Using a hair dryer is like eating a lot of sugar. It's not great for you, but we tend to ignore that because it tastes so good (a.k.a. makes for bouncy hairstyles). We believe in all things in moderation (and with a good heat protectant), so we wouldn't say you need to retire your hair dryer. But curly hair types might want to sub a few blowouts with hair plopping.
Plopping is a heat-free way to dry curly or textured hair with an old T-shirt. Does it sound sexy? No. Does it look sexy? Also no. But will it save your hair in the long run and also create beautifully-defined, smooth curls? Yes. So how does an old T-shirt give you your healthiest curls yet? We asked the experts for their take on plopping benefits and how you can do it yourself at home.
Hair plopping is a heat-free way to dry curly hair. Instead of using a blowdryer, hair is gently "plopped" (or dropped) onto a T-shirt or microfiber towel, which is then tied up at the ends to allow moisture to absorb into the towel. The plopping motion downward onto the towel allows curls to dry in their natural curl pattern.
Any textured hair type can use hair plopping as a way to gently dry, but Leigh Hardges, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, recommends this technique for type 2 and 3 curls, which have "more challenges in retaining curl on the ends and minimizing frizz."
Not only is hair plopping an easy way to gently dry curls, but it also has a host of benefits over traditional drying methods.
You only really need two things for hair plopping: a fabric and styling product of your choice. The styling product will depend on your hair's specific needs, but Hardges likes Mizani Miracle 25 Leave-in Conditioner as a first layer of hydration for all hair types.
For wavy hair (types 2 A-C) and curly hair types (types 3 A-C) Hardges recommends a lightweight texture-defining product like Oribe Curl Gloss. "It's a loose gel that you can apply easily and it doesn't leave curls with a gel cast or crunchy." For more coily, frizzy hair types (type 4 A-C) a heavier cream with nourishing and conditioning ingredients can help to keep curls smooth and in check. We like TPH By Taraji Curls 4 Days which adds great definition to tighter curls.
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For the fabric, an old T-shirt may sound a little more DIY, but it's actually the most effective option. "Microfiber towels are popular, but they can cause frizz in some curl textures," Liana Le, a hairstylist at Marie Robinson Salon in New York City. Cotton is a lighter fabric that will help to remove moisture without any static or damaging pull.
As a finishing touch after unwrapping the hair, Hardges recommends Kerastase Curl Manifesto Sublime Repair Hair Oil. "It's perfect to seal in moisture and add shine," she says.
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The process of hair plopping is the same no matter what hair type you have. Ahead, our expert-approved step-by-step guide to plopping.
Now that you have the step-by-step process down, there are a few other details to keep in mind before you try hair plopping.
"To begin the plopping process, you should start with damp, gently towel-dried hair," says Le. "It is important to wring out most of the moisture in your hair prior to plopping." That way, your product won't just be absorbed into the fabric with the excess water in your hair.
Hardges does not recommend this method. "You still want to get some drop to the hair and not be overly scrunched," she says.
We advise against going to sleep with your hair wet for many reasons. Hardges says drying time should be limited to 45 minutes to two hours should be enough to define your curl pattern without overly scrunching.
"[Dry plopping] is a way to reactivate curls and maintain volume," says Hardges. "This is done when the hair is dry, but it needs a refresher, so water or leave-in spray is used to help hydrate curls. Then the hair is plopped to mostly dry."
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