There's a particular kind of winter hair you only get on the prairies. You step out of a hot shower, the furnace is roaring, the air is drier than a cracker, and by the time your hair is dry it looks like you've been rubbing a balloon on your head. Static. Flyaways. Frizz that no amount of smoothing serum seems to tame.
The good news? A lot of winter frizz starts with one surprisingly ordinary habit: how you dry your hair. And one small swap, a quick dry microfibre hair towel, can make a bigger difference than you'd expect.
Here's why these towels work, how to use one for your hair type, and what Canadian beauty experts recommend to keep hair soft and smooth all winter long.
Why winter makes hair so frizzy
Frizz is mostly about moisture. In The Kit, Toronto salon owner and L'Oréal Paris Canada hair expert Janet Jackson explains that frizz is caused by hair that's dehydrated and dry. Picture the cuticle, the outer layer of each strand, like shingles on a roof. When hair is healthy and hydrated, those shingles lie flat and smooth. When it's thirsty or roughed up, they lift, and you see frizz.
Canadian winters hit hair from both sides:
- Cold, dry outdoor air pulls moisture out of your strands.
- Indoor heat dries hair (and skin) even more. Best Health notes that cranked-up indoor heating draws moisture right out of your hair.
- Hot showers and heat tools rough up the cuticle and leave hair brittle.
- Friction from rubbing hair with a regular towel, wool hats and cotton pillowcases lifts the cuticle further.
Curly and textured hair can have an extra challenge. In a separate winter curl care piece from The Kit, curl coach Barbara DelleMonache explains that glycerin, a common curl ingredient, can actually make frizz worse in dry winter air, because it pulls hair outward looking for moisture that isn't there.
Why a regular bath towel works against you
Most of us were taught to flip our hair over and scrub it with a big cotton towel. Unfortunately, that's one of the most frizz-inducing things you can do. Cotton terry loops are rough on wet hair, which is at its most fragile. Rubbing roughs up the cuticle, causes breakage and creates exactly the frizz you're trying to avoid. A heavy, wet bath towel twisted on your head also tugs at the roots.
The Kit's experts recommend a microfibre towel (or even a soft T-shirt) to keep friction to a minimum. That's exactly what a quick dry hair towel is designed to do.
How quick dry microfibre hair towels work
Microfibre is made of ultra-fine fibres, much finer than cotton. That gives it a few big advantages:
- It absorbs water fast. All those tiny fibres pull water away from your hair quickly, so you spend less time with wet hair and less time under a hot blow dryer.
- It's gentle. The smooth surface glides instead of grabbing, so the cuticle stays flatter and smoother.
- It's lightweight. No heavy, sagging turban pulling on your scalp.
- It stays put. Our Quick Dry Microfibre Hair Towel Wrap has a secure button closure, so you can do your skincare, make your coffee or get the kids out the door while your hair dries.
Less heat, less rubbing and less time wet adds up to softer, smoother, less frizzy hair. Customers tell us their hair dries noticeably faster, which, on a dark January morning, feels like a small miracle.
How to use a quick dry hair towel
- Gently squeeze out excess water in the shower with your hands. Don't wring or twist.
- Flip your head forward and place the wide end of the towel at the nape of your neck.
- Gather your hair into the towel and twist the towel (not your hair) toward your forehead.
- Flip back up, bring the twisted end over the top of your head and secure it with the button at the back.
- Leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on your hair's length and thickness.
- Remove gently, apply your leave-in or serum while hair is still damp, then air dry or finish with a lower-heat blow dry.
Tips for every hair type, length and thickness
Fine or thin hair
Your hair dries quickly and can get weighed down easily, so 10 minutes in the towel is often plenty. Follow with a very light serum on the ends only. Janet Jackson suggests using less than a dime-sized amount for fine, straight hair.
Thick hair
Thick hair holds a lot of water, which is why it can take forever to dry. Leave the towel on a little longer (up to 20 minutes) and squeeze sections gently between your hands and the towel first. Cutting down on blow-dry time is one of the best things you can do for thick hair in winter.
Curly and coily hair
Microfibre towels are perfect for "plopping": lay the towel flat, flip your curls onto it, wrap and secure. It helps curls keep their shape and reduces frizz. Pair it with richer moisture in winter, and watch out for glycerin-heavy products when the air is very dry.
Long hair
Our towel is designed with long hair in mind. Twist the towel snugly so the ends stay tucked in, and don't let long lengths dangle and drip.
Short hair (and the men in your life)
A quick blot and a few minutes in the towel is all short hair needs. Honestly, ours get borrowed by husbands and teenage sons more often than you'd think.
Winter hair care tips from Canadian experts
- Finish with a cool rinse. Hot water is a major frizz factor, while cool water helps seal the cuticle (via The Kit).
- Wash less often. Over-washing strips natural oils. Try stretching an extra day between washes (via Best Health). FASHION Magazine points out that fewer washes also means fewer blow-dries.
- Mask regularly. A hydrating hair mask at least twice a month helps keep moisture locked in.
- Go easy on heat tools, and always use a heat protectant when you do.
- Hands off. Touching and fiddling with your hair roughs up the cuticle. (We know. It's hard.)
- Sleep smooth. Swap cotton for a silky pillowcase to reduce friction overnight. Our bamboo pillowcases are soft and smooth, and they help you sleep cooler too.
- Wear a hat, ideally one lined with satin if you'll have it on for hours.
- Add moisture to the air. A humidifier in the bedroom helps hair, skin and sleep through the driest months.
- Never head out with wet hair in a Canadian winter. Use your towel to get it mostly dry before you brave the cold.
Frizz and winter hair questions, answered
How do I stop my hair from frizzing in winter?
Focus on moisture and friction. Use lukewarm (not hot) water, finish with a cool rinse, skip rubbing with a cotton towel, wrap hair in microfibre instead, apply a leave-in or serum while damp, and sleep on a smooth pillowcase.
Do microfibre hair towels really reduce frizz?
Yes. They're smoother and gentler than cotton terry and absorb water faster, which means less friction on the cuticle and less time with a hot blow dryer.
How do you dry thick hair faster without damage?
Squeeze out water gently, wrap in a quick dry towel for 15 to 20 minutes, then blow dry on a lower heat setting in sections. Starting with hair that's already mostly dry saves a lot of heat damage.
How long should I leave a hair towel on?
About 10 minutes for fine or short hair and up to 20 minutes for thick, long or curly hair. Avoid sleeping in a wet towel.
How do I get rid of static in my hair?
Static is a sign of dryness. Add moisture with a hydrating mask or leave-in, run a tiny bit of serum over the surface, use a humidifier and avoid rough fabrics against your hair.
How do I wash my microfibre hair towel?
Machine wash with like colours and skip fabric softener, which can coat the fibres and make them less absorbent. Air dry or tumble dry on low, and wash it separately from lint-heavy towels.
A small luxury that pays off every day
Our Quick Dry Microfibre Hair Towel Wrap is $24.99 and comes in pink, purple and blue. It's a little bit spa, a little bit practical and a favourite stocking stuffer every winter. For a ready-made gift, the Quick Clean Combo Set pairs it with our Remove It water-only makeup cloth ($35). Also available in pink and black.
Find them at all three of our Edmonton-area stores, or shop online. We ship across Canada and around the world.
Here's to soft, smooth, frizz-free days,
The Cloud Nine Pajamas team
