Plop it Like it's Hot!

Maybe along your curl journey you've heard of a method called "Plopping".  Despite a rather unfortunate name, it can really be an asset to us in our arsenal of curly tricks. Plopping is a method of compressing the curls from ends to scalp using fabric. "What type of fabric?" you may ask. The possibilities are endless and I recommend experimenting to find which fabric is right for your curls. T-shirt material can be great and is easily sourced from home,  just find one that has worn thin and cut the top off right under the arms, then make a vertical cut down the belly. Voila! You have an approximate rectangle long enough to twist on the sides and and tie in back. Jersey is slightly absorbent but not overly so, just be sure not to plop for too long as your gel can make the curls stick to the fabric.
 You may want to try a stretchier material which I find takes out less moisture- in some cases (and depending on your porosity) can be a benefit. I, myself, have plopped my hair using a king- sized jersey pillowcase, a long sleeved T-Shirt, a handkerchief, and even the PinkTag plopping towel which some of my clients have purchased in my shop.
 My current favorite is called the Jac-o-Net nylon veil net, and is a wonderful choice for so MANY reasons! Firstly, the Jac-o-Net Veil Net is made of tulle, meaning that it completely aerates the curls. Why is this so great? Well, if you have long, thick curls that take a long time to dry you can either sit under your hood dryer with the net or you can TAKE OFF YOUR DIFFUSER and use your dryer directly! The veil keeps your hair tightly compressed and unable to frizz, yet still open to the air! Another reason I love this is that you can see through it to tell whether or not you have achieved the proper angle; you can see the curls compressed down like an accordion.  The best part is that your gel will not stick! These nets are triangle in shape and there's plenty of room to wrap the tails around the front.  Just throw these in your delicates bag when washing and they will not tear; or you can simply wash in the sink and hang/ blow dry.
There are many different takes on how you should plop, but I believe you should start with wet hair that already has your products of choice applied and then blot gently with microfiber or jersey before proceeding to plop. I also recommend a maximum of 20-30 minutes depending on thickness and length, but if you can go longer (or even overnight) that is great! Personally I follow what I call the 10-10-10 approach and I will explain that in a future post.

I describe the different fabrics and how to get the correct angle every time in my video here.  Please forgive the awkward ending, I get sad when I have to say goodbye! Happy Plopping!

Me, before and after with the veil net!!

Lovely results at my shop with the veil net!