How To Towel Dry Your Hair With Less Damage

I want you to imagine this scenario. You’ve just had the hair washing of your life! All of your products worked well together. Your hair is clean but not squeaky clean and stripped of all moisture. Your deep conditioning was magic, and your hair feels hydrated, moisturized, and tangle-free.

Related read: 7 Of The Best Tips For Shampooing Relaxed Hair

You step out of the shower or raise your head from the sink (whichever is your preference) and dry your hair with a towel. Wait a minute! You look at the towel and see several strands of your hair stuck to the towel instead of on your head! Plus, your hair is starting to frizz. (cue the dramatic music).

(This post includes some affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.)

It may not be your hair products, the air, or even your hair. It’s probably your towel.

When it comes to preventing hair damage, most of us focus on the products we use. We think about moisturizing conditioners, protein treatments, and heat protectants. But one part of our routine that often gets overlooked is what we use to help dry our hair.

If you're using a traditional bath towel, you could be causing more damage than you realize. Wet hair is at its most fragile state because the hair shaft swells and the cuticle layer lifts, making strands more vulnerable to breakage, frizz, and tangling.

Related read: Common Causes of Hair Damage And How To Prevent Them

Why traditional towels can be rough on relaxed hair

Traditional terry cloth towels are designed to be very absorbent, but their looped texture can be rough on delicate wet hair. Those tiny loops can create friction against the hair cuticle, which can lead to:

• Frizz
• Breakage
• Split ends
• Tangles
• Dryness from removing too much moisture

When you rub your hair with a regular towel, you can be roughing up the outer layer of your strands. Over time, this can contribute to the same issues many of us with relaxed hair are already trying to avoid.

Benefits of using a t-shirt vs. a towel to dry hair

Using an old cotton t-shirt instead of a traditional towel is a simple and affordable way to reduce damage. The smoother fabric helps absorb excess water without being too harsh on your strands.

Here are some additional benefits:

1. Less friction means less breakage

T-shirts have a smoother surface compared to terry cloth towels. This means less rubbing against the hair cuticle and less mechanical damage while your hair is vulnerable.

2. Helps reduce frizz

Because the fabric is smoother, it doesn’t rough up the hair cuticle as much. A smoother cuticle helps hair look shinier and less frizzy.

3. Prevents excessive moisture loss

Regular towels can pull too much moisture from your hair. A cotton t-shirt helps remove dripping water without stripping away the moisture your hair actually needs to stay soft.

4. Helps minimize tangles

Because t-shirts don't grab onto your hair like towel loops can, you may notice fewer tangles when detangling after washing.

5. Great for fragile or relaxed hair

If you have relaxed, color-treated, or heat-styled hair, your strands may already be more fragile. Using a gentler drying method helps reduce additional stress on your hair.

6. Budget-friendly and convenient

You probably already have an old t-shirt at home, which makes this a free hair care upgrade. No need to buy anything new to improve your routine.

7. Works well for wrapping or “plopping”

T-shirts are lightweight and flexible, making them great for wrapping your hair to absorb water without pulling on your roots.

How to use a t-shirt to dry relaxed hair

Here’s how I use a t-shirt to help dry my hair

• After washing my hair, I wring out excess water with my hands and then use an old, clean, smooth t-shirt to help wring out more water
• Next, I apply my leave-in conditioners and take a butterfly clip to put up my hair
• Then I pull my head through the opening of the t-shirt so that it’s completely covering my head and wrap the rest of the t-shirt around my head in a turban-like style
• I leave the t-shirt on for 30-plus minutes and let my hair air dry before using a hairdryer

Alternative Option: Microfiber Towels

If you don’t want to use a t-shirt, another great option is a microfiber hair towel. These towels are specifically designed to be gentler on hair while still drying efficiently.

There is a cost for going with this option because it does cost some money. You can find some in places like Ulta, Target, Amazon, and other retailers that sell hair products.

Would you use a T-shirt or a microfiber towel to dry your hair?

Shop my relaxed hair regimen