Did you know that a hair dryer uses anywhere between 800 to 2,000 watts of electricity and emits CO2s? Bummer I know. It’s all the heat.

I have fine hair and a lot of it, but I work for every strand.  This means I am super gentle when washing, drying, and when I occasionally style it.  One of the ways I do this is by letting my hair dry naturally.  I rarely use blow dryers because of the damage they can create to your hair (especially fine hair) and the environment – all those CO2s add up!

So after long ignoring AQUIS Hair Towels and Turbans around town, I was enlightened about the benefits by AQUIS Co-Founder Britta Cox while on a panel during Covid in November.  Eight months later I can officially say, I’m a huge fan.  AQUIS is a haircare system that focuses on hair when it’s at its weakest – when it’s wet – and works to make every hair strand as strong as it can possibly be. Their trademarked Aquitex fabric, wicks away moisture quickly and evenly, without rubbing your hair and without heat, while minimizing frizz, breakage, and split ends. 

Turns out avoiding friction and heat is imperative to keeping your hair smooth, strong, shiny, and hydrated.  Sorry to my teenage hair for all the rubbing and wringing!  Live and learn, because as AQUIS technology helps hair become more resilient over time – it becomes softer and shinier too.  I’ve even noticed less breakage with baby strands – especially important since hair texture changes with age.

While most love the hair-drying turbans, I prefer the hair towel for my longer, fine hair.  It doesn’t pull my hair (unlike the turban), and the towel offers more fabric so it can hold all of my hair.  In my opinion, the turban-style is better for shorter and medium-length hairstyles.  Aquis has two fabric styles: Lisse fabric, a flat, smooth-surface that’s ideal for curl definition and fine or delicate hair, and Waffle fabric, which is ideal for thicker hair because the raised pattern offers more surface area for absorption.  It’s a lot gentler than most products in the market and their fabric is less pollutive than traditional microfiber towels.  The towel is so durable that it can last up to three years and has been wonderful to travel with too.

You’re also supporting a greater cause since Aquis partners with Simply The Basics, a San Francisco-based nonprofit hygiene bank (and the first large-scale national hygiene bank) that provides fundamental hygienic basics like toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, and body lotion to those experiencing houselessness and/or with limited incomes.

PS. After exclusively using The WET Brush for years, I have found this VERB hair brush to be superior, ironically called the Blow Dry Brush, $18.