The 7 Very Best Hair Towels

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Material:Waffle microfiber |Type of fastener:Strap

Crown Affair is a newer hair-care brand already well-loved for its line of hair-care products, but its tools and accessories, including its hair towel, are just as great. I first heard about it from Strategist deputy editorSimone Kitchens, who has been using hair towels for about ten years and says, “They made an instant difference in the way my very fine, curly hair air dried — softer, less frizz, more defined curls.” She’s tried a few different options including Aquis (our original best overall) but says when she tried the Crown Affair towel about two years ago she never looked back. She especially likes the towel’s waffle texture, which she says both looks and feels nicer than the other hair towels she’s tried. And its slightly larger, unique shape is great for containing all your hair, no matter the length. Just slip the ends of your hair through the elastic band in the back and everything stays put, she promises. Kitchens keeps a stack of three on hand in her bathroom. And after testing, I second Kitchens’s assessment: While I initially liked the Aquis when I first purchased it, I found that the Crown Affair towel is much more absorbent and more comfortable to wear around the house.

Material:Waffle-knit microfiber| Type of fastener:Button

Now that Acquis (a longtime favorite of mine that was our former best less expensive pick) has closed down operations in the United States, I’ve been on the hunt for a replacement option. When I saw that Act+Acre — maker of some of our favoriteshampoosandhair masks— had recently released a hair towel, I knew I had to get my hands on it to test for myself.If you liked Acquis for its turban styles, this is a good replacement since it features the same button fastener. Of all the towels I’ve tried, Act+Acre’s is definitely on the plusher end of the spectrum, with a microfiber that’s fluffier than both the Crown Affair and Aquis towels, but I found the supersoft, waffle-knit microfiber to be very efficient at absorbing water — it cut my usual drying time by about half. Because of its absorbency, I think it would work well for those with thicker hair types who have more hair to dry. The towel is also 15 dollars cheaper than the Crown Affair towel above, but the size runs shorter, so I would recommend it for those with short to medium lengths who want to save a few bucks.

Material:Microfiber |Type of fastener:No fastener

DevaCurl is obviously known for its line of products specifically designed for those with textured or curly hair types, so it comes as no surprise that its hair towel is equally thoughtful. I first heard about the DevaCurl Anti-Frizz Microfiber Towel fromactress Sasheer Zamata. The towel is great at quickly drying curls without causing any frizz or split ends. While it is also made of microfiber like the two towels above, the material is thicker than the average hair towel, so it can more quickly dry curly hair.

Material:Satin-wrapped microfiber |Type of fastener:Button

While I personally prefer microfiber for my straight hair, a towel wrap that uses a combination of satin and microfiber is best for curly hair types because the microfiber will gently wick away excess water without stripping hair of its natural oils and the satin protects your hair from breakage and split ends. The satin also preserves your curl pattern, minimizes frizz, and can be used for overnight plop sets, says Morales. I also recently tested outKitsch’s towel scrunchiesfor mybest-in-class hair tiesstory, and they are excellent if you want to quickly throw your hair up out of the shower while doing your skin care or makeup. And, unlike other scrunchies, they dry super-quickly.

Material:Microfiber |Type of fastener:Strap

Those with very thick or long hair know that it can take ages for the hair to dry. In those cases, I suggest Volo Beauty’s microfiber hair towel that is designed to absorb ten times its weight in water, which will really reduce your drying time. Size-wise, the Volo towel is also one of the largest on this list, which makes it great for those with longer hair lengths, and features a strap at the back to keep it in place.

Material:Satin-wrapped microfiber |Type of fastener:Button

For those with hair extensions, I’d recommend this Muaves hair wrap because of its extra-long length and satin-wrapped microfiber material. It comes recommended by Weber, who says that it can be worn to bed to maintain hairstyles overnight while reducing damage, frizz, and bedhead.

Material:100 percent cotton |Type of fastener:No fastener

Because hair is most fragile when it’s wet, handling your damp,damaged hairtoo roughly is an especially bad idea. Since you want to be as gentle as possible, these BreezyTee T-shirt Towels are a great investment: They are made from the same 100 percent cotton as your favorite tee and are even softer than the microfiber towels found above, which reduces friction that can cause breakage and split ends. And for a DIY option, Morales says reaching for a soft cotton T-shirt would still be a better choice than a bath towel.