In my neverending quest to find new ways to make the most of my natural hair, I came across a technique called “plopping,” which involves wrapping your wet hair in a cotton t-shirt instead of using plastic wrap or just letting it air dry. I decided to give it a try and was pleasantly surprised by the results.
This method is perfect for short natural hair who are new to the whole hair drying process or are constantly pressed for time.
However, this method of hairdrying is not without its downsides. Namely, it can be a bit cumbersome to wrap your hair every time you wash it, and it can also be a bit messy. Therefore, I decided to develop an alternative to plopping that is just as effective but a bit more convenient.
Best Alternative to Plopping for Short Hair
The best alternative to plopping for short hair is simply wrapping it in a cotton t-shirt after shampooing and conditioning it. This method is just as effective as plopping but a lot more convenient because you don’t have to wrap your hair every time you wash it. It is also a lot less messy.
All you need to do is:
- Wrap your hair in a cotton t-shirt after shampooing and conditioning it.
- Leave the t-shirt on for about 20 minutes.
- Remove the t-shirt and style your hair as usual.
I have been using the method for quite a while now, and I have been pleased with the results. I have been air drying my hair more often now, and even on days when I choose to blow-dry it, the process takes less time because my natural hair dries much faster this way.
My only problem with this method is that if you wrap your hair too tightly or leave the t-shirt on for too long, it will leave a strange indentation on your hair. Luckily, it can be avoided by making ensuring that the t-shirt is not wrapped too tightly and removing it after 20 minutes.
This method is beneficial for short natural hair who are constantly pressed for time and want to make the most of their wash days. Give it a try and see for yourself how well it works.
Alternatively,
- One can wrap their hair in a cotton t-shirt before going to bed and then wear a bonnet or scarf on top of it. This will speed up the drying process even more and protect your hairstyle overnight.
- Another option is to use a microfiber towel instead of a cotton t-shirt. Microfiber towels are known for their ability to absorb water quickly, and they are also less likely to leave your hair feeling frizzy or dry.
- If you are looking for a more permanent solution, you can install a hairdryer hood in your bathroom. This will allow you to dry your hair while standing under the hood and considerably speed up the process.
Whichever method you choose, I hope you find it helpful and that it works well for you. These are a few of the various alternatives to plopping that are available. Try experimenting with them and see which works best for your hair.
Difference Between Micro-plopping and Normal Plopping
There is a big difference between micro-plopping and normal plopping. Micro-plopping is a technique that involves using a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair before wrapping it in a cotton t-shirt. This method is a lot more time-consuming, but it is also a lot more effective because it helps to prevent frizz and raggedy ends.
However, normal plopping may be a better option if you have very curly natural hair and are constantly pressed for time because it does not involve detangling your hair first. This method is also faster and a lot less messy because you don’t have to worry about separating your curls before wrapping them in a t-shirt.
Why go for Plopping?
- Plopping is a great alternative to a blow dryer and flat iron. It not only saves time but also helps to protect your hair from heat damage and split ends. By prolonging the amount of time between washing your hair and drying it, you can reduce how often you need to straighten your natural hair and make the most of your natural texture.
- Plopping is also great for those trying to grow out their relaxed ends because it minimizes the amount of manipulation your hair will go through on wash days. This means that you can still enjoy straight tresses while getting used to having long natural hair. Of course, micro-plopping helps with this even more because it is much less damaging.
- Plopping also considerably speeds up the drying process, especially if you use a t-shirt or microfiber towel instead of your regular towels.
Major Downsides of Plopping
- The biggest downside of plopping is that it can be a bit messy. Your hair might get frizzy and dry when you remove the t-shirt, and this could lead to split ends.
- It also leaves your hair feeling flat because the weight from the water pulls down on your curls while they are being dried.
How to style short wavy curly hair?
Short wavy curly hair is a type of natural hair with a medium texture and tight, springy curls. It also tends to get dry very quickly and frizzes at the slightest sign of moisture in the air. Therefore, this type of natural hair must adopt a suitable protective hairstyle to keep it moisturized and healthy.
One of the perfect protective hairstyles for short wavy curly hair is the two-strand twist. This style will help stretch your curls and keep them moisturized for up to four days. All you need to do is:
- Part your hair into four sections.
- Twist each section of hair in the opposite direction from the rest of your hair.
- Secure each twist with a bobby pin or hair tie.
You can also wear your twists out as is or braid them for a more polished look. If it happens to have shorter hair, you can also consider the two-strand twist bun, which is a much simpler version of the two-strand twist out. This style will be much more suitable for short wavy curly hair because it does not involve separating your curls into unique twists and making small loose braids from them.
What is your favorite protective hairstyle for short wavy curly hair? Have you tried the two-strand twist out, or would you rather wear a bun as opposed to braids? What do you think of microplopping, and does it seem like something that might work well with your natural curl pattern? Have you tried any other alternative to plopping?
Read further
If you read this far, I assume that you liked the article (I sincerely hope so!) If you want to learn more about this and related subjects, simply click on one of the links below and start reading.
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