Hair Plopping: Try This Drying Method For Soft, Frizz-Free Curls

Mess with your hair too much while it's wet, and it has the potential to frizz faster than you can say air-dry. Especially those with curlier, coarser hair textures, as the hair is already prone to frizz as soon as it becomes exposed to air (i.e. as soon as you step foot outside the shower). So what's the curl community to do? Consider this popular drying method: hair plopping.

Let's chat a bit about the traditional towel twist, shall we? You might want to think twice before wrapping your wet hair up in a terry cloth towel: Those traditional fabrics typically have raised fibers that can actually rough up the hair cuticle and cause frizz. Take it from texture specialist and artistic director at Matrix, Michelle O'Connor: "Traditional towels take too much moisture out of the hair," she says. And if there's one thing curls need to look soft and frizz-free, it's moisture. Not to mention, you can experience some physical breakage if you're constantly stretching your strands inside a towel twist; as you may know, your hair is most vulnerable when wet—a rough towel wrap can quite literally become the definition of wear and tear. 

While hair plopping is great for tighter curls prone to frizz (by setting the curls on top of your head, you also avoid constantly raking your hands through your strands—another unfortunate habit that causes frizz), hairstylist and founder of Hair Rules Anthony Dickey mentions it's generally applicable to any hair type that fares well with a little scrunching. That said, loose curls, waves, and even straight textures can also benefit from the plopping method, especially for someone looking to create a tousled look without the use of hot tools.