Hello Healthier Hair: Why Cotton Jersey Knit T-Shirt Material Makes the Perfect Hair Towel
- OOF!
- May 21
- 6 min read
Repeat after me: Rough bath towels are not for hair.
Dealing with hair that just won’t behave? It might be time to change your hair towel. Trust me, if you’ve got curls or waves, damaged hair, or you’re always battling frizz and flyaways, jersey knit material hair towels are about to be your new hair care BFF.
Regular terry-cloth towels and microfiber? Well, you know how they're super absorbent? It's because of the large surface area.
Large surface area means more friction which roughens up your hair cuticle. Over time, this can damage vulnerable wet hair causing breakage, damage, and more frizz.
Plus, did you know that when you use a microfiber hair towel you are wrapping your hair in plastic?? That's right, ALL microfiber towels and cotton blend towels contain polyester or polyamide (nylon). These materials are made from plastic.
If it’s made from plastic, it’s not breathable.
And it can wreck your curls with friction and static.
So, now you know that terry cloth and microfiber aren't great for your hair because of friction and plastic. But why is cotton jersey knit material the best for hair towels? Keep reading!
Want to Jump Ahead?
Why Wet Hair Needs Extra Love and Care
When your hair’s wet it’s in a delicate, handle-with-care phase. Here's why. When hair is exposed to water, the cuticle—the outermost layer of the hair—undergoes a transformation. The cuticle, which is composed of overlapping scales, swells and lifts as it absorbs moisture.
This lifting action exposes the more vulnerable layers of the hair, making it more susceptible to damage from, brushing, styling, or the friction caused by towel drying.
This is why it is recommended to avoid aggressive handling of wet hair.
Additionally, wet hair loses some of its ability of the hair to withstand tension without breaking. Wet hair also has increased elasticity which means that wet hair can stretch further than dry hair, but this also means it is more prone to stretching beyond its limits, resulting in damage or breakage.
Use a wide-tooth comb and a gentle hair towel to prevent long-term damage.
This is why the choice of a hair towel is so important. Cotton jersey knit t-shirt material is smooth and significantly less abrasive than terry cloth or microfiber. Its lower surface area means less friction, allowing the cuticle to settle back into place as the hair dries.
This means cotton jersey knit t-shirt hair towels cause less damage and less breakage.
Let's Talk Frizz and Your Hair Towel
As someone with dry, high porosity 3c curls, frizz and I are basically besties at this point.
So, here's what I have found. Experts agree, your level of frizz depends mostly on your hair type. Knowing your hair type and your hair's porosity level will make it SO much easier to find the best solutions—and it will make it easier to identify the root causes of your frizz.
Now, let's talk frizz and hair towels. Frizz occurs when the hair cuticle is raised, allowing moisture to escape.
When it comes to your hair towel, to combat frizz you want to choose the fabric that does not raise the hair cuticle. This means the material that causes the least amount of friction on wet hair.
Why are cotton jersey knit t-shirt material hair towels the best for fighting frizz?
It's all about surface area. The lower the surface area means less friction on the hair cuticle. AND this means LESS FRIZZ.
Cotton jersey knit t-shirt material helps fight frizz by reducing friction on the hair shaft. Its smooth, loop-free weave has about 300% less surface area than microfiber and 150% less than terry cloth.
This means fewer fiber contact points to disturb the cuticle. This allows the hair to dry without as much cuticle disruption, keeping it smoother and less prone to frizz.
Why Cotton Jersey Knit Material for the Curly Girls
For curly and wavy hair, jersey knit t-shirt material helps preserve the natural curl pattern while reducing frizz. Cotton is breathable and allows curls to dry in their natural curl pattern especially when plopping curly hair.
Stop wrapping your hair in plastic. Remember, microfiber and cotton blends are made with polyester and polyamide (nylon) — plastics that aren’t breathable and create friction and static. That means more breakage, more damage, and curls that lose their shape over time.
Because the fabric doesn’t allow for natural airflow, curls can’t dry in their true shape — instead, they may flatten, lose bounce, or become uneven. For wavy and curly hair, that breathability is key to letting curls dry in their natural curl pattern.
The smart switch? Ditch plastic for cotton.
So what the heck is plopping anyway? We walk you through the art of hair plopping for curly hair in our article and video below.
Your Hair and the Right Hair Towel: A Love Story
Most people don’t realize just how much damage the wrong towel can do to your hair.
Regular bath towels are made of cotton terry cloth and not designed to be gentle on the hair. While absorbent, microfiber towels have a high surface area. They both cause friction and rough up the hair cuticle, leading to frizz, breakage, and damage.
T-shirt material hair towels, on the other hand, are specifically designed to be kind to your wet hair. They are gentle, lightweight, and absorbent, ensuring that excess moisture is removed without causing unnecessary friction.
They also protect your hair from damage and promote healthier hair growth over time.
Not convinced yet? Let's look more at microfiber towels vs. cotton jersey knit t-shirt towels.
Types of Hair Towels: Microfiber vs. 100% Cotton Jersey Knit
When it comes to finding the one (hair towel, that is), it usually comes down to two main contenders: microfiber and cotton. Let’s break it down and see which one deserves a spot in your haircare lineup.
Microfiber Towels and Synthetic Blends
Microfiber towels are made from ultra-fine fibers that are way smaller than traditional cotton fibers, which means they can soak up moisture like a sponge.
Plus, they claim to help minimize frizz. Sounds like a dream, right? But here’s the tea—while they may seem like your hair’s BFF, microfiber towels could actually be doing more harm than good. The culprits? Surface area and plastic.
Microfiber’s absorbency comes from its high surface area, but that same feature can also spell trouble for delicate wet hair. The increased surface area means more friction against your hair, which roughs up the cuticle and leads to breakage, split ends, and yes, even more frizz.
Further, the plastic material that makes up microfiber towels doesn't allow for airflow. This traps in heat, keeping cuticles open (frizz!) and not allowing for your natural curl pattern to form.
100% Cotton Towels
Classic cotton towels have been a household go-to for generations—they’re everywhere, from your bathroom rack to your gym bag. But not all cotton towels are created equal, especially when it comes to drying your hair the right way. Traditional terry cloth towels may seem harmless, but their rough texture can cause friction, frizz, and even breakage over time.
Opt for towels made from 100% jersey knit cotton, like a comfy t-shirt. These fibers are smooth, absorbent, and less likely to cause friction.
Feature | Cotton Jersey Knit | Microfiber |
Material | 100% cotton | Synthetic fibers |
Breathability | Highly breathable – allows natural air circulation | Low breathability – can trap heat around the hair |
Surface Area | Very low – smooth weave minimizes friction | High – absorbent but can cause friction |
Curly Girl Friendly | Excellent – helps maintain curl shape during plopping | Good – may flatten curls and cause frizz |
Drying Speed | Fast – wicks excess water without over-drying | Very fast – absorbs water quickly, sometimes too much for curls |
Plastic Content | None – all natural fibers | High – polyster/nylon |
Best For | Curly girl method, hair plopping, reducing frizz, maintaining natural waves/curls | Quick moisture removal, straight hair types, post-workout |
How to Use a T-Shirt Hair Towel
Let's talk about some pro tips to help you make the most of your towel.
Flip It and Wrap It: For a quick-dry method, flip your hair forward, drape the towel over it, and twist it into a turban. Bonus points if you let it sit while you do your skincare routine or sip your morning coffee.
Scrunch and Plop: Curly and wavy hair babes, this one’s for you! Use your towel to scrunch your curls from ends to roots. It helps define your natural texture without disturbing your curl pattern. Next, you can use your t-shirt hair towel to plop you hair.
This is a method to keep curls and waves secure in their natural pattern to enhance volume, definition, and that beautiful bouncy texture.
Check out this video for how to use the OOF! HALO t-shirt hair towel for wrapping and hair plopping!
Here's to Healthier, Happier Hair
Now that you’ve got all the insider tips for taming that frizz and treating your hair right, it’s time to put it into action! Remember, healthy hair isn’t about perfection – it’s about finding what works for you and giving your hair some extra love.
So, go ahead, treat yourself to that perfect hair towel and let your natural beauty shine through.
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$50
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