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Quick answer: A microfibre head wrap absorbs water two to three times faster than cotton, weighs almost nothing and causes significantly less friction damage to wet hair. Will and Wind head wraps are made from the same rPET microfibre as the travel towel range, have a button closure that stays put and machine wash without drama. |
Picture this. You have just come out of the water at Noosa or Bondi or, honestly, the local council pool on a Tuesday morning. You want to deal with your hair without walking around for the next hour looking like you lost a fight with a wave. You want something light. Something that stays on. Something that does not leave your hair looking like a possum nest.
That is the whole brief. Here is why most of them do not deliver on it and what microfibre changes.
What a Head Wrap Is Actually Supposed to Do
The job is simple: pull moisture out of your hair quickly while you get on with everything else. Wrap it on, leave it for ten minutes and come back to hair that is already most of the way dry rather than soaking and depressingly heavy.
A standard cotton towel does this job slowly. Cotton absorbs water but releases it almost as fast as it takes it up, especially once the towel itself is saturated. Microfibre works differently. The ultra-fine fibres draw moisture in and hold it inside the material. Your hair dries faster and nothing is being rubbed against it to make it happen.
That second part matters more than people think. Wet hair is vulnerable. Cotton terry has loops that catch and pull at the cuticle when you twist and squeeze. Do that every day and over time you are creating real damage and frizz. A smooth microfibre head wrap skips the whole problem entirely.
What Makes a Head Wrap Worth Buying
The material grade. Budget microfibre head wraps can feel like dried cling film and perform about as well. Will and Wind uses the same rPET microfibre as the travel towel range. Soft, genuinely absorbent and nothing like the scratchy synthetic stuff that gives microfibre a bad reputation. Full details on the hair wrap product page.
The fastening. One that slides down your forehead mid-coffee is a headband in denial. Look for a button or loop closure that actually grips across different hair volumes. Will and Wind head wraps have a button closure at the back that works whether you have a short crop or enough hair to house a small bird.
The size. Needs to fit over your actual head with your actual hair inside it. Sounds obvious. Is apparently not obvious to several brands on the market. Check the product notes and have a look at the real-world reviews on our reviews page for feedback across different hair types.
Machine washable. These get washed constantly. Cold or warm cycle, no fabric softener (it coats the fibres and kills the absorbency), line dry. That is genuinely all there is to it. Will and Wind head wraps hold their shape through regular washing.
Head Wraps vs Hair Wraps
Mostly interchangeable in everyday use. A hair wrap tends to refer to the post-wash towel product specifically. A head wrap can also mean a fashion accessory you wear dry. Will and Wind makes the former: the thing that dries your hair rather than accessorises your outfit.
When a Head Wrap Actually Earns Its Place
Post-swim is the obvious one. But they are also excellent for the drive home from the beach when you do not want to arrive somewhere still soaking. After morning pool sessions before work. At caravan parks with outdoor showers. After school swimming lessons where you somehow end up wet yourself.
They pack to almost nothing, which means they live permanently in your beach bag, gym bag or car and never require planning. Pair one with a car seat towel and a travel towel and the post-beach routine is sorted without thinking about it.
The Sustainability Bit
Will and Wind makes these from rPET microfibre: 15 recycled plastic bottles per wrap. Same sustainability credentials as the rest of the range, just for your hair. For the full explanation of what rPET actually is and where it comes from, the what is rPET blog covers it properly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Head Wraps
How long do you leave a microfibre head wrap on?
Ten to twenty minutes is usually enough to take hair from soaking to just damp. Cotton takes two to three times longer for the same result. Thick or very long hair might want a bit more time but most people find ten minutes does the job.
Are head wraps good for curly hair?
Genuinely yes. The smooth microfibre surface does not disturb the curl pattern the way cotton loops do. Less friction means less frizz and the curl sets better inside a smooth wrap than a rough cotton one. This is one of the main reasons curly hair communities have switched.
How do you wash a microfibre head wrap?
Cold or warm machine wash with a gentle detergent. No fabric softener: it coats the fibres and reduces absorbency over time. Line dry. That is the entire process.