Since its introduction to the public in the 1980’s, memory foam has taken the world by storm. Initially designed by NASA for aeroplane seats, the material is now used widely in a range of industries. It’s most commonly used in the sleep industry – including mattresses, toppers and of course, memory foam pillows.

What is memory foam?

Memory foam is made from a viscoelastic material. Put simply, this means the foam will respond to changes in pressure then return to its original state when not in use. The material consists of polyurethane and other chemicals which allow it to respond to increased temperatures – for example, body heat.

When a pressure point is applied, the memory-foam will react accordingly. This makes it perfect for providing each and every person with the right level of comfort and support throughout the night.

The foam responds to how you choose to sleep, instead of forcing you to adjust. That makes memory foam an incredible material for not just mattresses but pillows too – especially if you often wake up with a sore neck or toss and turn while trying to nod off.

Why choose a memory foam pillow?

Similar to mattresses, memory foam pillows are loved all around the world for their superior comfort. Getting the right amount of sleep is crucial to a healthy lifestyle – a good night’s rest makes for a good day’s work. Because they respond to your body shape during sleep, they prevent tossing and turning. Ultimately, this helps prevent unnecessary waking throughout the night.

However, there’s more to a memory foam pillow than helping you get more sleep. Because of the way they respond to the body, they also provide a number of other benefits, including:

• Prevents neck-pain – The pillow responds to your neck and offsets any irregularities of your sleeping position.
• Keeps spine aligned – By responding to your sleeping style, memory-foam allows your spine to stay in a natural, healthy position all night long.
• Reduces snoring – By responding to where you rest your neck, your head is not propped up unnaturally throughout the night. This keeps your airways open and therefore reduces the likelihood of snoring.
• Improves comfort – With an open-cell structure, memory foam can help reduce heat throughout the night. And because the material responds to your sleeping position, you’re granted superior levels of comfort.
• Anti-allergenic properties – Containing no known allergens and often with anti-microbial covers, memory foam pillows stay fresh and prevent the growth of micro-organisms. They also don’t harbour dust mites as regular pillows can.
• Retains shape and size – Because viscoelastic materials respond to pressure and heat, when not in use they return to their original shape. This means they last longer than a traditional pillow as any pressure is accounted for and responded to.

What are the best memory foam pillows?

As mentioned, all memory foam pillows have incredible advantages over traditional pillows. However, there are some which are designed with specific purposes in mind – whether that’s for a specific sleep style or to help alleviate neck pain. Some of the best memory foam pillows include:

• TEMPUR Cloud Pillow: With a specially developed extra soft material, this pillow responds to the natural curvature of your head and neck – whether you’re a side, front or back sleeper.
• Hyde & Sleep Pillow: Available in Orange, Raspberry or Blueberry, these pillows feature dual side technology. One side of the pillow is made from a super-soft material while the other is designed to regulate temperature and keep you cool.
• TheraPur Cool Pillow: With a memory-foam and microfibre filling, this pillow offers both great support for your spine and neck but incredible comfort too. Featuring an Outlast fabric cover, it will regulate your temperature, keeping you cool all night long.
• Tempur Queen Original Neck Pillow: Designed to support the natural curve of your head, neck and shoulders, this pillow was designed for to help you achieve a therapeutic sleep posture.

Can memory foam pillows be washed?

Memory foam pillows are hypo-allergenic. They do not absorb irritants and are therefore one of the healthiest pillow choices available. Providing you use a cover, your memory foam pillow will not need washing. However, if you are adamant that your pillow undergoes a clean every now and again, there are a couple of things you can do.

Firstly, because memory foam pillows respond to heat, they aren’t suitable for machine-washing. Instead, they come with machine-washable covers. These are removable and should be washed at a maximum of 40°C.

If you’re adamant about washing your memory foam pillow, you can run the pillow under warm water until it runs clear. It’s important to allow the pillow to dry off quickly. As such, we recommend only washing your pillow when the weather is appropriate. Do not put it in the dryer. Instead, it’s best to hang it on the line and allow it to dry naturally.

If you have any further questions about why you should choose a memory foam pillow, speak to one of our sleep experts now on 0800 652 5090.