Do you have curly hair that lacks definition, volume, and sometimes it resembles a frizzy lion mane? Well, ever heard of hair plopping? A method that not only dries hair sans heat, but it might also create lift at the roots and bring those limp curls back to life.
Curly hair has a mind of its own. Some days, you wake up with defined bouncy curls. Other days, the stringy frizz ball on your head makes you question every decision you made. Exaggerating much? For decades, women in certain communities have been using the plopping method on their curly hair. So, if you want to learn how to achieve frizz-free and define coils, continue reading.
Find a Big Ol’ T-Shirt
Browse your closet for a big t-shirt that needs much loving, preferably a large size long sleeve t-shirt. Because a too small or too large shirt can lead to, respectively, running low on fabric or it slipping off.
Lay It Out
Find a flat surface to lay your shirt on, such as a washroom countertop or a bed. Essentially, choose a place you can go to after your shower to complete the hair plopping process.
After Shower Routine
After the shower, apply your styling products to damp hair — not soaking wet. Time to detangle your locks. So, what hair tool do you use to brush your curls — a wide-tooth comb, your fingers or a brush?
Time to Get Plopping
Head over to the area where you laid out the shirt. Now turn your head upside down and gently lower your curls in the centre of the shirt.
Time to Engulf
Pick up the bottom hem of the shirt from each side and wrap it around the nape. If there is enough fabric to tie the shirt on the back of the neck, you may do so.
Then holding the hem of the shirt at the nape, reach for the top portion of the shirt and proceed to cover your head with it completely. It should overlap with the bottom part of the shirt. At this point, your hair should be entirely cocooned in the t-shirt.
Reaching the End
Holding the shirt in place, bring the sleeves towards your face and tie them on your forehead. If you tie the sleeves on the head, you might put pressure on the curls, resulting in less volume.
Tuck in the extra material!!
The Waiting Begins
Some people go to sleep with the t-shirt on, while others wait for 30 mins, an hour to 2 hours to take it off. You will have to figure out what duration works for your curls.
A suggestion is to leave the shirt on your head until the hair is 90% dry. Because when you unwrap your curls, some might have a weird pattern due to the way you slept or for other reasons. The last 10% gives you some wiggle room to change the rebellious curls pattern. This tip is from the following video, which also includes a demonstration of how to hair plop.
Why opt for a shirt, when we can wrap our hair using a towel?
When you use a towel to dry your curls, the twisting motion stretches out the curls. As well, the cloth introduces frizz to your hair. With the plopping method, you are encompassing the curls within the t-shirt in its natural form. So, give hair plopping a try, it might be a life-changing hack for your coils.
