Plopping can make wash day feel easier, but the wrong towel can rough up curls before they have settled. This Only Curls Microfibre Hair Towel review looks at whether the towel is gentle, practical and absorbent enough for heatless drying without leaving fine waves flat or thick curls damp for ages.

The short version

The Only Curls towel is a sensible upgrade from a standard bath towel if your main aim is lower-friction drying and better curl clumping. It is not a magic frizz fix, and it will not suit every drying routine, but it earns its place for people who plop regularly, air-dry often, or want to reduce how much heat they rely on after washing.

Its biggest strength is how naturally it fits into a heatless routine: scrunch out excess water, apply your chosen curl product, wrap or plop, then let the hair settle before air-drying. The trade-off is that microfibre can remove water quickly, so fine, easily flattened waves may need a shorter plop than dense curls.

Product overview

The Only Curls Microfibre Hair Towel is designed for post-wash curl drying rather than rough towel-drying. Instead of rubbing hair with a terry bath towel, you use it to gently absorb surface water, support curl clumps and keep the hair contained while the styling product starts to set.

That makes it most relevant for wavy, curly and coily routines where definition matters. For heatless plopping, the towel’s job is not to fully dry the hair; it is to take the wet edge off, reduce dripping, and hold the curl pattern in a lifted position for a short period. Used well, it can make air-drying neater and more predictable.

It also fits the kind of low-damage routine many readers are trying to build: less rough handling, less blasting with hot air, and fewer moments where wet hair is stretched, rubbed or dragged. If you are already experimenting with curl creams, gels or mousse, this towel is more of a routine support tool than a styling product in its own right.

Key specs

Product type: microfibre hair towel for plopping, scrunch-drying and post-wash wrapping.
Main use: reducing friction and removing excess water before air-drying, diffusing or heatless styling.
Hair focus: wavy, curly and coily hair, though technique matters for fine or low-density hair.
Material: microfibre fabric; check the current retailer listing for the exact fibre composition and care instructions.
Heat required: none, making it suitable for heatless wash-day routines.
Fit considerations: buyers with very long, very dense or thick hair should check current product images and recent customer feedback for coverage and wrapping comfort.
Routine stage: typically used after washing and conditioning, either before or after applying styling product depending on how wet you prefer to style.

Pros and cons

Pros

Gentler than rubbing curls with a standard bath towel.
Useful for plopping, micro-plopping and controlled air-drying.
Helps reduce dripping without needing heat.
Works well with curl creams, gels and mousses when used carefully.
Easy to add to an existing wash-day routine without changing every product you use.
Good option for people trying to preserve curl clumps after washing.

Cons

Can remove too much water if fine waves are left wrapped for too long.
May not fully contain very long, dense curls depending on hair volume and wrapping style.
Will not compensate for unsuitable styling products or poor curl prep.
Needs washing and drying between uses to keep it fresh.
Results depend heavily on timing, product amount and how gently you wrap the hair.

Performance in real use

Plopping and curl support

For heatless plopping, the Only Curls towel performs best when hair is wet enough to form clumps but not so saturated that product slides straight off. The towel helps hold curls close to the scalp rather than letting them hang heavy while wet, which is useful if your roots usually dry flat.

The key is not to over-tighten the wrap. Curls need support, not compression. If you twist the towel aggressively or pull it too firmly, you can disturb the curl pattern before it has had a chance to set. A gentle wrap gives better results than trying to squeeze every last drop of water out immediately.

Absorbency and drying control

Microfibre is effective at taking away surface moisture, which is both the benefit and the risk. On medium to thick curls, that can make the drying stage feel less drippy and more manageable. On fine hair, it can shorten the window where styling products spread evenly, so a brief plop is usually more flattering than a long wrap.

Porosity also changes the result. High-porosity hair can lose water quickly and may need leave-in moisture or a more cautious plop time, while low-porosity hair may sit wet for longer and benefit from a towel that removes some excess water before air-drying. If you are unsure where your hair sits, the guide to choosing styling tools for high and low porosity hair is a useful next step.

Frizz, definition and finish

The finish is best when the towel is used with a smoothing, hands-off approach. It can help reduce the friction that makes curls look fuzzy, but it does not remove the need for a suitable styler. If your gel is too drying, your cream is too heavy, or you keep touching the hair while it dries, the towel cannot fix that on its own.

For looser waves, the towel is most useful as a quick moisture-removal tool before scrunching in mousse or gel. For curlier hair, it can help preserve shape while product starts to form a light cast. Coily hair may benefit from the gentler surface, though very dense hair may need sectioning or a different wrapping technique to avoid uneven damp patches.

Comfort and ease of use

In everyday use, the appeal is simplicity. There is no heat setting, styling plate or technique-heavy tool to master. You wash, apply product as usual, place the hair into the towel and let it sit briefly while you get on with the rest of your routine.

The main learning curve is placement. If the towel shifts, pulls at the nape or flattens the front pieces, adjust how you lower the curls into the fabric. For curtain fringes, face-framing layers or shorter front sections, avoid trapping the hair too tightly against the forehead unless you deliberately want a smoother root.

Care and durability

Like any towel used on freshly washed hair, it needs regular laundering. Follow the care label rather than assuming every microfibre towel should be washed in the same way. Fabric conditioner can affect some absorbent fabrics, so check the brand’s current instructions before adding it to your usual wash.

Durability is also linked to how you use it. Pulling, over-twisting and washing with rougher items may shorten its useful life. Treated as a hair towel rather than a general bathroom towel, it should remain the kind of low-effort accessory that quietly improves wash day.

Who it’s best for / who should skip it

The Only Curls towel is best for people who already wear their hair wavy, curly or coily and want a gentler drying step. It is particularly useful if you air-dry often, get halo frizz from towel rubbing, or want to plop without using a cotton T-shirt every wash day.

It is also a good fit for curl routines built around definition rather than maximum volume. If your goal is smoother clumps, less dripping and a more controlled dry-down, the towel makes sense. It pairs well with heatless styling habits because it reduces the temptation to rough-dry the hair just to make it manageable.

Fine-haired readers should not skip it automatically, but they should use it differently. A short plop, lighter product and careful root lift will usually work better than leaving hair wrapped for too long. If your waves collapse easily, read the advice on prepping fine hair for long-lasting heatless curls before changing your entire routine.

You might want to skip it if your hair is extremely long or very dense and you prefer a towel that fully encloses every section with lots of spare fabric. It may also be less essential if you already get good results from a soft cotton T-shirt and do not struggle with dripping, friction or plopping consistency.

Alternatives

A soft cotton T-shirt is the simplest alternative. It is inexpensive, easy to try and often gentle enough for waves that flatten under more absorbent fabrics. The downside is that it can feel less secure and less convenient than a dedicated towel, especially if you plop every wash day.

A silk or satin hair wrap serves a different purpose. It is better for protecting dry hair overnight than absorbing wash-day moisture. If your main issue is waking up with flattened curls, a wrap may be more useful; if your main issue is wet styling and drying control, the Only Curls towel is the more relevant tool.

Questions people ask

Should I use the towel before or after curl product?

Both can work. If your hair likes wet styling, apply product first, then plop briefly. If your hair gets weighed down easily, remove some water with the towel first, then apply lighter styling product.

How long should I plop with it?

Start short and adjust. Fine waves may only need a brief plop, while thicker curls can usually tolerate longer. The hair should feel less drippy, not dry or flattened.

Can it replace diffusing?

It can reduce the need for diffusing, but it will not create the same speed or root lift as a dryer. It is better seen as a heatless drying aid than a full styling-tool replacement.

Will it stop frizz completely?

No towel stops frizz completely. It can reduce friction-related frizz, but product choice, humidity, touching the hair while drying and overall hair condition still matter.

Is it suitable for straight hair?

It can be used on straight hair to remove water gently, but its biggest styling benefit is for waves, curls and coils where preserving shape during drying makes a visible difference.

Verdict + score

The Only Curls Microfibre Hair Towel is a genuinely useful heatless plopping towel for curl routines that need gentler drying, better clump support and less rough handling after washing. It is strongest for wavy to curly hair that benefits from controlled moisture removal, and it is worth considering if a standard towel leaves your hair frizzy before styling has even begun.

It loses a little ground for very fine hair that flattens quickly and for very dense or long hair where coverage may need checking carefully before buying. Still, as a low-effort wash-day upgrade, it does its job well when used with the right timing and a light hand. I’d give it 8.4/10.