scaly and hollow inside structure of the camel cover, products made from it are provided with good air exchange.
- Antistatic.
- Healing properties. Each hair of camel wool is covered with animal wax lanolin, which gives medicinal properties to products made from camel wool.
Types of pillow fillings
In addition to the fact that comfort depends on the type of filler, its structure also affects the performance characteristics and cost of the pillow.
Artificial
There are many products with artificial filling on the home textile market, some cost several times more than natural ones.
In some cases, synthetic products have quite decent qualities. It is easy to care for, but you must understand that such bedding usually gradually clumps into clumps and does not have all the beneficial properties of natural products. Artificial materials raise doubts about environmental friendliness and safety.
Natural
According to many users and experts, natural fiber is one of the best materials for making pillows. The main advantage lies precisely in its natural origin, which means that the product is guaranteed to be environmentally friendly.
But for the same reasons, some bedding products are sold at higher prices than their artificial counterparts.
When choosing between products with natural content, people are interested in which pillow is better - bamboo or camel, or maybe sheep. Plant-based fillers have their advantages. But they definitely do not have the healing effect and features that are characteristic of materials from animals.
Minuses
Among the minuses, the following qualities should be noted:
- Allergenicity. Allergies can be caused by lanolin, which is found in camel wool, as well as chemicals used to treat the pillow. In addition, the main ingredient of wool is the protein keratin, which serves as a breeding ground for various microorganisms. In turn, their waste products can cause allergies.
- Difficult to care for. The purchased pillow must be ventilated in the fresh air for several hours, while avoiding exposure to the sun. A similar procedure must be carried out every year, combined with local cleaning of the product. The pillow can only be washed by hand.
- Poor support. Due to the fact that the pillow is quite soft, it is not suitable for sleeping for people with neck pain, as it will not be able to support it in the correct position.
- Short service life. It is relatively small - from 3 to 5 years, it depends on the filler - down or synthetics. If not properly cared for, the fur itself can become matted.
- Price. Another disadvantage of blankets and pillows made of camel wool is the high price. A quality product cannot be cheap. Some unscrupulous manufacturers, in order to reduce costs, reduce the amount of natural wool in the manufacture of goods. Ultimately, there is a possibility of buying a synthetic product.
Features of choice
When choosing, in addition to the filler and size, it is necessary to take into account the degree of rigidity and height. And also the following factors:
- age;
- gender;
- shoulder width (If the shoulder length is up to 15 cm, then the height should be 10 cm; if from 15 to 20 cm, then the height of the product is 12 cm; if more than 20 cm, then 14 cm).
Your favorite sleeping position is also important:
- height 8-10 cm is suitable for sleeping on your back;
- 10-13 cm – on the side;
- 6-8 cm for sleeping on your stomach.
There is also a general rule: the softer the mattress, the lower the pillow.
How to choose?
If you want to purchase a product with a longer service life and experience all the benefits of camel wool, you should buy a two-piece pillow. This pillow consists of a wool cover and down or synthetic filling.
Before buying a product, be sure to carefully read the information on the label: the composition should indicate “camel hair – 100%”. If the label simply states “camel hair,” this means that the manufacturer is hiding the percentage of natural raw materials. This product uses thermally bonded filler. The label must also contain information about the manufacturer, what is used as a filler, the fabric of the cover and proper care of the product.
Sheep wool against fluff and feathers
When talking about sleeping pillows, people most often think of a filling made from feathers and down, taken in different proportions. But if we compare the two types of products, we can say with confidence that the down and feather filling holds its shape better. Whereas camel wool, due to its thinness and delicacy of hairs, flattens quite intensively. And this may not seem comfortable for people suffering from deformities and pain in the neck, as well as migraines.
If you suffer from neck or musculoskeletal problems, then most likely these pillows are not suitable for you.
Camel hair pillows: reviews
According to consumer reviews, such pillows are easy to use, hypoallergenic, fairly elastic, and of high quality. Products made from camel wool have the following properties: antibacterial, environmentally friendly, hygroscopic, heat transfer. The product is sold in a convenient, beautiful packaging with handles. The cover is made of cotton, the fabric is quilted. In winter, it is warm to sleep on such a pillow, but in summer, even in the hottest weather, it is not hot. Due to the fact that the filling contains polyester fiber, the pillow holds its shape well. The size of the pillows can be chosen at your discretion.
Advantages
Natural Bactrian wool has a lot of advantages, the main ones being:
- Light weight. The quality of the Bactrian cover is in no way inferior to bird fluff and is relatively light.
- Good thermoregulation. Due to the nature of their habitat, the fur of these animals is able to withstand significant and sudden temperature changes. Therefore, pillows based on this material allow you to feel equally comfortable during the heat and extreme cold.
- Good breathability and moisture absorption. Camel wool does an excellent job of absorbing sweat and instantly evaporating up to 40% of moisture. This quality is due to the special structure of wool hairs - hollow on the inside and scaly on the outside. Thanks to this, such pillows remain dry and allow air to pass through perfectly.
- Healing properties. Bactrian wool is coated with natural animal fat lanolin. Under the influence of human heat, the substance is heated. At the same time, tissue rejuvenation and microcirculation improve. In addition, healing properties are manifested on joints and bones. The use of camel wool pillows allows you to forget about muscle pain.
What you should pay attention to when choosing
When choosing a product made from camel hair, you should consider:
- A pillow that is 100% wool will quickly lose its shape and roll up. In just six months it will have to be replaced.
- Pay attention to the manufacturer. Well-known brands are distinguished by impeccable finishing.
- The design of the product is considered an important parameter. To purchase a rational model, you should choose a pillow from 2 sections. In one part, natural camel hair is used as a filler, in the second - artificial material.
- It is important to choose the right cover fabric. You should not give preference to synthetics. It eliminates all the benefits of the filler. A cover made of artificial materials will not allow air to pass through.
Customer Reviews
Many users note the lightness and elasticity of such a pillow and claim that after purchasing it they get sick less often or say goodbye to old “sores” forever.
However, people who suffer from excessive sweating during sleep are the most happy about a pillow made of camel hair.
Buyers are happy to share their positive impressions, listing the already known advantages of the purchased products:
- the pillow “breathes”, excellent ventilation and thermoregulation;
- retains its original shape without leaving dents or “memory”;
- convenient and comfortable for the human body and anatomy;
- pleasant to the touch pillowcase-cover;
- the seams are securely stitched;
- elastic, and in cold weather, until the heating is turned on, warm.
Among the minuses, there are restrictions from the manufacturer on care (most often only dry cleaning is recommended!)