Cotton Terry Towel

Terry is a weave rather than a fabric, and the whole point of it is the loop: extra yarn is pulled to the surface in thousands of uncut loops that multiply the area of cotton touching your skin many times over. Water is drawn into those loops and held there, which is why a terry towel absorbs where a flat woven cloth of the same weight merely smears. Skip the fabric softener with terry, because softener leaves a waxy film on the loops that makes a towel feel plush while quietly destroying the absorbency you bought it for.