Collage: Paula Balondo; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
Graduate from using your tattered T-shirt or coarse bath towel to one of the best hair towels to dry your delicate strands (that are already weakened when wet!). And before you raise your pretty little eyebrows—yes, there is a difference. Regular towels meant for your body can be rough on your hair, spurring frizz, breakage, and pesky split ends, while microfiber hair towels are designed to gently wick moisture. The benefits? Shorter drying time and smoother, shinier hair. Plus, the towels are cute, lightweight, and boast features like elastic loops or button fasteners to make twisting and securing a breeze. Scroll on for the best hair towels beloved by Allure editors and stylists.
Our Top Hair Towels
- Best Overall: Crown Affair Hair Towel, $59
- Best Hair Turban: Turbie Twist, $21
- Softest Hair Towel: Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel, $30
- Best Stay-in-Place: Sachajuan Hair Towel, $37
- Best Cotton Hair Towel: Cozy Earth Luxe Hair Towel, $54
- Best for Long Hair: Volo Super Hero XL Hair Towel, $48
- Best for Curly Hair: Rizos Curls Microfiber Towel + Wrap, $31
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What are the benefits of using a hair towel?
- How should I use a hair towel?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Crown Affair The Hair Towel
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Crown Affair
The Hair Towel
Sephora
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin wearing Crown Affair’s The Hair Towel
Shanna Shipin
Why it's worth it: Crown Affair is the “it girl” of hair towels, and the proof is in its 2025 Best of Beauty Award. l Not only is this extra-soft, generously-sized wrap a favorite among many of our editors, but New York City-based colorist Nikki Ferrara vouches for it, too. "It even speeds up the drying process, so it's great when you're in a rush and need to air-dry or just want to avoid the heat," she says. We love how the polyester-nylon blend is gentle on hair, complemented by a waffle-pattern microfiber that reduces friction as it dries. Larger than your average hair towel but smaller than a bath towel, it works for every hair length and texture.
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“The unsung hero of any curly girl's routine is the hair towel—and this one is, not to be dramatic, life-changing. It's gentle on hair, has an elastic band for the tail, and helps dry your hair fast. Never once has it fallen off my head, and I have thick hair that reaches my bra line. I know you're tempted to use that cotton tee, but the waffle texture on this towel makes all the difference.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
More to know
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- Who it's for: all hair types
- Material: polyester, nylon
- Machine washable: yes
Best Hair Turban: Turbie Twist
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Turbie Twist
Microfiber Hair Towel
Amazon (2-Pack)
Walmart (2-Pack)
Allure senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin wearing Turbie Twist’s Microfiber Hair Towel
Sarah Felbin
Why it’s worth it: Unlike a regular towel that you drape over your hair and try to scrunch and fuss with, the Turbie Twist has a tapered end that easily tucks into an elastic loop at the back of your head, so it stays put. The microfiber material fits comfortably and snugly (no slipping here!), so your hands stay free, and you don’t have to deal with loose fabric or a heavy towel weighing down your head. The cotton is also super soft, which helps prevent frizz and makes hair dry like a silky dream.
Tester feedback from senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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“I've been loyal to Turbie Twist since middle school. They're made from thin, lightweight microfiber that holds a ton of water without feeling too wet or soggy. The little elastic on the back easily holds the towel's tail, and I love how many colors they come in to match every set of towels or robe. Plus, they're very well-made—my current pair is 8 years old and still going strong, even though I've washed them dozens of times. They haven't pilled at all and they're still just as absorbent as they were on day one.”—Sarah Felbin, senior commerce editor
More to know
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- Who it’s for: all hair types
- Material: microfiber
- Washable: yes
Softest Hair Towel: Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel
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Act+Acre
Microfiber Hair Towel
Dermstore
Sephora
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han wearing the Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel
Sarah Han
Why it's worth it: The cozy, comfy, fluffy, and puffy Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel has all the friction-preventing, dry-time-cutting goodness you could hope for in a hair towel. Its elite softness is super gentle on hair and less likely to cause breakage than your standard towel. Let it soak up all that moisture for five to ten minutes, and enjoy the lack of frizziness.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I admit: I was in the camp that all hair towels are all the same—but now I’ve changed my tune. I can't go back to any ‘ol hair towel because Act+Acre's waffle-knit microfiber feels like I've wrapped my hair in a cloud. And the positioning of the (big) button and length of the loop is just right because I'm not yanking them towards each other and pulling at my hair, which is often the case with other towels. Ouch. My only note is that it may not fit hair that’s longer than your bust (which is the longest mine usually gets!)." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Who it's for: all hair types
- Material: waffle-knit microfiber
- Machine washable: yes, lay flat to dry
Best Stay-in-Place: Sachajuan Hair Towel
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Sachajuan
Hair Towel
Dermstore
Sachajuan
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai wearing the Sachajuan Hair Towel
Deanna Pai
Why it's worth it: Sachajuan makes some dreamy styling products, so when we stumbled upon its Hair Towel, we were totally delighted. Many hair towels slip off easily, but this super absorbent microfiber towel has a button closure in the back to hold your hair in place after twisting it up, so whether you’re deep cleaning, lying in bed, or getting ready after your shower, this one stays put. Pair it with Sachajuan's Detangling Hair Brush for silky-smooth, knot-free strands when you're ready to brush.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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"I was surprised by the thick, nubby (but super-soft) texture of this hair towel—and it took me a minute to figure out how to put it on. I like how twisting it effectively squeezes extra water out of my hair without causing friction, and it doesn't feel overly large for my bob.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Who it's for: all hair types, short hair
- Material: microfiber
- Machine washable: yes, air-dry
Best Cotton Hair Towel: Cozy Earth Luxe Hair Towel
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Cozy Earth
Luxe Hair Towel
Nordstrom
Cozy Earth
Allure contributor Annie Blackman wearing the Cozy Earth Luxe Hair Towel
Annie Blackman
Why it's worth it: Cozy Earth's Luxe Hair Towel is basically the equivalent of a fancy hotel bathrobe for your hair. The luxe cotton gives it that sturdier feel, while the bamboo viscose blend dries your hair gently and securely, thanks to a no-budge elastic and button closure at the back. For our curly-haired friends, good news: Because experts say that microfiber towels can cause frizz in some curl textures, this cotton-based fabric is a great candidate for plopping, a.k.a. literally dropping your curls into the towel and tying it up to dry.
Tester feedback from contributor Annie Blackman
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“This is a no-fuss hair towel that I can count on to absorb quickly every time. What can I say other than it's gorg, it works, and it makes me feel fancy." —Annie Blackman, contributor
More to know
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- Who it's for: people with low-maintenance hair
- Material: cotton, bamboo viscose
- Machine washable: yes
Best for Long Hair: Volo Super Hero XL Hair Towel
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Volo
Hero Hair Towel
Amazon
Nordstrom
Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner wearing the Volo Super Hero XL Hair Towel
Lily Wohlner
Why it's worth it: If you’ve got longer hair, Volo offers an XL version of its Hero Hair Towel, which clocks in at 39.4 x 30.5 inches compared to the original’s 39.4 x 23.5 inches. Both, however, are incredibly soft (think wrapping your hair in a cloud), which helps explain why they’re a two-time Allure Best of Beauty winner. A thick, snug elastic band at the back keeps the towel securely in place—even when you’re dancing around while getting ready—and the brand’s nano-weave fabric absorbs water quickly, cutting down drying time.
Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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“I have long, curly, and fragile hair, so the thought of using a standard towel sends a shiver down my spine (hello, damage). A lot of hair towels I’ve tried don’t gather all my strands, but that changed when I found Volo’s Super Hero XL Hair Towel. It’s incredibly soft and never causes breakage—even when I’m in a rush and need to give my hair a quick scrunch. And as the name suggests, it’s big enough to hold all my hair, so no wet strands are left behind.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Who it's for: all hair types
- Material: polyester, nylon
- Machine washable: yes
Best for Curly Hair: Rizos Curls Microfiber Towel + Wrap
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Allure commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann wearing the Rizos Curls Microfiber Towel + Wrap
Sarah Hoffmann
Why it's worth it: Rizos Curls Microfiber Towel + Wrap is ideal for curls, coils, and waves because it's super absorbent, fits all your hair, and is plenty roomy, which means a comfortable fit that doesn't pinch your strands and, even worse, encourage breakage. While traditional terrycloth towels can disrupt your hair's curl pattern, this microfiber texture is super soft and gentle, so it won't rough up your strands or cause frizz. It has a built-in band for easily and securely wrapping your hair and an oversized shape to make sure all your hair, whether long or short, is covered.
Tester feedback from commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann
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“This hair towel made me a convert. Traditional hair towels are way too tight on my head, and this one is so easy to adjust to your desired looseness. I trust Rizos for curl products like no other brand, and the brand's hair towel is exactly the quality I'd expect, i.e. exceptional.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce producer
More to know
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- Who it's for: curly hair, textured hair
- Material: microfiber
- Machine washable: yes, can dry too
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a hair towel?
"Frizzy hair will be minimized, hair patterns will be more defined, breakage or split ends will be minimized, and they cut down the average drying time," explains Ferrara. So, what makes these towels so unique? Most are made from ultra-absorbent microfiber, which soaks up excess water faster than your average bath towel. "[Hair towels] also are known to be more gentle on hair because they feel more plush and soft compared to traditional terry cloth towels," Ferrara adds.
How should I use a hair towel?
If you're still dealing with any sopping after some time in a twist, California-based hairstylist Samuel Eugenio Rodney has a tip: "Gently squeeze excess water from the hair and wrap it in the towel," he previously told Allure. "Do not rub the towel aggressively to absorb water. This can damage the cuticle and leave your hair feeling dry and frizzy."
Meet the experts
- Nikki Ferrara, a New York City-based colorist
- Samuel Eugenio Rodney, a Lancaster, California-based hair stylist
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best hair towels, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional stylists—many of whom are also on their hair health journey. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, absorbency, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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