Having curly hair is both a blessing and a bane. When it comes to overall aesthetics and versatility, a head full of curly hair goes a long way. Unfortunately, good hair days are often hit or miss with curly locks.
If you’ve been looking for ways to maintain your hair’s ‘accordion’ shape and natural bounce, you’ve probably heard of ‘hair plopping’ before. Interested in learning how to plop? Here’s a five-step guide to keeping your locks bouncy and frizz-free.
What is Hair Plopping?
Hair plopping is a drying technique commonly used by people with curly or wavy hair. This drying method involves less friction and enhancing the coil, pattern, and bounce of your curls without creating any frizz as they dry.
If you have curly hair, there’s a huge chance you may have experienced dry and frizzy hair on many occasions. This is due to the friction that occurs when you dry your hair with an ordinary towel. Believe it or not, using towels made from terry cloth is the worst way to dry your hair. Terry fabric absorbs too much moisture, which your hair needs to avoid looking frizzy.
With hair plopping, old cotton t-shirts or microfiber towels are used to dry your hair. Cotton and microfiber help minimize friction and allow your hair to retain its natural moisture as it dries.
What You’ll Need
Plopping curly hair is very simple and inexpensive. You can find most of what you’ll need already in your house. Here’s a quick list:
- Curl defining products
- Two cotton t-shirts (one should have long-sleeves) or a microfiber towel
- Chair or bathroom counter
Step-by-Step Guide
- After getting out of the shower, use a cotton t-shirt to squeeze any extra water out of your hair. Make sure to leave your hair damp before applying any leave-in conditioner or products. Once you’ve achieved the right amount of moisture and used your stylers, it’s time to start plopping.
- On a chair or bathroom counter, lay out a long-sleeve t-shirt or microfiber towel. If you’re using a t-shirt, make sure to place it upside down, with the sleeves and neck hole at the end closest to you.
- Bend on your waist forward and place all your hair at the center of the towel. Press your head down on your curls. This will help your curls dry while keeping their natural form.
- With your hair positioned upside down, flip the bottom of the shirt over the nape of your neck. Grab the sleeves while you hold onto the edges of the shirt on your nape. Twist the sleeves and edges together to tighten the rest of the fabric covering your hair.
- Once tight, keep the sleeves twisted as you wrap them around your head to tie them in a knot. Make sure to tie up the sleeves tight enough to keep the shirt from falling off. Tuck in any hair you might have missed.
You can leave your hair plopped for 10–20 minutes before diffusing or air-drying it. Some do it for two hours or more, while others keep their hair plopped overnight. If this is your first time trying this method, experiment with the duration to find what works best for your hair.
The Benefits of Plopping
If you’re still not convinced, here are a few more benefits you can enjoy:
- Plopping your hair helps keep your curls compact, allowing them to maintain their accordion shape and bounce.
- Using a t-shirt helps soak up moisture from your hair without leaving it frizzy.
- Cotton fabrics used for shirt materials help keep hair cuticles smooth.
Takeaway
There are so many styles you can try out with your curly hair. But if your hair is often dry, frizzy, and unmanageable, it can be hard to enjoy your waves and curls. To keep your locks healthy and bouncy, try hair plopping. This method can help reduce frizz and maintain good hair days for weeks on end.
