Hair towels are very simple and affordable tools that will improve your hair health, tackle wayward strands and beat frizzy hair! Unlike your traditional bath towels, dedicated hair towels are made from softer materials such as microfiber.
However, there are lots of options out there and as a result, it can quickly become overwhelming when choosing a hair towel. We’re here to help you understand the science behind hair towels and which material could be best for you.
What is the purpose of a hair towel?
One of the main reasons why you should use a hair towel is to prevent hygral fatigue. Even though you may not have heard of this term before, hygral fatigue is very common and it’s the cause of most lacklustre, frizzy hair.
If you currently use a regular bath towel to dry your hair, you may be experiencing hygral fatigue right now without knowing it. There are various signs to look out for to know you are suffering from hygral fatigue and one of them is when your hair loses its elasticity. If you pull on your hair gently and it doesn’t bounce back to its usual form, then you may be experiencing hygral fatigue!
Other signs of hygral fatigue include weak, broken hair, excessive hair shedding or hair that feels gummy when wet. At this point, you may be asking how a hair towel can prevent this problem from occurring.
The main cause of hygral fatigue is when your hair remains water-logged for too long and that’s where a good hair towel comes into its own! Hair towels are created using highly absorbent materials that draw moisture away from hair quickly which minimises the length of time your hair stays water-logged. In turn, this helps prevent hygral fatigue from setting in!
Another good reason to invest in a hair towel is to reduce the amount of time your hair is exposed to heat styling tools such as hair dryers in order to protect delicate strands of hair.
Not so much a health benefit but hair towels are a great way to add freedom, time and comfort to your routine. Securing your hair within a dedicated hair towel means you can go about your daily activities all whilst your hair is drying. The added bonus here is that hair towels are made from lightweight materials so they won’t put strain on your head and neck like a traditional bath towel does!
Hair towel materials - which is best?
There are lots of hair towel products on the market but the majority of these utilise either microfiber or cotton materials. Our super soft hair towel uses ultra-absorbent microfiber but cotton is also an alternative choice so let’s take a look at both of these options.
Why is microfiber a good material for hair towels?
Microfiber is a material that is mostly made from polyester and nylon. This material gets its name from the fact the threads used during the creation are less than 10 micrometres in width, making them smaller than a strand of silk!
These fibres exhibit water binding activities similar to cotton which makes microfiber the perfect material for use in quick-dry towelling and other moisture-wicking products.
Why is cotton used for hair towels?
Cotton is another great material for hair towels because of its super absorbent properties. Did you know that cotton is capable of absorbing up to 27 times its weight in water!? As a result, this material is often used for sports clothing amongst plenty of other areas.
The reason cotton is so absorbent is fairly technical so we don’t go too deep into this but cotton is made from tiny fibres that exhibit capillary action, sucking up excess water.
This is why some hair towels on the market are made from cotton as they perform a similar job to microfibre.
How long should you keep hair in a microfiber hair towel?
When using a microfibre hair towel, your hair should be completely dry within 20 to 30 minutes but this may vary depending on a number of factors.
One of these factors is whether you choose to wring your hair out before using a hair towel. Doing this immediately after your shower will reduce the drying time.
How often should you wash a hair towel?
It’s generally recommended that you wash your microfiber hair towel after every three times it’s used. Washing your microfiber hair towel too often could damage the fibres but not washing it often enough leaves dirt and germs stuck in the towel.
What is the best way to wash microfiber hair towels?
There are two ways in which to best wash your microfiber hair towel: machine wash or hand wash. Whilst either method works, there are some very important steps to take before washing your microfiber hair towel to ensure no damage is done.
How to machine wash a microfiber hair towel
Washing a microfiber hair towel within the average machine will attract lint and dirt but there is a way to prevent this from happening. Seperate your microfiber hair towel (and other microfiber items) from the rest of your washing and pop them into the washing machine by themselves.
Abrasive materials can harm your microfiber hair towel so avoid using fabric softeners, soap based detergents and chlorine bleach. It’s also worth knowing not to use high heat when drying a microfiber hair towel and don’t leave it in the machine for an extended period as this can also damage the fibres.
How to hand wash a microfiber hair towel
If you’re a little concerned about washing your microfiber hair towel in a machine, then perhaps you could try hand washing it. If you choose this method, there are still things to take into consideration so you don’t damage the fibres.
Start by filling a bucket with warm water and then add 3-5 tablespoons of dish soap, microfiber cleaning solution or clear liquid detergent. Mix this together until you get a soapy consistency.
Pop your microfibre hair towel into the mixture and ensure it’s fully wet. Simply rub your hair towel until all of the dirt is gone. Once you're done, be sure to rinse your hair towel off with clean water.
Air drying is the best method when it comes to microfiber hair towels. Once you’ve rinsed it off with clean water, ring it out and hand them out anywhere they can naturally dry.
Want stronger, healthier hair? Use a hair towel!
The bottom line is that if you want stronger, healthier hair you should definitely invest in a good hair towel. They protect your hair from hygral fatigue and put less strain on your neck so you can carry on with your daily routine whilst your hair is drying. It’s a no brainer really!
