I Tried an Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel for Healthier Hair—Here’s What Happened
Updated: Jun. 30, 2022
A microfiber hair towel absorbs moisture from wet hair and is supposed to help prevent frizz, breakage, and split ends. I've been using the Aquis hair towel for six months—here's what I discovered.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Hair care as self-care
There isn’t much to say about the past year that hasn’t already been said. It was, to put it mildly, stressful. When I wasn’t worrying and battling anxiety, I spent much of my time researching health, wellness, and beauty products that might help me get through the day and feel better.
Some of the products were obviously not worth the hype. (Ahem, dry shampoo that left visible white streaks in my roots. Talk about a major hair mistake.) Other experiments actually did improve my overall health and daily routine.
As part of what I’m calling my 15 days of feeling better, I’m reporting the results of what worked. If you’re curious, you can check out my Theragun and YogaToes reviews.
Self-care is a way to feel better, and taking care of my hair is part of that process. Enter: the Aquis microfiber hair towel and Aquis microfiber hair turban (both $21). Here’s what happened when I dried my hair with the turban for six months.
Why are the benefits of microfiber hair towels?
A square inch on a microfiber towel holds close to 200,000 super-fine fibers. These towels soak up more water than cotton, which helps your hair dry faster. You’ll spend less time under a hair dryer, which saves you time and leads to healthier and more attractive hair.
Microfiber also has a flat weave that won’t snag or rough up the hair cuticle, resulting in smoother hair and less damage. “Unlike cotton towels, microfiber hair towels can prevent breakage because they are smooth on your strands,” says Stacy Chimento, a board-certified dermatologist with Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. “The [cotton] towel’s rough texture can raise [hair] cuticles, making damage more feasible.”
Even if you skip the heat and air dry completely, a microfiber towel will minimize frizz, breakage, and split ends. In fact, the ability to reduce frizz is what made the towels famous in the first place. People with curly hair posted the benefits in before-and-after videos on social media.
Why I bought an Aquis microfiber hair turban
I’d been considering buying a microfiber hair towel for months, but my interest never strayed further than online research. I wasn’t sure it was the right product for me. I don’t have curly hair, so frizz wasn’t an issue.
But I did want to speed up my hair-drying time. Because I color my hair and occasionally use heat styling tools, I try to let my hair air dry at least 80 percent to prevent the extra damage that can come from blasting hot air at my wet hair. The problem: it takes at least three hours for it to get that dry. Boring!
My hair also tends to break and snag easily. I wondered if part of the problem was wrapping my head in a not-so-soft bath towel after the shower. When hair is wet, it’s most prone to damage and breakage. That’s why stylists’ healthy hair tips often include being gentle while drying and combing hair after the shower.
And then I saw it. I was in Bloomingdale’s, picking up a gift for a friend, when I noticed a shelf of Aquis microfiber hair turbans. I asked the nearest cashier if she thought they were worth the price. “I have four,” she replied. Sold.
What is an Aquis microfiber hair towel or turban?
Microfiber hair towels have been around for a while, but Aquis is the reigning brand among celebrity hairstylists and actual celebrities. (Kourtney Kardashian is a fan). The company was original founded by Britta Cox in the 1990s. She wanted a low maintenance way to dry her hair quickly and worked with a factory in Japan to develop Aquitex, the wicking material used in Aquis hair towels.
The material is woven from thinner-than-silk threads and formed into channels designed to absorb and hold water away from hair. Aquis microfiber hair towels and turbans are designed to wick away moisture faster than cotton towels—without taking the moisture out of your hair.
How do you use a microfiber hair towel or turban?
I’m wearing an Aquis microfiber hair turban as I write this review. Why yes, I am working remotely during the pandemic. And, no, I don’t have any video meetings this afternoon.
Using the Aquis microfiber hair turban is pretty straightforward. After washing my hair, I gently wring it out using the turban. The microfiber sucks up the dripping water pretty fast. From there, I simply wrap my hair in the turban and place it on my head. I secure the button at the nape of my neck so the towel stays in place and—voila!—I’m done.
One of the things I like best about the product is its turban-like design. It holds all of my long hair and stays in place even if I move around while making coffee and doing my skin care routine.
Sometimes I think the towel is too tight, and I loosen it a bit. It’s a huge improvement from the giant bath towel I used to balance on my head to contain my wet hair. And, truth be told, I think it looks slightly glamorous.
(These are the surprising reasons your hair is falling out.)
How to find an Aquis microfiber hair towel or turban
You can go down an entire rabbit hole researching all the different Aquis microfiber options. At the most basic level, you’ll choose from a microfiber hair towel and a microfiber hair turban. They both accomplish the same thing, but the designs are slightly different: one is styled like a turban, while the other looks like a more traditional towel.
The company makes microfiber products for all hair types: long, curly, fine, delicate—the list goes on and on.
You can buy these microfiber hair towels and turbans on sites like Amazon, Dermstore, Anthropologie, and more. The company also has a line of microfiber hair towels sold exclusively at Sephora.
For the most color and pattern options, shop Aquis directly. It’s also where you’ll find celebrity launches, like the Alice + Olivia collection.
Do Aquis microfiber hair towels dry hair faster?
Yes. I’d say my hair dries about 40 percent faster with the Aquis microfiber hair turban.
Aquis states that most users will really notice a faster hair drying time after about three weeks of using the microfiber hair towel. That’s because damaged hair will start to repair itself. But I noticed a serious difference the first time I dried my hair with the towel.
How do you wash a microfiber hair towel or turban?
I wash my microfiber hair turban about twice a month with my other whites, using a gentle liquid laundry detergent.
I reached out to Aquis’ community and fulfillment manager Chiara Calanchini to find out how to wash a microfiber towel properly. She advises washing the towel with liquid detergent before the first use. “Powdered detergents and fabric softeners that contain phenol derivatives, borax, sodium chloride, or anti-foaming agents may coat the fine fibers and compromise absorbency,” she says.
Just be sure to wash the microfiber hair towel in a different load than your other towels. “There are essentially no cons to using a microfiber hair towel besides having to wash microfiber towels and cotton towels separately to prevent pieces of lint from clinging to the microfiber towel,” Dr. Chimento says.
You can safely dry an Aquis microfiber hair towel in the dryer on low heat, but I hang my turban to air dry. Whether it’s wet from my head or the washing machine, it usually dries completely in about three hours.
My microfiber hair towel has seen regular use and washing for over six months, and it’s still in great shape. The white fabric hasn’t picked up any stains or snags. It holds up to constant use.
The pros and cons of Aquis microfiber hair towels and turbans
Aquis microfiber hair towels and turbans have a lot of pros more than cons. Here’s what I like and disliked about buying and using my turban:
Pros
- It dries my hair about 40 percent faster than a regular bath towel.
- My hair is easier to comb through when damp.
- The snap closure and turban design are easy to use and make the product stay in place.
- I have softer, smoother, and shinier hair, with noticeably less frizz.
- The towel is lightweight and easy to pack.
Cons
- It’s not the cheapest microfiber hair towel on the market.
- Browsing multiple varieties for different hair types is a bit confusing.
Did the Aquis microfiber hair turban improve my hair?
Yes! I love this product. I’ve used it every time I wash my hair (between one and three times a week) for the past six months. You couldn’t pay me to go back to drying my hair with a regular bath towel.
The Aquis microfiber hair turban dries my hair faster, is gentler on my hair cuticle, and is easier to wear on my head. I still sometimes blow dry my hair after it’s mostly dry, but the process is way faster and my hair is noticeably shinier and smoother. I seriously can’t keep my hands out of my hair.
I bought my friend one for Christmas this year. He’s a curly-headed convert.
Next, learn how to properly wash your hair.
- Stacy Chimento, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami
- Chiara Calanchini, community and fulfillment manager at Aquis
Originally Published: April 20, 2021
