What Is Nanoweave®?

You've probably seen the word Nanoweave® on VOLO packaging or heard it come up when people talk about the Hero Hair Towel. But what actually is it? And why does it matter for your hair?

Here's the full story.

Nanoweave® Is Not Just Microfiber

That's the most important thing to understand first.

Most hair towels, even the ones marketed as premium, are made from standard microfiber. Microfiber is a broad category of synthetic fabric, not a specific technology. The quality varies enormously depending on the manufacturer, and the results on your hair vary just as much.

The problem with standard microfiber and terry cloth comes down to friction. Heavy, bulky towels are rough on your hair. The friction and mechanical damage they create during drying is what causes frizz, breakage, and irritation. And it happens every single wash day.

Nanoweave® was engineered to solve exactly that.

The Technology: Ultra-Fine Fibers, Exceptionally Smooth Surface

Nanoweave® is VOLO Beauty's proprietary, trademarked fabric technology. What makes it different is the fiber itself. Nanoweave® fibers are so fine and so densely constructed that they produce a very smooth surface against the hair strand.

That smoothness is everything. Where standard towels create friction as they absorb water, Nanoweave® glides. It wicks moisture away quickly and efficiently, without the mechanical damage that rougher fabrics cause.

The result:

• 50% faster drying time compared to standard terry cloth

• Holds 10x its own weight in water, absorbing more with less contact time

• Lightweight and breathable, so it won't weigh down your hair or pull at your hairline

• Incredibly soft and gentle against both hair and skin

• Durable, with a tight construction that resists fraying and holds up through repeated washing

Less time wet also means less time under heat. If you blow dry after, you're starting from a much drier baseline, which means less cumulative heat damage over hundreds of wash days.

Where It Came From

Nanoweave® wasn't invented by a textile company looking to make a better towel.

VOLO was founded by Ryan Goldman, whose goal was to reinvent the hair dryer. During the R&D process for the VOLO Go, the first cordless infrared dryer, the team kept running into the same problem: every hair towel on the market was undoing the work a great dryer could do. Terry cloth caused friction. Standard microfiber wasn't much better. None of them were engineered with hair health in mind.

So VOLO built something new.

It took over a year of development to get Nanoweave® right. Not because the process was inefficient, but because genuine fabric innovation takes time. What emerged was a proprietary technology purpose-built for wet hair, engineered to be gentle where other fabrics are rough.

Nanoweave® vs. Everything Else

Who It's For

Nanoweave® works for every hair type: straight, wavy, curly, coily. But it's especially valuable for:

Curly and wavy hair. The smooth, lightweight fabric is ideal for plopping, the technique of wrapping wet hair to encourage curl definition. Terry cloth is too heavy and rough; it disrupts the curl pattern. Nanoweave® absorbs fast without friction, so your curls set without disturbance.

Fine or color-treated hair. These hair types are more vulnerable to friction damage. The ultra-fine fibers are gentle on strands that have less natural resilience.

Anyone who blow dries. Starting your blow dry with hair that's already 50% drier means less time under heat. Over hundreds of wash days, that adds up to meaningfully healthier hair.

The Recognition

The Hero Hair Towel, VOLO's flagship product powered by Nanoweave® technology, has been recognized by the beauty industry's most trusted voices:

• Byrdie: Best Hair Towel Overall, March 2026

• Allure: Best of Beauty, two-time winner

Those aren't marketing claims. They're independent editorial recognition from editors who test hundreds of products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nanoweave® the same as microfiber? No. Nanoweave® is VOLO's proprietary, trademarked fabric technology. Its fibers are so fine and densely constructed that they produce a smooth surface against the hair, reducing the friction that standard microfiber and terry cloth create. The result is faster drying, less frizz, and less breakage. No other brand makes it.

Why does a regular towel cause frizz? Heavy, bulky towels create friction against the hair cuticle during drying. That mechanical friction roughens the cuticle surface, causing frizz and breakage. Nanoweave®'s ultra-fine fibers are exceptionally smooth against the hair strand, wicking moisture without that surface disruption.

How much faster does Nanoweave® dry hair? The VOLO Hero Hair Towel reduces drying time by 50% compared to standard terry cloth, cutting the time your hair spends wet and exposed to heat styling.

Is Nanoweave® safe for color-treated hair? Yes. Because Nanoweave® reduces friction during drying, it is especially well-suited to color-treated, chemically processed, or fine hair, all of which are more vulnerable to damage from rough towel surfaces.

Can I use it for curl plopping? Yes. The smooth, lightweight fabric and fast absorption make the VOLO Hero ideal for plopping. It absorbs moisture without disturbing the curl pattern, and the Snug Strap keeps everything in place while you finish your skincare routine.

Where is the Hero Hair Towel sold? Available at volobeauty.com, Target, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Bluemercury, Von Maur, and QVC.

Nanoweave® is a registered trademark of VOLO Beauty.