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Curly folks, listen up: The search is over. The secret to obtaining the frizz-free curls of your dreams is to, simply put, lose the hot tools. Forget blow-drying. Don’t even think about pulling out the diffuser. The easiest (and fuss-free) way to dry your coils — without attracting added static — is to plop.
Silly name aside, “hair plopping” is a heat-free drying technique that utilizes a cloth to air-dry curls, says Wes Sharpton, resident hairstylist at New York City’s Hairstory salon. The idea is that by placing your hair atop your head, loosely wrapped in a cloth, curls will almost scrunch themselves — like an accordion — in a faster fashion when compared to traditional air-drying.
“The more that you touch hair while it’s drying, the more it has a tendency to become frizzy,” says Sharpton. So, in order to skip the potential for static cling altogether, he recommends using a lightweight, absorbent cloth, like a towel, which will, in turn, speed up the drying process.
Sharpton isn’t the only stylist who recommends this drying method for folks with curly hair. Natural hair expert Pekela Riley is a huge fan of the hack, too. “Plopping is one of the most underrated ways to create flawless wash-and-go definition,” she tells Allure. “This approach allows for maximum wet-look definition to lock in, without being disturbed. Plopping is truly self-care for curly hair.”
While wrapping your hair in a curly hair-specific type of towel is certainly acceptable, Sharpton also recommends a much easier (and affordable) hair plopping vessel: an old, oversized T-shirt. “It’s something that you typically already have at home,” he says. “Plus, it’s cotton, which means it’s really absorbent.”
To use, simply place your hair in the center of the shirt, and then use the sleeves to tie around your head. It’s that easy. So, the next time you wash your hair, skip the hot tools post-shower and instead reach for that old ratty tee your ex left behind — at least it’s finally being put to good
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Originally published on Allure.com
