Why a turban is haircare’s new secret weapon
Turbans are coming! since Gucci sent turbanned models down the catwalk earlier this year, the trend has quickly been gathering momentum.
according to Jane Taylor, hatmaker to the Duchess of Cambridge, turbans are set to be this autumn’s showstopper accessory.
but if you’re not quite brave enough to pop to the shops in a turban, you can try the look in your own home — as part of your beauty regime. From deep conditioning your hair, to speed drying, try these six for size . . .
BEST FOR QUICK HAIR DRYING
aquis luxe hair turban, £24 at lookfantastic.com being wet is, i am told, downright dangerous for my hair. When it is soaked, hair is more vulnerable to stretching and breaking, so the aquis Luxe hair turban aims to remove water as fast as possible. it claims to reduce drying time by 50 per cent, reducing frizz.
Does it work? Yes, brilliantly. The aquis is made from two long, curved triangles of high-tech moisturewicking fabric. after showering, i tip my head forward and drape the blunt end of it over the nape of my neck, and twist its long ends around my hair, as you would with a towel. There’s a lot of turban to twist — the long edge measures 1m, so my shoulder-length hair barely gives it enough to work with. a loop at the pointed end fastens to a button at the nape of the neck and holds it securely in place.
When i come to dry my hair ten minutes later, it’s already halfway there. it’s hard to say if my hair is less frizzy as a result, but it dries in record time.
How chic? reasonably. Latest colours include a zingy tangerine number (above right).
Worth-it factor? absolutely! — but you wouldn’t want to wear it outside the house. 5/5
BEST FOR DEEPCONDITIONING
Heat-Treat Cap, £24.95 heattreatcap.com This is something really unusual. it has a lining of microwavable gel — the idea being that you wash your hair, apply your conditioner or masque, then heat the cap in the microwave and pile your locks inside it.
The warmth from the hat will encourage hair cuticles to open, allowing oils and other treatment ingredients to penetrate more deeply. Does it work? it’s all a bit of a palaver. However, i used one of the three sachets of conditioning treatment that came with it and have to admit it leaves my hair noticeably softer and more lustrous than usual. it is a great treat for this time of year, particularly if you have been on holiday and your hair is a tad frazzled from the hot weather and dunking in the pool. How chic? not chic. i look ridiculous with this on my head. Worth-it factor? it’s great — as long as you can actually muster time and energy to carry out regular treatments. 3/5
BEST FOR PRESERVING A BLOW-DRY
The Silke Hair Wrap, £45 at silkelondon.com This silky little preformed turban (above and right) is a classy — and pricey — version of the silk hair wraps you can find cheaply on the internet — but it is a beauty, lovingly presented in a box. Why splash out on one? You’ll have heard how silk pillows help keep hair smooth by not scuffing up hair cuticles in the way cotton pillowcases do.
This goes one better: if you tuck blow- dried hair into it overnight, it will emerge just as smooth and styled the next day. it also claims to extend time between washes by helping to distribute the natural oils produced by your head more evenly throughout each hair shaft.
Does it work? Very well. before bedtime, i twirl the curls of my professionally blow-dried hair into a sort of twisted ponytail and ease the silke cap over the top.
it feels secure and is still in place in the morning. When i pull it out, my hair looks very nearly as good as it did the day before.
How chic? i definitely wouldn’t mind wearing this in company — preferably with a full length swishy silk dressing gown for a glamorous Thirties filmstar look.
Worth-it factor?
i’ve had one of these for several years and use it regularly to make my blow- dry last longer. 5/5
BEST FOR AN ECO FRIENDLY OPTION
Boots Botanics Bamboo Hair Turban, £7.50 boots.com ano ther hair-drying turban, this time made with environmentally-friendly bamboo fibres which help to dry hair faster and also, i’m told, to fight against odours so that it stays smelling fresher for longer.
i’m puzzled when i see on the packaging that the fibre composition is 60 per cent viscose and 40 per cent cotton, until i learn 60 per cent of the viscose is made of bamboo.
Does it work? Perfectly well. it’s a thin fabric but easily holds in all my hair and leaves it drip free after ten minutes, though not as dry as with the aquis.
How chic? More functional than chic, though it’s a nice enough plain cream colour.
Worth-it factor? This is not a luxury product, but it does a reasonable job. 3/5
BEST FOR A REAL BARGAIN BUY
Marks & Spencer Hair Turban, £6, marksandspencer.com a reasonably sized hairdrying turban in a friendly mint green colour, which is plenty large enough to scoop up my sopping hair.
Does it work? adequately, but it doesn’t absorb water as quickly as the aquis version, nor the boots bamboo number.
How chic? not bad, but it is not something i would wear as a style statement. Worth-it factor? a bargain and looks the part, but not nearly as good as the aquis. 2/5
BEST FOR CHIC SHOWERING
Showercap, £35 at feelunique.com in the package, this looks like a fabric turban (see left), which made me wonder how it would hold up under the shower. it turns out that it is made from nano-tech fabric which is hydrophobic, so it actually repels water.
Does it work? Very well. There’s a plastic grippy strip at the front, to help hold it in place. it is much more secure than, say, a hotel shower-cap and less likely to rip. Water just rolls off it.
How chic? super chic, especially in the leopard-print version, but slightly odd shaped. once it is full of hair, it looks a bit like a leopard print chef’s hat. Worth-it factor? i usually tie my hair up and dodge the shower jet to avoid getting it wet, which isn’t always successful — but this might persuade me to don a reliable hat. 4/5