I’d been sleeping on the concept of microfiber hair towels—until recently, my hair-drying ritual was dictated more by my laundry cycle than a call to self-care. I’d step out of the shower, drenched and dripping, and instinctively reach for a warm bath towel—fluffy from the dryer, and oh-so-familiar. I’d tousle my wet hair with it, wrap it haphazardly, and move on to my skin-care routine, assuming all was well. But my hair had other ideas. At my last appointment, my hairstylist raised a brow as I listed off a parade of hair products—bond-repair masks, anti-frizz and flyaway serums, deep conditioners. “Well, how do you dry your hair?” she once asked. As I detailed my bath towel method, she stopped me, saying I should switch to microfiber towels instead.
You’d think something as simple as swapping a towel wouldn’t shift your entire hair game. And yet, it did. “A microfiber towel is a towel made of tiny synthetic fibers [thinner than a human hair strand],” Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and founder of Rita Hazan Salon, tells me over email. “Using one on a regular basis can prevent hair breakage and reduce the amount of stress put on your wet hair.” Truth is, much like a sensitive soul pouring their heart out, wet hair is vulnerable. Those strands—especially if you have fine hair, wavy hair, or are navigating a delicate curl pattern—are more prone to friction and breakage. Traditional terry cloth towels may be super absorbent, but their coarse texture roughs up the cuticle, leading to (you guessed it) more frizz.
Vogue’s Favorite Hair Towels
Enter the modern-day miracle of the microfiber hair towel—they come in classic classic towel size, wraps, and even scrunchies. My first foray into the category was casual and I proceeded with healthy suspicion. My wrap of choice? Crown Affair’s lightweight, waffle-knit towel. After my usual lineup of hydrating shampoo, conditioner, and reparative hair serum, I was pleasantly surprised. The hair towel did, in fact, move the needle, leaving my strands more manageable to style, with overall smoother and sleeker look. Having long hair or even thick short hair often means waiting for it to dry can feel like an eternity. But this lightweight towel? It absorbed excess water in minutes. Drying time shrank dramatically. No more dripping ends down my back while trying to get dressed. And unlike regular towels, these wraps come with a fastener or elastic, so they actually stay put like a well wrapped turban.
“Allowing your hair to rest in the microfiber towel for 5 to 10 minutes not only helps eliminate extra moisture but also promotes moisture retention, enhancing your hair’s natural texture and providing hydration, especially for drier hair types,” trichologist Shab Caspara tells Vogue. “It may seem counterintuitive, but a microfiber towel can help hair from drying too quickly and losing all its moisture.”
Best of all there’s no special method to using a micro-fiber towel. It’s the same concept as any ol’ towel, just with superior fabric. After showering, gently pat (don’t rub) your hair with the towel to absorb that initial wave of excess water. Then wrap your strands into a turban or twist style, and let it sit while you apply skincare or swipe through your FYP. Whether your hair is short, long, or somewhere in between, this step is crucial. Of course, like any beauty tool, care for the towel itself matters, too. “Learn how to care for and wash the towel you chose to purchase in the most effective way so the towel stays fresh and lasts you a long time,” says Hazan.
Weeks into this new hair-drying routine, my hairstylist—without prompt—noticed. “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it,” she said, examining my noticeably shinier, less frizzy hair. “Way less breakage.”
Below, shop six of our favorite microfiber towels—your hair will thank you later.
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Meet The Experts
- Shab Caspara is a New York City–based trichologist and founder of hair-care platform Leona.
- Rita Hazan is a celebrity hair colorist (whose clients include Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Aubrey Plaza) and the founder of Rita Hazan Salon.
