BEAUTY KNOWHOW: These really are the tops
Turbans – yes, turbans – are back in all their retro glory
Turbans are back
They’re everywhere in Beautyland – not surprisingly as they’ve been making a comeback in Fashionland. There’s something so old Hollywood about them, very Joan Crawford or Norma Desmond. They are practical, too – by keeping your hair out of the way while you’re doing your beauty ritual. And flattering – the slight DIY facelift they give you makes them the ponytail of bathroom headgear. And now there are all sorts of versions. Here are my current favourites…
Shhhowercap (£35, cultbeauty.co.uk), the US brand that Cult Beauty brought to the UK, has led the beauty turban revolution. It utilises nanotech, antibacterial and breathable material so no humidity – all the better to protect your hairdo with. It comes in a variety of prints and is washable.
Also for the shower and machine washable is Styledry’s chic Turban Shower Cap (£19.95, harveynichols.com). This brand is all about lengthening the time between hair washes – I recently wrote about its dry shampoo compact – and this cap feeds into that ethos. The outside is made from quick-drying Lycra and comes in different colours. The inside is clear plastic and reminds me of hotel bathroom amenities (if I ever end up using one of those I feel so guilty that I bring it home to reuse with a hair mask).
Then there’s Silke with its 100 per cent – yes – silk Hair Wrap (£50, silkelondon.com). This one is for bed, to protect hair from the static and broken ends caused by friction while you sleep. But quite frankly, it’s swanky enough to wear out if you fancy it.
Lastly, there’s the Aquis Lisse Luxe Hair Turban (£30, selfridges.com). Made from the brand’s absorbent Aquitex fabric, it massively cuts hair drying time thanks to water-wicking technology. This also mimics how we twist towels over wet hair and, because we all know how annoying it is when said towel keeps falling off, can be secured with a button. No drama. Super-elegant.
The only turban I haven’t yet found – and would like – is a full-on towelling version. Perhaps I’ve spotted a gap in the market…