The 9 Best Hair Towels in 2021

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Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

AQUIS Microfiber Hair Towel at Amazon

This microfiber towel wicks water away super quickly so you can get on with your day without sopping wet hair.

Best for Frizz Control:

DuraComfort Essentials Anti-Frizz Towel at Amazon

This towel is gentle enough to use daily to reduce frizz—and doesn't unravel on its own.

Best Budget:

Turbie Twist Microfiber Towel at Amazon

Never run out of towels with this microfiber 4-pack, expected to dry hair (without damage) in a breeze.

Best Quick-Drying:

HOPESHINE Microfiber Turban at Amazon

This turban-style hair towel allows you to go about your routine without worrying about your hair dripping all over the place.

Best for Short Hair:

Duomishu 2-Pack Hair Towel at Amazon

Go about your routine while your hair dries, in this twist towel.

Best for Curly Hair:

DevaCurl DevaTowel at Amazon

This ultra-absorbent microfiber towel ensures that curly hair won't dry with static and frizz.

Best for Long Hair:

Luxe Beauty Essentials Microfiber Hair Towel at Amazon

This long design makes this towel choice for people with long, flowing hair.

Best T-Shirt Towel:

Hair RePear Ultimate Hair Towel at Amazon

Made of 100% cotton, this towel reduces friction to prevent frizz and flyaways.

Best Microfiber:

AuroTrends Microfiber Hair Towel Turban, 2-Pack at Amazon

Ultra-wicking technology paired with microfiber makes this one effective, quick-drying towel.

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look for

When it comes to drying your hair, ditch your body towel and go for a material that’s not only softer, but better for your hair overall. When hair is wet, it’s extremely vulnerable—so when you dry it with a terry cloth towel, this results in disaster. All of a sudden you’re roughing up the hair shaft, causing frizz and damage, and even encouraging split ends.

Hair towels, on the other hand, are created specifically for your strands, so while the fabric does the drying, it never pulls on your tresses or harms your hair. Along with being super lightweight and portable, they're also easy to use—simply wrap your hair and voila.

Obviously, the material is extremely important, so pick one that feels soft to the touch. Buttons and snaps help the towel stay on your head so you can tie it up and forget about it. Finally, you should consider the length of your hair when choosing which size towel to buy.

Here, find our favorite hair towels on the market.

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

Among its many benefits—like super-soft microfiber material and lightweight feel—the thing users love most about this hair towel is how quickly it wicks water away. The thin, textured towel isn’t bulky, which means it dries quickly between uses and can be easily stowed away in your gym bag. One reviewer notes that after five minutes, her hair goes from sopping wet to nearly dry.

DuraComfort Essentials Super Absorbent Anti-Frizz Microfiber Hair Towel

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

This hair towel immediately starts absorbing water from your hair. Ideal for all hair types—even curly and coarse—this towel is gentle enough for everyday use. Reviewers rave that it checks all the boxes: doesn’t feel wet even after it’s dried hair, reduces frizz, and stays wrapped until you remove it.

The 10 Hair Ties That Won't Pull or Snag Your Hair

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

A few words that reviewers have used to describe this hair towel are life-changing, simple to use, effective, and lightweight. This hair towel has been around for some time—raise your hand if you remember seeing infomercials—so it’s no surprise that users keep returning to its tried-and-tested material. The best part? You get four in one package for a great price.

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

What we love most about this hair towel is that it dries your hair as efficiently as possible. Wrap the towel over wet hair and twist, and then go about your morning routine. While you’re applying makeup or getting your outfit on, this handy towel is already working its magic. By the time you’re finished, your hair will be dry enough for you to apply product.

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

Reviewers echo the same sentiment when it comes to this hair towel: it really stays in place. Other towels tend to fall off or unravel, but once you twist this towel up and lock it in, it doesn’t budge an inch. This makes it easy for you to indulge in a face mask, apply your makeup, or even do some chores (only if you want to).

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

With a towel this soft, there’s a chance you’ll end up falling asleep in it. Plush, highly absorbent, and built to last, this hair towel was made for those with curly hair. It does everything from preventing frizz and static cling to decreasing drying and styling time.

Luxe Beauty Essentials Microfiber Hair Towel

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

If you’ve got long, longer, and the longest hair ever, you will absolutely appreciate this huge hair towel. It’s one of the biggest we’ve seen so far (not an exaggeration), making it a breeze to fully encase the entirety of your hair. Even those with really long hair are able to completely twist their strands up into a turban, with room to spare.

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

Before hair towels became the standard, there was a time when we resorted to t-shirts. Like hair towels, cotton t-shirts are less damaging to the hair but unfortunately aren’t as absorbent. This 100% cotton hair towel solves that issue. Equal parts t-shirt and towel, this ultra-soft material reduces friction when drying your hair, which means less frizz and flyaways.

AuroTrends Microfiber Hair Towel Turban, 2-Pack

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

Due to its quick-dry benefits, microfiber is perfect for hair towels. Ultra-wicking technology allows this towel to be 80% more effective than its competitors. One reviewer notes that in addition to using this post-shower, she also has an extra that she uses overnight to keep her rollers in place.

Final Verdict

When it comes to hair towels that seriously speed up drying time, we’re giving top honors to the AQUIS Original Microfiber Hair Towel. Its ultra-soft and lightweight material 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. It’s extra long in order 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, 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 in order to stay on your head. “These will allow you to twist and wrap in a functional and easy manner,” 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.”