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Plopping might sound like a crazy complicated hair technique, but it's actually really simple! Plopping is just the process of lowering your wet hair onto a T-shirt and wrapping it in a way that protects the curly or wavy hair structure. It removes excess moisture so your hair dries faster and with less frizz. Keep reading to get answers about how to plop your hair for the best results.
Things You Should Know
- Wash and condition your hair before you apply styling products like leave-in conditioner or curl-enhancing cream .
- Spread a T-shirt flat and flip your hair onto it. Then, fold the T-shirt over your hair and tie the sleeves into a knot at the back of your head.
- As an alternative to a T-shirt, try a microfiber towel . Avoid using a standard bath towel, which can contribute to frizz.
- Plopping works best for wavy or curly hair since it enhances the natural hair structure.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Best Plopping Technique
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Shampoo and condition your hair. You don't have to do anything special to your washing and conditioning routine—use your favorite hair care products that are designed for your hair type. [1] X Research source
- It's totally fine to wash and plop your hair before you go to bed. You can sleep with your hair plopped and remove the T-shirt or towel in the morning.
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Apply styling products to your wet hair. Don't comb or brush your hair—you want your waves and curls to hold their natural structure. It's probably easiest to do this while you're still in the shower—tilt your head to 1 side and gently work your curl-enhancing cream , leave-in conditioner , or frizz-fighting serum into your wet hair. Then, tilt your head to the other side and repeat the process. [2] X Research source- If you use a mist or spray product, apply it evenly to your wet hair.
- Don't towel-dry your hair before this step—you can simply wrap a towel around to help with dripping.
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Spread out a T-shirt and lower your hair onto 1 side of it. Arrange the shirt so the sleeves are closest to you. Then, bend over so your hair falls directly down onto the shirt near the neck. Remember, don't brush your hair before you plop or it won't hold its shape. Keep lowering your head down so your hair coils naturally on the shirt. [3] X Research source
- If you don't have an old T-shirt to use, spread out a microfiber towel towel.
- You can use a short-sleeved or long-sleeved T-shirt. You might find that it's easier to tie a long-sleeved shirt, but this will add more weight to your head.
- You don't need to arrange your hair in any specific way on the T-shirt—just let your hair pile naturally onto the shirt.
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Fold the shirt over your hair and tie it at the back of your head. While your head is still bent forward reach over and grab the opposite end of the T-shirt or towel. Fold it over your hair so it comes to the back of your neck. Then, take the shirt sleeves or towel ends and tie them into a knot at the back of your head. Finally, lift your head up and tuck in any loose ends of the T-shirt or towel. [4] X Research source
- You can also use large hair clips to clip the ends of the T-shirt or towel to your wrapped hair.
- Make your knot tight enough that the T-shirt or towel won't come loose on its own.
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Keep your hair plopped until it's mostly or completely dry. It's totally up to you how long you keep your hair wrapped—the goal is to let the towel absorb excess moisture while your hair structure sets. If you've got short or fine hair, start checking your hair after 10-20 minutes since it dries faster than long or tightly-coiled hair. [5] X Research source
- Keep in mind that if you let your hair dry completely while it's plopped, you may have to run your fingers through it to loosen some of your curls or waves.
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Let your hair finish air drying or use a diffuser to dry your hair. Unwrap your hair from the T-shirt or towel and shake your head gently to loosen your hair. Work your fingers along your part and that's it if you're air drying your hair! If you want to blow dry your hair, stick a diffuser attachment to the end and blow dry your hair until it's mostly dry. [6] X Research source
- If you're sleeping with your hair plopped, just shake it out in the morning since your hair will dry completely overnight.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionDoes this work on wavy hair?Community AnswerYes, although it will not turn wavy hair to curls. It helps emphasize what wave or curl you already have.
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QuestionDo you have to plop hair using products?Community AnswerIf you don't want to add any products, you don't have to.
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QuestionWill this work for all types of hair?Community AnswerIt will, but the results will vary depending on the hair type. For example, girls with thicker hair might end up having more defined curls/waves than girls with thinner hair.
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Things You'll Need
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Leave-in conditioner
- Curl-enhancing cream
- Frizz-fighting serum
- Microfiber towel or T-shirt
- Hair dryer with a diffuser , optional
- Sea salt spray , optional
References
- ↑ https://www.toppik.com/blogs/hair-blog/how-to-plop-hair
- ↑ https://www.kurlify.com/en/curly-girl-method/pro-con-hair-plopping-curls/
- ↑ https://www.toppik.com/blogs/hair-blog/how-to-plop-hair
- ↑ https://www.toppik.com/blogs/hair-blog/how-to-plop-hair
- ↑ https://www.kurlify.com/en/curly-girl-method/pro-con-hair-plopping-curls/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/mllwsMIJ4-M?t=232
- ↑ https://www.toppik.com/blogs/hair-blog/how-to-plop-hair
- ↑ https://www.kurlify.com/en/curly-girl-method/pro-con-hair-plopping-curls/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/7XM7bOS7tso?t=124
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To plop your hair, start by shampooing and conditioning your hair. Then, use a microfiber towel to squeeze out any excess water and apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner to your hair to prevent frizz. Next, lay a T-shirt down with the sleeves closest to you, bend over, and flip your hair over so it’s falling toward the ground. Position your head in the center of the shirt and lower your curls down so they coil naturally. Finally, pull the top of the shirt over the back of your head, and knot the sleeves to hold the shirt in place. For more tips from our Cosmetic reviewer, like how to plop with a towel, read on!
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