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Home • Regimen • Wavy

How to Stop, Drop, and T-Shirt Plop for More Defined Curls

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How to Stop, Drop, and T-Shirt Plop for More Defined Curls
By NaturallyCurly · Updated October 8, 2021

woman plopping curly hair

Sometimes your waves need a little extra help after a wash day.

If your loose curls lose their bounce after you’re done cleansing and conditioning, you’re not alone! But for every curl problem, there’s a curl solution, and this one’s as simple as an old t-shirt.

No, we don’t mean DIYing something cute out of your “vintage” shirts to distract from your deflated hair (although, that’s not the worst idea…”>. We’re talking plopping. Basically, it’s wrapping your freshly cleansed hair in a t-shirt before bed in order to wake up with a head full of clearly defined curls with locked in moisture. It doesn’t have to just be a bedtime routine either. Depending on your texture, you might be able to make this work for drying and defining your hair in just a few hours! This is how you do it.

How to plop curly hair

1. Get the excess out

You want to plop freshly washed and detangled hair. However, you don’t want to plop with sopping wet hair or hair that’s already mostly dry, so find the middle ground. Use a different t-shirt to squeeze out extra water to get the right level of dampness—no dripping, but still wet to the touch. Alternatively, try a product like the Aquis Microfiber Towel to stop those droplets extra fast.

2. Style

This is where you put yourself to work!

Article continues after video.

T-shirts do a lot, but they’re not going to style your hair for you. Grab your styler and get to it. While you don’t want to get your hair wet again, or overload it with product, you do want to make sure that you’re giving your hair a good amount of hold. If you need to re-wet your hair during this process, grab a good spray bottle, and fill it with a mixture of water, and a creamy leave-in to get the same ingredient combo you like without the weight!

3. Wrap it up

Take an old cotton t-shirt and lay it flat on the bed or any flat surface with the sleeves at the top. Many curlies have found that long-sleeve shirts work best because you have more material to tie your knot with. Hang your head upside down and gently lower your curls onto the center of the t-shirt. Once all your hair is on the center of the shirt, begin rolling the bottom of it up towards your forehead while bringing the back to the nape of your neck. Tie the two ends at the nape of your neck into a knot to secure the shirt.

If your t-shirt isn’t long enough to secure the ends at the nape of your neck, you can also tuck them in during the next step.

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Bring the top of the t-shirt towards your head while making sure your curls are all still at the center. Bring the arms down around the nape of your neck, covering the bottom of the t-shirt with the top of the t-shirt. Stand upright and bring the arms together to tie a knot that will secure the shirt in place, then tuck in any loose corners. From there, it’s just a matter of waiting until your hair is dry to see the high-def results!

So what makes plopping different from other drying methods?

Think of it kind of like making a pot roast on your head—the whole secret is letting your hair cook/dry slooooooooowly. Your hair’s not free to frizz as it pleases when you air dry it, and you’re not using any potentially curl disruptive heat! Bonus: cotton t-shirts are that happy medium between regular terrycloth and silk—absorbent enough to actually get your hair dry, while smooth enough to not cause breakage to damp hair.

Will this tip have you raiding your closet, curlies? Let us see your results!

This article has been updated.

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Home • Beauty

Beauty Tools Worth The Investment This Holiday Season

Get ready to splurge on these drool worthy beauty tools.
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Beauty Tools Worth The Investment This Holiday Season
Various hair dresser tools on pink background with copy space
By Desiree Johnson · Updated December 18, 2024

When it comes to beauty tools, we can all agree they usually require a big financial investment. Some beauties go their entire lives without the assistance of tools, while others live and die by these hefty investments to help streamline and improve their beauty looks. And hey, who doesn’t love a little extra help? It can be very tricky to achieve glowing skin or super hydrated curls with just a few products. Creating a good beauty regimen is a series of trial and error as you mix and match products and tools and learn new techniques. Every year, there are new trends, viral routines, and more ways to reach your goals.

Whether you’re focusing on skincare, hair, or makeup, this assortment of beauty tools has been at the top of its game all year.

01
01 RevAir Reverse-Air Hair Dryer

This revolutionary hair dryer cuts your drying time in half while using less heat. The patented technology is designed to dry, stretch, smooth and lengthen your hair. RevAir suctions your hair in the natural direction of the hair cuticle to lock out frizz and seal in shine.

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02 Shani’s Signature Facial Kit

Who couldn’t use an at-home facial that gives salon-worthy results? Shani Darden is an expert esthetician whose results-oriented approach to skincare will give you a youthful glow. Her at-home facial kit includes a cleansing serum, facial sculpting wand, hydra prep gel, nourishing facial mask, intensive eye renewal serum, and moisture boost plumping serum.

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03 Dyson Airwrap

Dyson has dominated the haircare industry for years because of their premium tools for curly and coily hair. Starting on 11.24-12.7, you can shop the famous Dyson Airwrap for $100 OFF!

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04 Wavytalk Pro Steam Hair Straightener Brush

The Wavytalk brush has become a viral sensation! Utilizing the power of steam, this revolutionary product straightens, smooths, and hydrates hair in one step, it’s 20% OFF and a must-have item for your hair this season.

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05
05 YA-MAN Medi Lift Essential Box Set
Lean into the ultimate state of luxury with YA-MAN’s Medi Lift Essential Box set that uses electrical muscle stimulation to help tone and tighten your jawline and cheeks. Available at YA-MAN
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06
06 Curlsmith – Defrizzion Travel Hair Dryer
Curlsmith’s Defrizzion™ Travel Dryer is made for all textured hair types, allowing for effortless styling with minimal damage. You’ll be ready to jet set with the amazing six-inch diffuser and dual voltage for international travel. Available at Amazon
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07
07 Medicube Age-R Booster Pro
Glass skin was on the menu all year long, and now it’s easy to achieve at home. This viral glass glow device helps you to reduce pores, improve elasticity, and radiate healthy skin. Available at Amazon
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08 HigherDOSE Red Light Therapy Face Mask
HigherDOSE has dominated the skincare industry in 2024 thanks to its red light therapy face mask. Treat yourself to a product that will help you achieve a natural glow while rejuvenating and repairing your skin. Available at Amazon
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09 Bounce Curl Define EdgeLift Brush
The brand’s most viral creation yet – this brush is designed to detangle hair while simultaneously separating curls into clumps to create a defined curly mane that is frizz-free. Available at Amazon
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10 CHI Spin N Curl
It’s never been easier to create flawless curls and waves with just the push of a button. Hair is drawn into the curl chamber, which is heated and timed to create perfect curls and waves every time! Available at CHI
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11
11 FOREO LUNA 4 MEN Face Cleansing Brush
Tis’ the season to help your favorite guy achieve flawless skin. The firming massage face massager will help minimize breakouts and eliminate dead skin cells. Available at Amazon
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12
12 Wahl USA Stainless Steel Lithium Ion 2.0+ Beard Trimmer
There’s nothing like a close trim. This steel-lithium device from Wahl comes with 10 guide combos and four attachments for the ultimate all-in-one beard trimmer. Available at Amazon
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13 SOTRO DUO
SOTRO is launching with their patented flagship tool: the collapsible 2-in-1 hair steamer and dryer combo. This device is the first of its kind and will allow its customers to detangle, moisturize, condition, and style their natural hair all with one machine. Available at Get SOTRO
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14
14 TheraFace Depuffing Wand
It’s not always possible to control whenever you’re face is going to puff up, but you can invest in a tool to depuff your under-eyes and face. This cold and hot skincare treatment will give you glowing skin at any time of the day. Available at Therabody
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15
15 HIEEY Lighted Makeup Mirror
You’re face, skin, and hair will be glowing with this vanity mirror that includes 96 LED lights. Whether you’re a makeup maven or a beauty aficionado, you can choose from three luxurious colors to create a flawless look. Available at Amazon
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If you’re still looking for additional products to uplevel your beauty game? Check out Skincare Sets That Will Revolutionize Your 2025 Routine.

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