Hammam towel as a hair turban: drying hair gently – step by step
A hammam towel as a hair turban is the light alternative to a heavy terry wrap on your head. Anyone who twists a thick terry towel around wet hair after showering, the sauna or swimming knows the problem: it gets heavy, pulls at the neck and slips. A flat-woven cotton towel absorbs the moisture but stays light. In this guide we show you step by step how to tie the turban, which towel size suits your hair length and what really matters when drying your hair gently.
Contents10
- Why a hammam towel turban is comfortable
- Which towel size suits your hair length?
- Tying the hammam towel turban: step by step
- Variation for curls: wrap loosely instead of twisting
- Drying hair gently: what really counts
- Typical mistakes with a hammam towel turban
- Where the hammam towel turban comes in handy
- Caring for your turban towel
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Why a hammam towel turban is comfortable
Wet hair holds a lot of water. A thick terry towel soaks it up and becomes noticeably heavy on your head. The weight pulls at your neck, the turban sits loosely and slides backwards. A hammam towel is more thinly woven and much lighter – the Mini hammam towel Diamant, for example, weighs only approx. 120 g.
- Light: Less weight on your head, less pull on your neck.
- Smooth surface: Flat-woven cotton has no terry loops in which long hair can get caught.
- Dries quickly again: In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 30 minutes in the sun and in about 60 minutes indoors. Handy if you need the towel again afterwards.
- Packs small: A mini towel takes up hardly any space in your sauna or gym bag.
Which towel size suits your hair length?
| Hair length | Recommendation | How to fold |
|---|---|---|
| Short to chin length | Mini hammam towel Diamant, approx. 90 × 45 cm, approx. 120 g | unfolded, long edge at the nape |
| Shoulder length | Mini hammam towel Diamant | unfolded, twist firmly |
| Long to very long or very thick | a large, light hammam towel such as SULTAN (approx. 270 g) or ADRIA (approx. 290 g), 180 × 100 cm | fold once lengthwise, then tie as described below |
For long hair, the mini towel is often not enough for the whole length. A large towel folded once lengthwise is then the better choice. Because hammam towels are light, the turban still stays comfortable.
Tying the hammam towel turban: step by step
- Prepare your hair: After washing, gently squeeze the water out of the lengths with your hands. Don’t rub.
- Bend your head forward: Let your hair hang down loosely.
- Place the towel: The long edge sits at the nape of your neck at the hairline, and the towel falls forward over your head. The fringes point to the sides.
- Gather the sides: Bring both sides of the towel together at your forehead so that all your hair is inside the towel.
- Twist: Twist the towel into a roll from the forehead – firmly enough to hold, but not so tight that it pulls at your scalp.
- Straighten up and flip: Slowly straighten up and lay the twisted roll back over your head.
- Secure: Tuck the end under the edge of the turban at the nape of your neck.
Your hammam towel turban won’t stay put? Usually the towel is twisted too loosely or folded too bulky. With a large towel, it helps to twist the roll a little tighter and tuck the end in deeper.
Variation for curls: wrap loosely instead of twisting
If you have curls or waves, you often don’t want to ruin the structure by twisting. A popular method is loose wrapping, similar to the well-known “plopping” with a T-shirt:
- Lay the towel flat on a surface.
- Bend your head forward and place your curls in the middle of the towel.
- Pull the nape side of the towel over the back of your head.
- Loosely twist the sides and gather them at the nape of your neck.
The smooth, flat-woven surface of a hammam towel is well suited to this because there are no loops to catch in your hair.
Drying hair gently: what really counts
Whether hammam towel, terry or microfibre: how you handle wet hair matters more than the material. Wet hair is generally considered more delicate than dry hair. These points help:
- Dab instead of rubbing: Vigorous rubbing roughens the hair. Squeeze gently instead.
- Not too tight: A turban should hold, but not pull at your scalp.
- Don’t wear it for hours: Keep it on until your hair stops dripping – usually 10 to 20 minutes is enough. Then let it continue to air-dry or blow-dry it.
- Only comb once the worst is dry: Gently detangle from the tips upwards.
- Clean towel: A freshly washed towel for your hair, not yesterday’s body towel.
For questions about your scalp or hair loss, it is best to seek advice from a doctor or specialist – a towel is not the solution for that.
Typical mistakes with a hammam towel turban
- Too much water in your hair: If you wrap dripping-wet hair, even a light towel gets heavy. Squeeze it out well with your hands first.
- Twisted too tightly: The turban should hold but not press. If it pulls at your scalp, twist a little more loosely.
- Towel folded too bulky: A large towel folded several times gets thick and slips. Folding it once lengthwise is enough.
- Fringes in your face: Place the towel so the fringes are at the sides, not over your forehead.
- Sleeping in the turban: Falling asleep with wet hair in a turban is not a good idea – better to let it dry sufficiently beforehand.
With these little details, your hammam towel turban sits securely and comfortably.
Where the hammam towel turban comes in handy
- After showering at home: Your hands stay free while you apply cream or get dressed.
- In the sauna: Between sauna sessions in the relaxation area, so the lounger stays dry. Many sauna-goers also wear a sauna hat during the session – the turban is for afterwards.
- After swimming: At the outdoor pool or on the beach until your hair has partly dried.
- After sport: At the gym, the mini towel fits into any sports bag.
Caring for your turban towel
A towel for your hair comes into contact with shampoo, conditioner and hair oil. So wash it regularly – the Mini hammam towel Diamant at 30 °C, with air-drying recommended. Leave out fabric softener with hammam towels so the cotton stays absorbent. After use, hang the towel up spread out rather than leaving it crumpled. Ideally you have two towels to alternate, so a fresh one is always ready.
You will find more mini towels and large hammam towels in our hammam towels collection.
Related reading: Sauna with long hair: hairstyles, protection and care · Guest towel: why the mini hammam towel is such a good fit · How to tie a hammam towel as a sarong: 6 styles step by step
Conclusion
A hammam towel as a turban is light, slips less than a heavy terry wrap and has no loops for hair to get caught in. For short to shoulder-length hair the Mini hammam towel Diamant is enough; for long hair, use a large, light towel folded once lengthwise. What matters for gentle drying is technique: dab instead of rubbing, don’t twist too tightly and take the turban off again after 10 to 20 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How long should the hammam towel turban stay on?
Until your hair stops dripping – usually 10 to 20 minutes. Then let it continue to air-dry or blow-dry it.
Is a mini hammam towel enough for long hair?
For shoulder-length hair, usually yes. For long or very thick hair, a large towel folded once lengthwise is the better choice.
Is microfibre better for hair?
Microfibre turbans are popular because they absorb water quickly. But for gentle drying, technique is what matters most: dab instead of rubbing and don’t wrap too tightly. A hammam towel is the choice for anyone who prefers cotton.
Does a turban made from a hammam towel slip?
Less than a heavy terry wrap, because it is lighter. Twist it firmly and tuck the end in well at the nape of your neck.
Can I still use the towel as a hand towel afterwards?
Yes. Hang it up spread out briefly and it will soon be dry again.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.