There was an extended period of my life where I used oversized college t-shirts to dry my hair post-shower. A supposed miracle cure against frizz, the trick was semi-effective, but I felt a little foolish in the midst of the process.
Nowadays, we are blessed with a surplus of hair towels that are designed solely to reduce frizz, minimize drying time, and prevent hygral fatigue, which is the stretching and swelling of wet hair that makes it weak, tired and susceptible to breakage.
And while we appreciate the wide array of options — turban, waffle, microfiber — it is easy to get overwhelmed.
And this is why The Sunday Edit team is here to help you spend your cash wisely. We tested five hair drying towels to see if they lived up to the hype, and what brand was the best. This way, you have more income to spend on important things, like your 401K and skincare.
Iman Balagam — Aquis Rapid Dry Lisse Hair Turban in Tangerine Sunrise
Hair Type: curly and at an awkward length right now
Ranking: 5/5
“I didn’t know there were towels specifically for hair,” a guy friend of mine said to me as I was explaining this project.
I have been struggling to perfect my hair routine for quite some time. My hair is naturally curly, yet I refuse to accept that and choose the route where I overheat it with hot tools. However, I am turning over a new leaf and choosing to forego straighteners in favor of healthy hair. The Aquis hair towel is made of a proprietary wicking fabric called Aquitex that promises to cut drying time.
I love hair turbans because the attached button helps it stay put on my head. I used this towel a few times this week, and I am obsessed! Sadly, while I still have to use a hairdryer, the drying time has been cut in half. Frizz-free summer in Houston, here I come.
Mylan Torres – Louvelle Riva Hair Towel Wrap
Hair Type: long and wavy
Ranking: 4/5
Honestly, my hair can take half a day to fully dry. It’s getting way too long, and I have SO. MUCH. HAIR. I’m talking at least six hours of air-dry time, which is a huge problem for me. (I’m a wash and go kind of gal) So, obviously, I was dying to get my hands on this hair towel. It is so easy to use since it has one of those buttons on the back, so points for that. And, it came in a really pretty print!
But, let’s get down to the real stuff. Louvelle says that their hair towel is meant to minimize blow-dry time, reduce friction/frizz, and keep your hair out of your face while you do your makeup. I can confidently say it does one of those things. Makeup application went smoothly and so much quicker without me having to keep pulling my hair back. As for friction and frizz, I did not see any improvement on that front, but to be fair, it is very humid in Houston. Finally, I cannot speak to blow dry time since I have not pulled my Dyson out of my drawer in weeks. On the plus side, my hair dried so much quicker! I came to work with only slightly damp hair. So, sort of a win.
Mellanie Perez – DevaCurl DevaTowel
Hair Type: long and curly
Ranking: 3/5
I didn’t have big expectations for this DevaTowel, which promises to dry curls and enhance their shape without roughing them up, thanks to its microfiber texture. (After all, I did try drying my hair with a t-shirt in college, and that didn’t do much for me.) But I went into this open-minded — after my shower, I tousled my curls in the towel and wrapped it up at the top of my head. The towel was big enough for my long hair and it sat nicely on my head. I left my hair in the towel for about 20 minutes, and overall, I’d say it did a good job at drying it, but I didn’t notice much difference in the texture of my hair or my curl definition. It’s about the same, and I followed up with my regular routine of UNITE Argan oil and Kristin Ess Working Serum.
Perhaps it’d take a few more tries to notice, but would I consider this a life-changer? No. Would I go out of my way to buy and keep an extra towel in my bathroom that could so easily be used by guests to dry their dirty hands? No. Now, is it soft, absorbent and high-quality enough for those who like to keep (and be) #extra items in their bathroom? Sure.
Kate Danilova — Dock and Bay Hair Wrap in Boracay Yellow
Hair Type: slightly wavy, shoulder-length
Ranking: 4/5
The Dock and Bay hair wrap — with bright yellow stripes that remind me of swimming caps from the 50s — is 100 percent recyclable. First score. I waited for my husband to leave for a work trip, (I wanted to feel more comfortable walking around in a turban) and then I got to work.
I covered my wet hair (you could still see some hair in the front as it’s one-size-fits-all) and twisted the wrap. Like others, there is a small button attached, which I used to lock it into position. After 15 minutes my hair was less wet, but not dry. Based on this experience, I would take this hair towel with me to the spa when I’m using the steam room or to the pool instead of the hat.
Fun Fact: in the morning my hair towel was still wet!
Drew Carlos — Kitsch Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap in Palm Print
Hair Type: long and straight
Ranking: 5/5
Unlike my coworkers, I have to say: this hair towel is life-changing. I have thin hair, but there is a lot of it, which often leads to long drying time. For me, I can now get out of the shower, hair soaking wet, wrap it up (there is a small button in the back to secure the wrap) and 30 minutes later it takes five minutes or less to dry with my Dyson.
And the best part? If I decide to take a break from the heat and air-dry my hair, the towel wrap gives me a bit of scrunch, creating perfect beachy waves. This is a must-buy, I don’t know how I ever lived without it.
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