If you constantly struggle to achieve defined, frizz-free, and bouncy curls after wash day, it may be time to learn how to plop your hair. This curl-enhancing technique involves ditching the bath towel and drying your hair using the soft fabric of a T-shirt instead. Many with textured hair swear that plopping is a game-changer in improving the look and feel of their manes—and if you have an old band tee lying around, you’re already halfway to trying the method yourself.
Never heard of plopping before? We’ve teamed up with Jada Jenkins, Mizani brand ambassador and stylist, to break down everything you need to know about how to plop curly hair (it works for waves, too!). Read on to discover how this easy method can transform your entire haircare routine.
What Is Hair Plopping?
Plopping is a hair-drying technique that involves gathering all of your hair at the top of your head and wrapping it in a T-shirt in leiu of a towel. For some quick background, traditional bathroom towels are great at wicking away moisture from your body—but they’re not so great at removing moisture from your locks. The coarse texture of fluffy bath towels can rough up your hair’s cuticle, causing major frizz and making it difficult to achieve pattern definition. Not to mention, twisting your curls up in a turban-style wrap can stretch out fragile, wet strands, potentially leading to breakage.
Plopping, on the other hand, has all of the benefits of a towel without any of the curl-ruining side effects. There are two key ways the method can enhance your curls. First, gathering your curls on top of your head condenses them, encouraging a more defined curl pattern. Second, a light cotton T-shirt has a much smoother texture than most bath towels. That means there’s a lower chance of the material creating friction against your curls and disturbing their overall look and feel.
Good hair day by @eunice_curls_beauty.
Who Should Try Hair Plopping?
Plopping may not be necessary for every head of hair. Jenkins typically only recommends plopping to her clients with curl types three through eight on the Mizani texture key. Here’s quick a refresher on curly hair types based on the Mizani chart:
- Type 3: Wavy hair with distinct S-shaped curves
- Type 4: More defined curls with mixed patterns (loops, spirals, ringlets, or corkscrews)
- Type 5: Tighter corkscrew curls with defined S-shapes that form into coils
- Type 6: Medium, compact coils close to the scalp and moderate shrinkage
- Type 7: Tightly coiled, springy coils that lie even closer to the scalp
- Type 8: Super coiled hair that resembles zig-zags with more volume than body
Plopping can also be a useful approach for anyone looking to coax some more texture out of their locks. In fact, it’s recently become all the rage on TikTok; people who never considered themselves curlies are using the hair drying technique to achieve curly and wavy definition with ease.
Credit: @soleildoeshair
How Long Should You Plop Your Hair For?
How long to plop your hair is entirely up to you. Some people like to leave the T-shirt on their heads until their curls are completely dry, while others wait until their hair is about 50 percent dried before switching to air drying. It’s also common to plop hair for only a few minutes to help wick away excess moisture and speed the drying process. We suggest experimenting with different timings and finding the approach that works best for you.
Can you plop your hair overnight?
It’s generally okay to plop your hair overnight, but you should keep in mind how fast your hair dries. If your hair tends to dry very quickly—a common trait among those with high porosity hair—plopping your hair for too long may end up making your strands feel dry or brittle. Conversely, those with low to medium porosity strands (which dry more slowly) may benefit from plopping their hair while snoozing. As an added bonus, keeping your hair wrapped up overnight can help protect your curls from friction if you toss and turn. Lay a towel or another T-shirt across your pillowcase before turning in to keep your pillow from getting wet.
What Hair Products Do You Need for Plopping?
Learning how to plop curly hair is easy with the right styling products and an old T-shirt on hand. If you’re still on the lookout for the perfect curl formulas, here are a few of Jenkins’ Mizani faves.
Mizani True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel
Mizani True Textures Perfect Coil Oil Gel is the key to defining and shaping your curls and coils without skimping on moisturization. This curl-activating formula is made with coconut, marula, and olive oils and won’t leave hair with a crunchy or flaky finish.
Mizani True Textures Curl Define Pudding
Designed to define and elongate extra curly to extremely tight texture types, Mizani True Textures Curl Define Pudding is a rich, intensely moisturizing cream that offers lightweight hold. And similar to other star Mizani formulas, it provides frizz-free manageability without the risk of crunch or flaking.
Mizani Styling Foam Wrap
If you’re here because you want to learn how to plop wavy hair, we recommend opting for a hair mousse instead of a cream or gel. Mousses are typically a bit lighter, which allows them to shape and hold your waves without weighing your hair down. The airy Mizani Styling Foam Wrap keeps styles in place and gives wet sets a flawless finish. The formula, which contains monoi oil, shea butter, and ceramides, also helps add hydration and shine to hair while warding off frizz and treating damage.
Do you put products in before or after plopping?
You should generally apply your haircare products before you plop your hair. This order allows your curl formulas to work their magic while your hair forms its shape. After washing your hair, add your preferred leave-in conditioner, curl cream, or styling product while your hair is still damp. Then, proceed with the plopping process to help define and set your waves, curls, or coils.
Do you comb hair before plopping?
Detangling your hair before plopping can ensure your pattern forms more evenly. You can use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to remove knots while your hair is still damp—just be sure to be gentle to avoid causing breakage. Check out our guide, How To Brush Curly Hair, for more expert-approved hair brushing tips.
How To Plop Hair in 7 Easy Steps
By now, you should have all the information you need to plop with confidence. Ahead, Jenkins breaks down how to plop hair with a T-shirt in seven straightforward steps.
Step 1: Wash your hair
This is an essential first step, as you should only plop freshly washed hair. To give curls and coils maximum hydration, begin your routine with Mizani’s Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo. This moisturizing shampoo for natural hair quenches thirsty strands for soft, bouncy curls that are easier to detangle post-wash. Follow your shampoo with a conditioner or mask, preferably one from the same haircare system, to experience its full benefits. The Mizani Moisture Fusion Intense Moisturizing Mask is made to work in conjunction with the shampoo, reviving dull curls while fighting frizz for added bounce and definition.
Those with wavy hair can opt for the Matrix A Curl Can Dream Weightless Moisture Shampoo and Weightless Moisture Conditioner. The duo is specifically designed for waves and provides up to 48 hours of enhanced pattern definition and frizz protection without the weigh-down.*
Be sure to rinse out your conditioner thoroughly, and then gently wring excess water from your hair so that it’s not dripping. Once handled, you can move on to the next phase of plopping.
*vs. non-conditioning shampooStep 2: Apply your styling products
Jenkins recommends applying your chosen products from the ends of your hair and working your way up to the mid-lengths. If you need to detangle your hair, start with a leave-in, followed by one of the styling products mentioned above. As for the former, the Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner is among our favorite leave-in formulas to help soften and prime textured hair.
Step 3: Prepare your T-shirt
Place your T-shirt on the edge of your bed or another flat surface. Position the piece of clothing so that its collar and sleeves face you. For the best results, Jenkins recommends using a soft, short-sleeve T-shirt, which will be easier (and lighter) to wrap around your head.
Step 4: Gather your curls
Flip your head upside down and place the ends of your hair in the center of the shirt. Gently lower your head until all of your hair is gathered in the middle.
Step 5: Wrap the T-shirt
Fold the bottom of the shirt over your head so that it touches the nape of your neck. Then, take the sleeves and tie them around the back of your head to create a turban-like shape.
Step 6: Allow hair to dry
You can keep your hair wrapped in the T-shirt for as little as five minutes or as long as overnight if you heed our caution above. Some people allow their hair to dry completely before unwrapping the T-shirt, while others finish drying it with a diffuser. If you’re going with option two, you’ll want to ensure the styling products you’ve applied also offer heat protection. (Hint: It’s just one of the many benefits of the abovementioned Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner.)
Step 7: Unwrap and style your curls
Once your hair is as dry as you’d like, it’s time to unwrap the T-shirt and shake your curls free. Now that your curls are dry, defined, and frizz-free, you’re free to style your hair however your heart desires. If you want to give your final style extra longevity, finish your routine with a few spritzes of the Mizani Styling HRM Humidity Resistant Spray, and you’re good to go.
Next Up: How To Do the Bowl Method for Curly Hair
Interested in personalized advice about how to best care for your curls? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist near you.
Header photo credits (left to right): @eunice_curls_beauty and Hair.com
