Behold: Your Complete Guide for How to Plop Curls

I’ve tried countless hair products and techniques to define my curls over the years—but only one thing has given me the most voluminous, defined ringlets: Plopping my hair. If you’re wondering “what the heck is plopping?” Let me enlighten you (and completely change your life!). Hair plopping is a technique that enhances and preserves wet curls while minimizing frizz as they dry, and it can be one of the easiest and biggest game-changing hacks for certain curl types—mainly 2c to 3b hair.I promise you, I'm not overselling this. Like, when I started plopping my 2c/3a hair, my fine, thin curls were suddenly drying with major volume, definition, and consistency. Truly magical. The only caveat? Plopping can take a bit of practice and experimentation at first (think: A few weeks of trial and error), but I promise the results are worth the slight annoyance. So to help you get started on your hair plopping journey, I've broken down the exact instructions you'll need to master the plop. Prepare yourself for some really excellent curls.What is hair plopping?“Hair plopping is a curl-styling method that uses a soft cotton t-shirt or microfiber towel to gently wrap wet curls on top of the head,” says Janell Stephens, trichologist and founder of Camille Rose. “The technique helps absorb excess water while allowing curls to form in their natural pattern.” Basically, it's the curls-approved alternative to twisting a towel around your head.Why is plopping better than the ol' twisted-towel situation? Well, when you wrap and twist your curls in a towel, your ringlets get stretched out and frizzy. Plopping, however, keeps your wet curls compact and scrunched ~accordion-style~ on top of your head, so your roots stay volumized, your curls stay clumped, and your hair cuticle stays smooth. “When paired with the right styling products, plopping can help enhance curl definition and prepare the hair for drying,” adds Stephens.Is plopping good for curly hair? Yes! Curly hair stylist Brendnetta Ashley says plopping is great for curly hair because “it helps reduce friction and preserves curl definition.” Keep in mind, though, that this method takes some trial and error before you find the ideal approach for your hair.“Results vary by curl pattern and hair density,” says Stephens. “Wrapping too tightly or leaving hair damp for too long may create unwanted frizz or flatten the curls. This is just one styling option rather than a requirement for healthy hair, and some clients may achieve better volume by allowing their curls to dry without wrapping.”How to plop hair:There are a few variations on how you can plop your hair, depending on your curl type and what you're using (i.e., a t-shirt, a microfiber towel, or a pillowcase). I've tried all three, and I've found the easiest method with the best, most consistent results came from using a T-shirt—specifically, a giant long-sleeved one.So with that in mind, here's how to plop curly hair:Ashley says to start with clean, wet hair, and suggests applying your products before plopping for better hold. From there, she says to place your t-shirt or microfiber towel on a flat surface and flip your hair forward. “Gently lower your curls onto the center of the fabric, allowing them to coil naturally without stretching or pulling.” Then wrap your towel or t-shirt around your head and secure it in place.Once you flip your head back over, all of your curls will stay perfectly nestled on top of your head like a bunch of compressed Slinkies, allowing them to dry in their natural formation, untouched by gravity, humidity, or the roughness of a towel. This means by the time you unwrap the shirt, your curls will have already started to dry with better definition and volume—and without any of the frizz.After 10 to 20 minutes, Stephens says to gently unwrap your hair and let it finish air drying or use a diffuser on low heat and airflow. “Avoid excessive touching while the hair dries to help preserve definition,” she adds.How long should you plop your hair?There’s not a set-in-stone time limit. “For most people, 10 to 20 minutes is a good starting point,” says Stephens. “The ideal duration depends on hair density, texture, porosity, and how quickly the hair absorbs water.”Remember, plopping isn’t supposed to fully dry your hair. “The goal is to remove excess moisture and encourage curl formation, not to dry the hair completely inside the fabric,” adds Stephens. “Leaving hair wrapped for too long can contribute to frizz or leave the scalp damp for an extended period.”I've personally found that plopping my fine, low-porosity curls for 15 to 20 minutes is the sweet spot for encouraging definition and soaking up just enough excess water. Anything over 20 minutes dries my curls a bit too much. I've also tried plopping overnight, and found that—as is a common complaint—my hair stayed too damp and eventually made my scalp itchy.Should you plop hair before or after applying products?Both experts recommend applying your styling products before plopping your hair. “Distributing products while the hair is wet helps coat the strands evenly and encourages curls to form with definition,” says Stephens. Just be mindful of how much product you use—too much on fine hair can weigh your curls down. Whereas more dense strands will benefit from a bit more styling cream or mousse. Additionally, if you want a softer finish, Stephens suggests using a mousse or lightweight cream, but if you want more hold, go for a curl gel.How often should you plop hair?You should plop your hair every time you wash and style it. Essentially, it's meant to speed up drying time without hot tools, while also reducing frizz and flyaways. So for most of us, we want those benefits every damn time, pls.Final verdict: Plopping is legit the best thing that's ever happened to my curls. Like, the consistency, the definition, the volume, the clumping—it's unreal. Just keep in mind that it can take some time before you find the perfect method for you. Use the products that work for your hair, and experiment with timing to get the most defined ringlets. This technique might just change your hair routine forever (it did for me!).Meet the expertsJanell Stephens is a certified trichologist and founder of Camille Rose hair care.Brendnetta Ashley is a curly hair expert and ambassador for Dippity-Do.Why trust Cosmopolitan?Chloe Metzger was the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from salt sprays to curly hair gels. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to curly hair, thanks to her own lifetime of working with her own 2b/3a curly hair.Mary Honkus is a contributor for Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories. She's an authority in all beauty categories and her hair is her prized possession. For this story, she consulted with two curl experts to learn how to correctly plop curls for more definition.Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.Mary Honkus is a freelance writer who covers beauty, home, fashion, health, and wellness (just call her a jack of all trades!). She has held staff roles at Real Simple, People, and InStyle, and her bylines can be found in numerous other publications. When she's not testing the latest and greatest products, she can be found chilling on her Hell's Kitchen rooftop, checking out NYC's hottest new restaurants, or recording her podcast Good Trouble NYC. Follow her on Instagram.