Is A Cotton Towel Good For Hair

Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!

“Discover the truth about hair care: Is a cotton towel good for hair? Uncover the benefits and drawbacks of using cotton towels for drying your locks.

In This Article:

If you are someone using a cotton towel to dry your hair, then consider that you’ve discovered one of your main causes of your hair damage and the potential cause for hair damage. (Lee, Yoonhee et al. “Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer.” Annals of dermatology vol. 23,4 (2011): 455-62. doi:10.5021/ad.2011.23.4.455)

The main use of wiping your hair with a towel is to get rid of the excess water. So, this means that whether the towel is of cotton material or microfiber, it doesn’t matter as long as it gets rid of the excess water right?

Well, whether or not a cotton towel is good for your hair, whether or not you should switch from cotton to microfiber towels and much more, is all discussed in this article, so check it out!

Cotton towels have their own advantages and disadvantages while used on the hair, just like every other thing right?

So, cotton is one of the most absorbent materials and can get rid of the excess water from your hair in no time. But its strong absorbency power will also be able to draw out all the hair’s natural oils and moisture as well, leaving your hair dry and damaged.

Well, why using a cotton towel can for sure save you a lot of energy trying to dry your hair, it is definitely has a very poor reputation when it comes to hair care and that’s a good enough reason to avoid using one as far as possible.

Benefits of Using a Cotton Towel to Dry Hair

Cotton towels are one of the most common hair towel materials out there are have been in use for years because of their many benefits.

Here are some of the benefits of using a cotton towel to dry hair:

1. It is hypoallergenic

Cotton is a material that is known to be hypoallergenic in nature. This means that it is very unlikely that you can have an allergic reaction to the material when in use.

2. It is highly absorbent

Cotton is one of the most absorbent fabrics out there and thus, using it to dry your hair will save you time and energy. This is because it can draw out all the excess water from your hair very quickly.

3. Cotton is cheaper than other materials

As compared to microfiber towels, cotton is comparatively a cheaper fabric to purchase and can be bought by any class of people.

Disadvantages of Using Cotton Towel to Dry Hair

Talking about the disadvantages of using a cotton towel for drying the hair, well, there are many reasons why you should not be using one!

Disadvantages of using a cotton towel to dry hair

1. It can dry your hair out

Cotton is a highly absorbent fabric and can draw out excess water very quickly. While this is a requirement for drying hair, it is highly disadvantageous for the hair because when it draws out the excess water from the hair that’s wet, it will also strip the hair of its natural oils and existing moisture.

This will cause the hair to become very dry and dry hair ultimately results in frizziness.

2. Cotton towels can cause hair damage

There are two ways cotton towels can cause hair damage. Firstly, it causes hair dryness, which leads to frizz. Also, when cotton rubs over the hair strands during the drying process, there is a friction created.

This friction causes hair damage like breakage, loss of elasticity, stretching of the hair strands, frizziness, split ends etc.

3. It can cause hair loss

When a cotton towel is used and the hair dries out due to loss of moisture (like I’ve mentioned earlier), the hair strands tend to break and this causes hair loss.

Another way cotton towels can cause hair loss is – when the hair is wet, the hair roots are at their weakest. Thus, when a cotton towel is used on the head, it is heavier than a microfiber towel and this can pull/snag on the hair roots and cause breakage. When this happens, people experience hair loss.

4. It can ruin natural curl pattern (for curly-haired people)

This point is specifically for those with curly hair in particular. So, naturally curly haired people have a natural curl pattern. When you use a cotton towel on the hair, it damages the hair’s natural texture.

What this means is that it can damage your natural curl pattern or destroy your curl formation, resulting in loss of curl pattern. Over time, this can lead to your curls looking dull, limp and undefined.

Why Shouldn’t You Rub Your Hair with a Towel?

Well, I’m sure we’ve all been there at some point right – rubbing our hair frantically after a shower to be able to dry it quicker. But why is this a bad thing?

So, after we have washed our hair, that’s when our hair roots are at their weakest and are extremely vulnerable. Therefore, when we rub our hair with pressure, the already weak roots break off and this can result in hair fall.

Also, when we rub out hair with a towel, it can immediately cause damage to our hair strands and can lead to hair breakage, in turn leading to the loss of hair.

When the towel rubs against our hair strands, there is a certain amount of friction that takes place and this causes our hair to become frizzy when it dries up. It can also be a major cause for split end formation.

Then, what is the solution you may ask? Well, the best way to dry your hair is by pat drying it very gently.

Trust me, this method can benefit your hair in the long run as it will reduce the loss of hair, it can reduce the amount of hair damage and can also give your hair a chance to grow instead.

How to Choose the Best Towel for Hair?

Microfiber fabric comes in different types and ranges in quality. Therefore, whenever you are investing in a microfiber towel for your hair, make sure to go in for a superior quality material. Yes, they could be a little pricey compared to other cheaper brands, but remember, your hair requires it!

Microfiber is a light fabric that is produced synthetically and it is made up of polyamide (which is a mixture of polyester and nylon). This fabric is high in its absorbency power (just like cotton).

Therefore, choosing a microfiber towel with high percentages of polyamide, or fully made of polyamide will be the best bet.

Microfiber is also a light fabric and will in no way tug on the hair strands or cause snagging.

Why You Should Trust Us?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Takeaway

While a cotton towel is highly absorbent and can dry your hair in no time, remember that using a cotton towel on your hair will also dry it out! Yes, it will remove the hair’s natural oils and moisture along with the excess water. This can make your hair dry, frizzy and can damage it severely.

Therefore, making the switch from a cotton towel to a microfiber towel is one of the best things you can do for your hair and I’m sure your hair will be grateful to you!

A superior quality microfiber towel can be just as absorbent as a cotton towel and can help get rid of the excess water while maintaining the health of your hair, retaining its moisture and enhancing your natural curl pattern, if you’re a curly-haired person. So, go ahead and switch it up today!

Also Read:

Do Towels Cause Hair Loss

Polyester Vs Microfiber Hair Towel

Can I Leave My Hair In A Towel Overnight

Is Using Hair Towel After Swimming Good