If you haven’t heard of “plopping,” then take a seat, my fellow wavy and curly-haired beauties. Keeping curly strands looking good requires dedication and skill. Every now and then, a curly hair trick or tip takes the internet by storm and captures the hearts of many. If you’re like me, a curly girl, then get ready for your life to change.
A gentle care routine is crucial when dealing with textured hair. Hair with any degree of curl or wave is naturally drier and more fragile than straight hair, which makes how you care for it extremely important. And that’s where plopping comes in, as it can be a game changer when it comes to handling your hair in its most vulnerable state: when it’s wet.
Continue reading to discover the best-kept secret in curly hair care.
First, let’s learn about hair-plopping.
Plopping is a method that boosts definition and reduces frizz in curly hair. It involves using a cotton T-shirt, pillowcase, or microfiber towel to dry damp curls by creating a self-contained mound on top of the head. Essentially, it’s a curly-friendly alternative to wrapping your head with a towel.
Why is plopping preferable to the standard towel-twisting method? When you wrap and twist your curls in a towel, they expand and get frizzy due to the twisting motion and the rough texture of the towel. However, plopping keeps your damp curls compressed and flattened, accordion-style, on top of your head, preserving the smoothness of your hair cuticle while maintaining volume at the roots, thanks to the soft cotton fabric.
What advantages does plopping offer?
Any technique that can safely and quickly dry hair is a win-win, but it turns out that plopping offers more than just water absorption. If you struggle with frizz, lack of definition, or maintaining the spring in your curl pattern, plopping is a game-changer. Since the hair is drying on top of the head instead of being weighed down, it also adds lift for those with finer hair or looser waves. It should be a staple in the hair care routine of every curly-haired individual out there.
“So how do we do hair plopping?”
All curly hair stylists advise women with curls to complete their full hair routine in the shower, from washing to layering the products, so the hair can stay soaking wet. Start with freshly washed, damp hair. Blot the excess moisture from your hair after a shower with a t-shirt or a microfiber towel. To avoid frizz, squeeze your hair dry rather than rubbing it with a towel. Check to see if your shampoo and conditioner contain sulfates. Sulfates can cause the hair to become dry, resulting in curls that are hard to manage.
Applying Your Styling Products
Take a small amount of your preferred gel, curling cream, and leave-in conditioner and distribute it evenly over your hands. Then, run your hands over your curls to ensure the products are well-distributed. Opt for a leave-in conditioner with a water-based formula to provide your curls with hydration.
Plop your hair with a T-shirt or a microfiber cloth.
On a bed or table, spread out a microfiber towel or a T-shirt. Lay the sleeve end of the garment you’re using towards you. Flip your hair forward onto the towel so that it faces you. Ensure that your hair is curled beneath your head and not hanging loose.
When wrapping your hair, make sure it can coil naturally. Pull the bottom of the T-shirt towards the nape of your neck once the garment fully supports your head; this should cover your hair when standing straight. Lastly, drape the shirt around your head and secure it by tying the sleeves together. Your T-shirt is now held in place. Your curls will remain properly positioned on top of your head once you turn back over, nestled there like a collection of compressed Slinkies, where they can dry naturally without being affected by gravity, humidity, or the roughness of a towel. You’ll need to wait between 10 and 20 minutes for the extra water to absorb, depending on the structure of your hair. I advise leaving your hair wrapped overnight if you have type 4 hair. When you unwrap the shirt or the microfiber cloth, your curls will already begin to dry with improved definition and volume and without any frizz.