Everything You Need to Know About Profile Pillows

It's nearly impossible not to love sleep. Switching off from the day and slipping into a comfortable slumber is one of life's simple pleasures — even better; scientific studies love sleep too. 

Sleep is essential for our daily functions. When you sleep, your body and mind can recharge, preparing you for the following day. On the other hand, when we don't get enough sleep (which we're all guilty of at some point), it can prevent our brain from functioning correctly; hindering concentration, thought clarity, and memory processing. So at the end of the day (quite literally), tucking into a guilt-free slumber is a form of self-care.

An essential factor in getting a good night's sleep (or not!) is the humble pillow. We even conducted a white paper as part of our Real Deep Sleep campaign to learn how Australians really sleep. As it turns out, 51% of us sleep with one pillow, while 39% of us sleep with two — the question is, are we sleeping with the right pillows for our needs? 

Pillows should be tailored to your preferred sleeping position, just like mattresses. However, pillows are unfortunately often overlooked, resulting in a night of less comfortable and less restorative sleep. 

The pillows we offer here at Sheridan come in many shapes and sizes. There's more to finding the right pillow than just picking a soft pillow or a firm pillow. Sleeping position matters; stomach sleepers have different requirements than side sleepers or stomach sleepers. 

Choosing the right pillow for your preferred sleeping position allows you to find a healthy sleeping posture, reduce neck pain and overall, just get a better night's sleep. So before you buy your new pillow, have a read below to find out which type of pillow offers the best pillow support for your preferred sleeping position.

What is a pillow profile? A pillow's profile refers to its height. A pillow with a different profile provides a different sleeping experience. Therefore, to get the benefits of the right pillow (and, in turn, get a good night's sleep), you should choose the right profile pillow for your personalised sleeping habits.

When you sleep in a healthy posture, your whole body should be aligned, including your legs, hips, head, and neck. If your body is twisted and lacks alignment, you will be more restless throughout the night and wake up with aches all over. So "nailing the landing", so to speak, into a proper sleep position is crucial for a refreshing night's sleep. In addition, it's essential to choose the right profile pillow for you; here's a guide on how to get it right.

There are four common pillow profiles for you to choose from:

1. Low Profile

2. Medium Profile

3. High Profile

4. Contoured Profile

A low profile pillow is a pillow with a height between 3-4 inches. The low profile pillow has the shortest height of the four types, and is best for those of you who sleep on your tummy. If you sleep on your stomach and use a low profile pillow, you can help keep your spine aligned and provide your head and neck with adequate support. 

If you're looking for the perfect low profile pillow, check out our Therapillo™ Premium Memory Foam Low Profile Pillow, boasting a premium memory foam makeup that moulds to your head and neck. It also gradually springs back to its original shape after each use, allowing you to sink back into the most comfortable position, night after night.

A medium profile pillow is a pillow that's approximately 4-5 inches high. As the name may suggest, the medium profile pillow is placed between the low and high profile pillows regarding height. A medium profile pillow is the best pillow choice for people who sleep on their backs. The height of one of these pillows helps keep your head raised to an appropriate height without negatively affecting your neck and shoulders. 

If a medium profile pillow sounds like the perfect choice for you, we recommend checking out our Therapillo™ Cooling Gel Top Premium Memory Foam Medium Profile Pillow. It combines memory foam (which helps with spinal alignment and provides proper support) with the cooling properties of the gel. Meaning? Gone are the days you have to flip your pillow constantly to find the cool side. It's ideal for you hot sleepers (or those looking to create the perfect summer bed) Best of all? It's Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) endorsed.

A high profile pillow is a pillow with a height of around 5-7 inches. Yes, you guessed it, the high profile pillow is the highest in height, and these pillows are best for side sleepers — providing firmer support. The height also helps relieve pressure from your shoulders and head, which aids with a neutral alignment of your spine. 

Suppose a high profile pillow sounds like the perfect fit for you. Take a look at our Therapillo™ Premium Memory Foam High Profile Pillow. This luxurious option boasts a supportive memory foam makeup that helps support your head and neck and encourages proper spinal alignment. 

Sometimes it really is what's inside that counts. Considering both the profile of your pillow and what your pillow's made from is the perfect way to create a comfortable bed tailored to your personal needs. Take a look at our popular fabric options to determine which is best for you.

Memory foam allows the pillow to mould to your head and neck, providing a high level of support throughout the night and bouncing back into its original shape after each use. Memory foam is long-lasting and easy to take care of. 

Latex is a durable, cooler and lighter option and is a material derived from trees. Latex pillows are created using pincore hole design — this construction gives the pillows bounce and spring, and allows for air circulation. 

Polyester pillows are ideal for sensitive sleepers — an alternative to materials like feather & down. They're also the ultimate in easy-care pillows. In addition, polyester pillows offer plush support that supports your head and neck and can come in different levels of firmness, helping you to find your perfect fit.

Down is renowned for its luxurious, lightweight softness that easily shapes itself to your head and neck, providing you with a comfortable night's sleep. Feather & down pillows are crafted using a three-dimensional cluster method which makes these pillows both breathable and temperature-regulating.

Too many people sleep with a pillow they haven't given much thought to — and then find themselves struggling to fall asleep, waking up with stiff necks and sore muscles. A perfect night's sleep is just around the corner when you find the most appropriate pillow for your personalised sleep needs.