Goddesses with curly hair know all too well that there is a downside to having such a magnificent mane of curls, and that downside is called frizz after washing and drying. When styling your hair, you want to do it right in the middle of the wet and dry stages to avoid this problem and get smooth, defined curls. Plopping refers to a method of improving curls by targeting this optimal point.
Towel-drying methods for wavy or curly hair are nothing new, but "hair plopping" has only recently gained popularity. It's the quickest and easiest way to achieve a natural, frizz-free air-dry. If you want a more lived-in, bohemian texture, you can achieve it quickly with straight hair.
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What is Hair Plopping?
If you're wondering, "What exactly is hair plopping?" Putting your hair in a towel or T-shirt and rolling it up into a turban is what it sounds like. As a result, your curls are "accordioned" on top of your head, ensuring they dry in their characteristic spiral formation. Furthermore, the best part is that Plopping eliminates the need for heat and drastically reduces drying time so that you can do it in as little as 10 to 20 minutes. Follow these three simple steps for the easiest, most effective plop.
Preparing Your Hair
After conditioning your hair in the shower, use a wide-tooth comb to remove the tangles. After drying off with a towel, please give it a few twists to extract any remaining water. Once the wet hair is out of the way, the most demanding thing you'll have to do is rake your fingers through your towel-dried texture before applying your go-to styling product to preserve the wave.
Products like Moisture-Defining Whip and Wave-Defining Hair Mousse come highly recommended. They are both oil-based foams that don't contain any alcohol. These will keep your curls hydrated and give them a light, airy bounce without the heavy residue that traditional mousses leave behind.
Plop It
If using a T-shirt, place the sleeves in front of you on a counter or bed. To achieve this, you must invert your head, so the crown of your head is resting on the shirt's fabric. The hem of the shirt must be pulled up and over the head until it rests at the base of the neck. Gather the extra fabric from the shirt by grabbing the sleeves and twisting them towards the armpits. Then, pull the shirt's sleeves through the knot at the front of your forehead so that they hang down in front of your ears like a turban.
You can also use a towel by laying it flat on a counter or bed and repeating the same steps, wrapping the ends around your head and twisting the excess material before tucking it under the towel's back. Still, caution is advised. Towels have varying degrees of effectiveness as hair-plopping tools. We recommend the Anti-Frizz Microfiber Towel Wrap. It is not only absorbent but also relatively light, so your curls won't be squished under a heavy towel as you get ready.
Let It Unravel While You Wait
Even though you can extend the drying time by leaving the towel on for longer, you should be able to admire your finished hair-plopping product after only 20 minutes. Since Plopping doesn't require additional effort from the user, they can continue with the rest of their morning routine without interrupting it. When you take the towel off, your curls should hold their shape beautifully.
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