Plopping vs. Not Plopping. Does it make a difference? + How to Plop Curls

In this week’s video, I’ll be showing you how to plop curly hair, and comparing a routine with plopping versus not plopping. Does it really make a difference? Let’s compare my results!

What is plopping?

Plopping is when you place your hair on top of your head in a hair towel or t-shirt. Plopping is loved in the curly community because it can help absorb excess water in your hair and help reduce drying time. It can also prevent your hair from air drying too quickly if you want to wait a bit before diffusing. It gives a similar effect to scrunching with a towel or t-shirt, and encourages definition.

What should you use for plopping?

I prefer the flat-weave cotton towels from HairRepear because they don’t cause frizz or breakage. They’re lightweight, and do not contain any tiny fibers that can cause frizz and friction. They are also very absorbent and are large in size for easy wrapping.

Another great option is to use a cotton t-shirt. I did this for a while when I was starting my curly hair journey, because we all have old t-shirts lying around. You can also use a longsleeve tee for easier plopping.

I don’t prefer microfiber towels because if you look closely, they still contain tiny fibers that stick up and can snag your curls, especially if you have fine hair.

How to Plop

1. Lay your towel or t-shirt out on a flat surface such as your counter, bed, or floor.
2. Place the ends of your hair in the center, and press your head towards the towel, folding your curls up toward your head like an accordion.
3. Fold the top half of the towel over the back of your head, and tuck it in around the sides if your head.
4. Fold the bottom half of the towel up towards your forehead.
5. Twist the “wings” of the towel on each side of your head until they’re snug, but not too tight.
6. Tie the “wings” in the back of your head at the nape of your neck

Your curls should be “plopped” right on top your head, but not mashed down against your scalp. Practice makes perfect!

Routine 1 – with Plopping

My first wash day routine started with damp hair, then I applied my favorite Bounce Curl stylers, including the cream and gel. After stylers, I plopped my hair for about 20 minutes. Then I applied a second layer of the gel to tame any frizz. Last, I diffused until my hair was dry, and fluffed.

Routine 2 – without Plopping

The next wash day followed the exact same routine and used the same products. Instead of plopping, I scrunched out some of the excess water and then I air dried for about 5 minutes. I then went in with little extra gel on my ends, diffused until dry, and fluffed.

Products Used

• Bounce Curl Avocado & Rose Oil Clump and Define Cream, 10% off with code GENAMARIE10
• Bounce Curl Light Creme Hair Gel, 10% off with code GENAMARIE10
• HairRepear Towels
• Denman 5-row brush
• Infiniti PRO by Conair 1875 Watt Texture Styling Hair Dryer

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Pros & Cons of Plopping

The biggest differences I noticed in my hair with plopping was increased definition and way more shrinkage. When you air dry some first (without plopping) the weight of gravity can elongate your curls more, making it difficult to get shrinkage when you diffuse (if that’s something you’re going for). I also had more definition because I had to apply more gel to my hair when I took it down out of the towel.

What differences do you see in my hair? Is there even enough difference to draw a conclusion? Let me know in the comments!