A microfiber towel should always be in every naturalistas hair care arsenal because of how versatile and helpful they are to maintaining healthy hair and preventing frizz.
After washing or deep conditioning hair, one of the first things we usually do before applying a leave-in conditioner and styling is reach out for a towel to dry the hair.
Most people use the regular cotton towel everybody stocks at home but did you know these towels can be harmful to hair? This article will cover:-
- Why cotton towels are bad for the hair
- Why you should switch to a microfiber towel
- Benefits of microfiber towels for hair
- How to use a microfiber towel
- Top 7 brands of microfiber towels for hair
Why Are Cotton Towels Bad for Hair?
Regular cotton towels have a coarse and dry texture which wicks out more moisture than necessary from the hair and causes friction and frizziness.
They also have a tendency to lift the cuticles, which is definitely not what you’re looking for after shampooing and deep conditioning.
Additionally, they rough up your strands and make issues like breakage and split ends worse.
When you wring out your hair with a cotton towel, this also ensures you end up with dry and frizzy hair.
If you have been using regular cotton towels to dry your hair previously, now is the time to stop.
Even if your hair is in good shape, a cotton towel isn’t doing you any favors.
So what’s the alternative to regular cotton towels? Enter the microfiber towel.
There are a variety of differences between a microfiber towel and a regular towel when it comes to hair care.
What is a Microfiber Towel?
The first time I used a microfiber towel was for cleaning my home. I remember thinking the material felt so smooth and wondered if I could use it on my hair.
I went online afterward to conduct some research and discovered microfiber towels can actually be used on hair too.
Microfiber towels are made of very fine and densely packed fiber. It is less fluffy than a regular cotton towel but works more effectively for hair.
Microfiber towels are better for hair because they provide a much smoother drying surface for the hair.
Microfiber Towel Benefits for Hair
1. A Microfiber Towel Absorb Excess Moisture
A good microfiber towel will absorb excess moisture and leave the rest of the moisture in your hair while a regular cotton towel will wick out every last ounce of moisture.
2. A Microfiber Towel Doesn’t Require Rubbing
You don’t need to rub a microfiber towel around your strands to get out excess moisture.
Just wait on it and let it do its thing. Minimal friction means you won’t experience breakage or make your split ends worse.
3. A Microfiber Towel Reduces Frizziness
Microfiber towels help keep frizziness at bay. You will experience very minimal to no frizz when you use a microfiber towel to dry your hair.
4. Microfiber Towels Don’t Snag on Strands
A microfiber towel won’t snag on your hair as a regular cotton towel would.
While some may have loops like cotton towels, they are still significantly smaller and create minimal issues.
5. More Money in Your Pocket
Microfiber towels last much longer than cotton towels. You can get up to 500 sessions out of a microfiber towel so expect 1 microfiber towel to last several years.
How to Use a Microfiber Towel
It’s very easy to use a microfiber towel. Just bend over, wrap it around your hair, loop it around and tuck it in at the front, side, or back (depending on design).
It takes about 30 minutes for a microfiber towel to do what it does best. There’s no need to rub or scrunch either.
How to Wash a Microfiber Towel
Because the material of microfiber towels is so fine and dense, it’s best to hand wash them in lukewarm water with mild detergent.
If you want to stick it in a washing machine, avoid mixing it in with cotton towels or other fabrics with a coarse texture.
Additionally, don’t use fabric softeners or other fancy cleaning liquids as this will clog the fiber and eliminate the electric charge that makes microfiber hair towels so effective.
Best Microfiber Towel for Curly Hair
1. DevaCurl DevaTowel
This is one of the brands I use because it’s larger than usual for my big head. It’s extra soft and has a hanging loop.
The DevaCurl DevaTowel is a favorite of many naturalistas. It comes in a neutral grey color.
DevaCurl DevaTowel
2. Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel
This was one of the first microfiber towels for hair back in the day. It has a unique twist and loop system that ensures the towel stays in place while drying.
It is lightweight, super absorbent and one size fits all. The Turbie Twist Microfiber Towel comes in many funky colors and designs.
Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel
3. Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel
The Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel has a luxuriant feel to it and can also be used as a turban.
Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel comes in a variety of neutral colors from white to grey to pink.
They also have different designs under the microfiber towel range like the Waffle Hair Towel and Long Hair Towel.
Aquis Essentials Microfiber Hair Turban
4. Evolatree Super Absorbent Anti-Frizz Microfiber Hair Towel
Evolatree Super Absorbent Anti-Frizz Microfiber Hair Towel is also super absorbent and suitable for long hair.
It’s easy to use and helps cut drying time by half. Evolatree Super Absorbent Anti-Frizz Microfiber Hair Towel comes in grey and black.
Evolatree Super Absorbent Anti-Frizz Microfiber Hair Towel
5. YYXR Microfiber Towel
YYXR Hair Turban is made of coral fleece and is thick, plush, and luxuriant. It is lightweight and can be wrapped around the hair like a turban.
They are available in loads of funky colors like pink, yellow, orange, and rainbow.
YYXR Hair Turban
6. Studio Dry Hair Drying Gloves
The Studio Dry Hair Drying Gloves is an interesting concept. The microfiber material is in the form of gloves instead of a traditional towel.
The design is supposed to make drying super-efficient without becoming wringing wet while drying your hair.
They certainly give you more control over the drying process. Each pack comes with 2 pairs of gloves.
Studio Dry Hair Drying Gloves
7. Tasalon Microfiber Hair Towel
Tasalon Microfiber Hair Towels come in a pack of 10. They are super absorbent and come in an extra-large size.
Tasalon Microfiber Hair Towels
By the way, you can also use a regular old t-shirt for this purpose but I don’t have an infinite number of old t-shirts lying around.
If you’re in the same boat, go for a microfiber towel instead. Microfiber towels are unisex.
As you can see, there really are no cons to switching over to a microfiber towel.
When it comes to performance and cost savings, microfiber towels are miles ahead of regular cotton towels.
Which microfiber towel brand is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section.
Abi is a curly hair expert, researcher, product tester, and author of the highly-rated Healthy Hair Care Series. She is also the founder of Ade Ori Hair Care, Healthy Natural Hair Products, and Natural Oils for Hair & Beauty. HNHP has strict editorial standards and ensures all the information on Healthy Natural Hair Products is the best for natural hair care. Learn more about our Editorial Policies
This post may contain affiliate links which means we will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.
Hi awesome content! Just wanted to clarify, what’s the difference between microfiber and microfleece? Does it have the same effect to the hair?
Microfiber is a fast-absorbing material and microfleece is a finer material that’s wool-like. The microfiber towel gets the job done for curly hair.