Definition: A method of styling curly hair in order
to cut down on frizz while simultaneously achieving well-defined curls.
No special skill is required. All you need are your required hair
products and an old tee-shirt to wrap your hair in. A towel will
suffice, but many women with curly or kinky hair find that regular
towels exacerbate dryness and frizz.
How to Plop Hair:
Begin with freshly shampooed and conditioned hair. Detangling while
conditioning is recommended. On wet hair, apply the products of your
choice and distribute well. Bend forward from the waist, and wrap your
tee (or towel) firmly around your head, making sure all your hair is
wrapped within it. Twist the tee around into a knot and secure it at the
nape of your neck or on top of your head; an elastic may be used to
secure if needed. Let your hair set like this for about 20 minutes. This
is an ideal time to perform other tasks like washing your face, getting
dressed and/or putting on makeup.
Then, loosen and remove the tee from your hair,
gently flipping it back. Your curls should be clumped together. They'll
still be damp, but typically will dry faster than non-plopped hair. You
can always diffuse with low heat to speed up drying if needed. Now you
can add a polishing serum if desired, or touch up any frizzy areas with
extra dabs of gel or styling cream.
Tip: After
removing the tee, but before flipping your head back, try shaking your
head back and forth while bent forward. Curls will still be clumped, but
will loosen somewhat, allowing your hair dry faster.
May Take Some Practice:
As with any new technique you try, getting the best results from
plopping may take some practice. You may need to experiment with
products or what you use to wrap your hair. Even so, some women never
get the results they want from plopping, and that's okay, too. Everyone
won't get the same results.
By Del Sandeen
Black Hair Expert
