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These 11 Hair Towels Just May Be the Secret to Healthier Hair

 

When it comes to your start-to-finish hair care routine—we’re talking from washing to drying to styling—we’re willing to bet that the towel-drying part of the process is what gets the least attention. Understandably so, as it can admittedly feel like kind of a throw-away step, something that you do quickly and without much thought. But here’s the thing: Giving your hair a little extra TLC at this point can go a long way. “When hair is wet, it’s in its most fragile state and the most prone to breakage,” explains Becca Panos, a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. (Strands are less elastic when they’re wet, making them more likely to snap.) It’s why you should be extra gentle when combing wet hair, but also why a dedicated hair towel can come up huge. Specially created to be extra absorbent and not rough up or damage the hair, they also help to reduce frizz and speed up dry time, notes Panos. Yes, please. So save that standard terry cloth towel for your body and use any of these best hair towels for your hair.

Here, find our favorite hair towels on the market.

Best Overall: Volo Hero Microfiber Hair Towel

What We Like

• Very effective
• Softer and thicker than most

• Stays in place

What We Don't Like

• More expensive than others

Yes, this is a dedicated hair towel, but we’d really like it if the brand made it in a full-size body version—it’s one of the loveliest, most plush towels we’ve ever used. Unlike many other hair towels that can be very thin, this one is extra thick, made of an extremely absorbent microfiber. (More specifically, it absorbs 10 times its weight in water.) The size is ideal for long hair lengths, and the built-in loop makes it easy to create a turban that stays in place.

Material: Microfiber, polyester blend | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best Overall, Runner-Up: Act+Acre Intelligent Hair Towel

What We Like

• Very effective
• Waffle weave is pretty

• Gentle on hair

What We Don't Like

• Could be longer

“Light and super absorbent, this is a great option that helps reduce hair breakage,” says Panos. The waffle weave texture cuts dry time in half and helps to protect hair when it’s in its most vulnerable state. We just wish it was slightly bigger since some people point out it can be a bit small for those with thicker and/or longer hair.

Material: Microfiber, polyester blend | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best Budget: Turbie Twist Microfiber Towel, 4-Pack

What We Like

• Affordable
• Has a tried-and-true history

• Comes in a four-pack

What We Don't Like

• Material can feel a bit thin

“Life-changing,” “simple to use,” and “effective” are just a few of the words happy reviewers use to describe this extra wallet-friendly pick. If you’re thinking that it sounds familiar, you’re right—it was a major infomercial player back in the day. It’s clearly stood the test of time, and now Amazon shoppers give it five-star ratings time and time again. Plus, you get four in one pack, so you’ll always have one on hand.

Material: Microfiber, polyester, polyamide blend | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best Microfiber: Youlertex Microfiber Hair Towel

What We Like

• Affordable
• Great size

• Helps dry hair faster

What We Don't Like

• Material can feel a bit thin

Because it’s innately quick-drying, microfiber is easily the most common material you’ll find in hair towels. This one is an especially great choice, an Amazon standout that has nearly 30,000 (yes, you read that correctly) glowing reviews. The size is great for all lengths of hair, and the price can’t be beaten even more so considering this comes in a pack of two towels—that also come in all different colors.

Material: Microfiber, polyester | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best for Frizz Control: DuraComfort Essentials Anti-Frizz Microfiber Hair Towel

What We Like

• Good for all hair types
• Affordable

What We Don't Like

• Could be longer

A great option for all hair types—even super coarse and thick, which are the most prone to frizz—this both sops up tons of water and doesn’t rough up the cuticle (which, spoiler alert, can lead to frizz). Reviewers repeatedly point out that it speeds up dry time in a big way and reduces frizz, too.

Material: Microfiber, cotton | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best Quick-Drying: HOPESHINE Microfiber Hair Drying Towel Turban, 3-Pack

What We Like

• Very absorbent
• Comes in three-pack

• Helps dry hair faster

What We Don't Like

• Could be longer

To be fair, all hair towels will help dry your hair faster than a standard towel, but this one really takes the fast-drying cake. It’s 80% more absorbent than other towels, working to quickly sop up the water. Our go-to move is to wrap it into a turban and go about our makeup or skincare routine; by the time we’re done, our hair is noticeably drier.

Material: Microfiber, polyester, polyamide blend | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best for Curly Hair: DevaCurl DevaTowel Anti-Frizz Microfiber Towel

What We Like

• Soft and fluffy
• Great size

• Smooths staticky hair

What We Don't Like

• More expensive than others

Curly hair types are more prone to frizz, making a dedicated hair towel even more important. Panos says this is her favorite for the curly-haired crowd. Along with helping to combat frizz, it also reduces the likelihood of static cling and cuts down on dry time, too, of course. All the while still keeping your curls intact, given that it comes from a curly-hair-specific brand.

Material: Microfiber | Absorbency: Moderate | Hair Type: Curly and wavy | Machine Washable: Yes

Best for Long Hair: Luxe Beauty Essentials Microfiber Hair Towel

What We Like

• Great size
• Machine washable

• Keeps long hair in place

What We Don't Like

• Reviewers say it could be more absorbent

As anyone with long hair will tell you, having wet ends stick out of a turban can be pretty annoying. Enter this oversized option, one of the biggest we’ve seen—20 inches by 40 inches, to be exact—making it a breeze to wrap up every last inch of your hair (and still have room to spare). And, of course, you still get all of those frizz-fighting and speed drying benefits.

Material: Microfiber | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best for Short Hair: AQUIS Original Microfiber Hair Towel

What We Like

• Very absorbent and effective
• Non-bulky
• Washes and lasts well

What We Don't Like

• Could be longer

“This is a great towel because it really does reduce drying time,” says Panos of one of her favorites. It’s made of a proprietary material, a super-soft microfiber blend that’s also extremely lightweight and not bulky in the least. (To that point, the towel itself also dries super quickly.) Speaking of, it also dries hair five times faster than a regular towel. Just FYI, the size is best for short hair. 

Material: Microfiber, polyester, nylon blend | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best T-Shirt Towel: Tee-Owel T-Shirt Towel

What We Like

• Soft and slightly stretchy
• Comes in various colors

• Helps tame frizz

What We Don't Like

• No button/loop to hold in place

No hair towel handy? True story, you can use a plain old cotton t-shirt and reap many of the same benefits, says Panos. Or you could try this pick, which works for all hair types but is especially great for frizz prevention in curly hair. It’s made of cotton but is just ever-so-slightly stretchy enough to give you the best wrap and hold. It comes in a variety of colors and two different sizes for different hair lengths.

Material: Cotton | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Best Towel Alternative: Volo Scrunchie

What We Like

• Great for lots of purposes
• Doesn't tug

• Keeps hair in place

What We Don't Like

• Doesn't dry hair like a towel

Don’t feel like rocking a towel turban? These towel-inspired scrunchies are, in our humble opinion, a brilliant invention. They’re thicker than a standard scrunchie, made of a microfiber material that’s similar to that of the brand’s towel that we love so much. You get a pack of two, and, top tip, they’re not only great for post-hair-washing but also to use during sweaty workouts or a day at the beach. They’re also extremely gentle on hair, never pulling or tugging.

Material: Microfiber, polyester blend | Absorbency: Super | Hair Type: All hair types | Machine Washable: Yes

Final Verdict

When it comes to hair towels that seriously speed up drying time, we’re giving top honors to the VOLO Hero Microfiber Hair Towel (view at Amazon). It's ultra-soft and supremely plush yet still wicks water away to dry the hair quickly, and we also appreciate how quickly its non-bulky design dries in between uses. If your hair is on the lengthier side, we recommend reaching for the Luxe Beauty Essentials Microfiber Hair Towel (view at Amazon). It’s extra-long to encase the entirety of your hair while the super absorbent microfiber gets to work. Finally, when it comes to curls, you can’t go wrong with the DevaCurl DevaTowel Anti-Frizz Microfiber Towel (view at Sephora), which works hard to dry curls fast while keeping frizz and static at bay. Plus, it's made from super plush microfiber that's oh-so-soft. 

What to Look for in a Hair Towel

Material

When it comes to hair towels, hairstylist and artistic director at Matrix Michelle O’Connor says the first feature to look at is what material is made of to ensure it won’t damage the hair—and whatever you do, avoid traditional terry cloth. “Whether curly or straight, terry cloth tends to rough up the hair shaft, which causes frizziness and may even contribute to split ends,” she says. A good rule of thumb? If it feels nice and soft on your face, it’ll be nice and soft on your hair, too.

Buttons or Fasteners

Another feature O’Connor recommends looking for is a towel that has the ability to button or fasten to stay on your head. “These will allow you to twist and wrap functionally and easily,” she says. Nobody wants to have to constantly rewrap their towel, especially if you’re drying your hair while getting dressed or doing your makeup, so products that are designed to stay put will make the process much less of a hassle. 

Size

O’Connor also recommends looking for a product that’s the right size for your hair length and thickness. “Larger towels are always going to have a greater function for thicker and longer lengths, as you want to have your hair fully encapsulated and covered while soaking up excess water,” she says. With that in mind, those with shorter hair won’t need all of that extra fabric and can opt for smaller designs.

FAQ

 

How do you wrap hair in a towel?

When wrapping your hair in a towel, O’Connor recommends first beginning with freshly washed hair that’s saturated with your styler or moisturizer of choice, then laying your towel out on a chair, bed, or countertop. “Flip your head forward and lay your hair in the center of the towel,” she says. “Then place half of the towel at the nape of your neck and gather the sides, bringing them around to the front. Next, roll the fabric in the front once or twice, folding it back over the crown of your head, tucking any hanging pieces back under the nape of the neck.” If your towel has a button or fastener, you’ll simply twist the towel back over the head to fasten in place, rather than tucking,

How do you plop hair with a towel?

If you're not familiar with plopping, it’s a hair-wrapping method used for curls that helps preserve their shape and reduce frizz. O’Connor recommends plopping the hair by following the same steps as above, being sure to either use a microfiber towel or a t-shirt to wrap the hair. Just be sure to slowly lower your hair into the towel or t-shirt as you begin in order to preserve your natural curl pattern.

Are microfiber towels good for the hair?

According to O’Connor, microfiber towels are the best option for hair since they don’t cause friction. “They limit frizziness and gently keep the cuticle smoothed,” she says. “They’re also wonderful at absorbing excess water without overly drying out the hair.”

Why Trust Byrdie?

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She rarely blow dries her hair, so she opts for a hair towel after every single wash. Her current go-to move? Using the VOLO hair towel for a few minutes and then pulling her hair into a damp bun with the VOLO scrunchie.

MEET THE EXPERT

Michelle O’Connor is a professional hairstylist and the Artistic Director at Matrix.

Becca Panos is a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. She’s known for outstanding long hair cuts, as well as being a bridal hair expert.