How to Plop Wavy Hair

When summer shows up, so does the humidity. And if your hair has even the tiniest bit of natural wave to it, you know the struggle.

You spend time curling it, straightening it, smoothing it, spraying it, pretending you are the kind of person who has control over her hair… and then you walk outside for approximately seven seconds and your hair says, “psych!”

That is exactly why I finally tried plopping my wavy (sometimes curly when it wants to be) hair.

I tried this on my naturally wavy, fine hair because humidity and I have never been friends. My hair can go from “beachy waves” to “electrocuted founding father” faster than I would like to admit, so I was very curious to see if this whole hair plopping thing actually worked.

Spoiler: it did!

Here’s exactly how to plop curly hair with a T-shirt, how long to leave it wrapped, and what I would do differently if you’re trying this for the first time.

What Is Hair Plopping?

Hair plopping is a curly hair drying method where you wrap wet or damp hair in a soft cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel so your curls dry in a scrunched position.

Instead of letting your wet hair hang down and stretch out your waves, plopping keeps your curls gathered on top of your head while they start to dry. This can help bring out your natural curl pattern, reduce frizz, and give your hair more bounce without using a curling iron.

You don’t need fancy tools to try it. A soft T-shirt, your favorite curl product, and a little patience are really all you need.

What You Need to Plop Curly Hair

Before you start, you only need a few things:

• A soft cotton T-shirt or microfiber hair towel
• Your favorite curl product
• A wide-tooth comb, optional
• A clip or hair tie, optional
• Damp, freshly washed hair

I used a big cotton T-shirt because apparently my old shirts are now beauty tools. Who knew?

How to Plop Curly Hair With a T-Shirt

Step 1: Start With Clean, Damp Hair

Start with freshly washed and conditioned hair.

After you get out of the shower, gently squeeze out the extra water with your hands. You want your hair to be wet enough that your curls can still form, but not so soaking wet that your T-shirt is immediately drenched.

Do not rub your hair with a regular towel. That is basically an invitation for frizz to come over and ruin your day.

If your hair tangles easily, use a wide-tooth comb while your hair is still wet. My hair is fine and lightened, so I like to comb it out before adding product instead of fighting with it later.

Step 2: Add Your Favorite Curl Product

Next, apply your curly hair product of choice.

You can use curl cream, mousse, gel, sea salt spray, or whatever usually works best for your hair. I used a sea salt spray because I wanted that easy, beachy, summer wave look without having to actually live at the beach. Rude, honestly.

Work the product through your damp hair and gently scrunch upward with your hands. This helps encourage your natural curl pattern before you wrap it.

The trick is not to overdo it. You want enough product to help your curls hold, but not so much that your hair dries crunchy or weighed down.

 Step 3: Lay Out a Cotton T-Shirt

Lay a soft cotton T-shirt flat on a bed, chair, counter, or other flat surface.

Place the shirt with the neck hole closest to you and the bottom of the shirt farther away from you.

You can also use a microfiber hair towel, but if this is your first time trying hair plopping, a cotton T-shirt works just fine. It is softer than a regular bath towel and helps avoid some of that rough towel frizz.

 Step 4: Flip and Plop Your Hair

Flip your head forward so your hair falls toward the center of the T-shirt.

Gently lower your curls onto the shirt instead of smashing them down. Think of it more like placing your hair into a little curl nest. A weird curl nest, but a curl nest nonetheless.

I tried to gently coil and scrunch my hair on top of itself as I lowered it down. This helps your waves or curls stay gathered instead of stretched out.

This is the actual “plop” part, which is still a ridiculous word, but here we are.

 Step 5: Wrap the Shirt Around Your Head

Once your hair is resting on the shirt, fold the bottom of the T-shirt up toward the back of your head.

Then bring the sleeves or sides of the shirt around your head and tie or clip them so the shirt stays secure.

You want it snug enough to stay on, but not so tight that it flattens your roots or gives you a headache. This is hair plopping, not a medieval beauty treatment.

If pieces are falling out, just tuck them back in gently.

 Step 6: Let Your Hair Dry

Now you wait.

How long you leave your hair wrapped depends on your hair type and how much curl definition you want. Fine or wavy hair may only need 15–30 minutes. Thicker or curlier hair may need closer to an hour.

When I tried it, I left mine wrapped for about three hours because I was fully committed to the experiment and also probably got distracted by something else. Both can be true.

Some people sleep with their hair plopped overnight, but I would test a shorter amount of time first. Leaving it wrapped too long can work great for some curls, but it can also make fine hair dry a little flat or wonky.

 Step 7: Take Down Your Curls

When you are ready, gently unwrap the T-shirt and let your curls fall naturally.

Do not brush your hair. Do not aggressively separate every curl. Do not immediately panic and start touching it a million times. I say this because I am exactly the kind of person who wants to touch it a million times.

Use your fingers to gently shake out your roots if needed, then let the rest air dry.

And that is it. No curling iron. No flat iron. No pretending humidity is not personally attacking you.

Just soft, more defined waves using a T-shirt you probably already owned.

…boom! I don’t think I have ever seen my hair this bouncy and naturally curly before! I went to bed with my hair looking like this.

When I woke up the next day, my husband asked, “Do you like what your hair looks like the day after?” and I answered, thinking it looked like a frizzy, crazy mess, “I have no idea what it looks like, but I’m a little scared to see…” although it still smelled delicious, even the next day 😉

If my face didn’t look like a butt without makeup on I would have taken a photo because even after a night of tossing and turning (I’m always a restless sleeper) my hair looked amazing! That Sea Salt Spray is going to be my best friend this summer, I just know it.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeBeachBlonde #CollectiveBias