Do Turkish Towels Really Get Better With Age?

The short answer: absolutely. In fact, it’s a little secret every Turkish towel lover knows—your pestemal actually needs a few spins in the wash before it shows off its true magic.

Why? Let’s break it down.

Cotton’s Crush on Water

Cotton is what scientists call hydrophilic—it has a serious love affair with water. Remember when medicine bottles came with cotton stuffed inside to soak up moisture? Same idea. (These days, they use those little silica packets with the ominous “do not eat” warning.)

Fresh Off the Loom

Our pestemals are made from organic Turkish cotton, spun into yarn, and then tightly woven on dobby looms. During this process, natural oils and waxes from the cotton coat the fibers, giving new towels a polished finish. That shine looks nice, but it makes the surface almost water-resistant at first.

The Break-In Period

Because the yarn fibers are spun and twisted super tight—and the weave is dense—the towel starts out strong, resilient, and durable. But there isn’t much room for water to soak in right away.

Enter the magic of washing. After a few trips through the laundry, the fibers begin to relax, the surface polish wears away, and suddenly your towel becomes softer, fluffier, and way more absorbent. It’s like they grow into their personality.

From Stiff to Soak-Up Superstar

Give your pestemal a couple washes, and you’ll notice the difference: it feels silkier against your skin and dries you off like a champ.

We even made a short video to prove it—watch as a brand-new towel faces off against a “broken-in” one in an absorbency showdown. Spoiler alert: the seasoned towel wins every time.

The Takeaway

Turkish towels really do get better with age. Think of it as a friendship—you just have to spend a little time together before the relationship reaches its full potential.