what is plopping hair

Hair plopping is a heatless drying technique that involves wrapping the hair into a micro-fiber towel or a cotton t-shirt to air-dry curls. It is a method of natural hair drying that involves zero heat and is beneficial for those with curly hair, which is more prone to breakage, frizz, and dehydration. Plopping compacts and scrunches wet curls onto the top of the head, which helps to retain the curls’ shape and volumize roots for a bouncy, silky finish. The soft micro-fiber or cotton t-shirt will prevent friction and frizz so the hair cuticle can stay smooth. Plopping can also be beneficial for those who want to speed up their drying time and absorb excess moisture without causing frizz. The plopping hair method involves gathering all waves or coils at the top of the head and wrapping them up to keep the curl pattern intact while the hair dries. While plopping can cut down on the time it takes to air dry, it may not work well on super-tight coils or type-4 hair, since it tends to trap in moisture and extend the drying process, along with running a high risk of creating tangles and fairy knots by requiring the hair to be scrunched and flipped.