Is Hair Plopping the Lazy Girl’s Alternative to Hair Scrunching?

Even though you’ve been scrunching your hair since high school, curly- and wavy-haired folks everywhere are trading in the tried-and-true method for hair plopping. You’re probably wondering what hair plopping is? And is it really better than scrunching? We spoke to Sophie Gutterman, Beverly Hills-based celebrity hairstylist and textured hair expert, to find out. Below, she explains everything you need to know about the curl styling alternative.

Hair Plopping Explained

Hair plopping consists of wrapping damp curly or wavy hair, after product application, in a towel or t-shirt until the hair is dry, or even  overnight. Gutterman explains that hair tends to stay in the position in which it dries and the towel or t-shirt provides support to curls while drying, keeping them in place and allowing them to form a ringlet shape. 

“Hair plopping is great because it requires very little effort and especially when done overnight,” says Gutterman. “It’s a fantastic method when you don’t want to or simply can’t take the time to scrunch and diffuse … Or if you are just not confident in your scrunch and diffuse (or scrunch and air dry) technique.”

Hair Plopping vs. the Scrunching Method

Does plopping reign supreme over scrunching? Well, it depends. “If the goal is simplicity, then plopping would be the better option to scrunching,” says  Gutterman. “But if your goal is to achieve the most defined, symmetrical and voluminous curls, the scrunch and diffuse method will still almost always win out as it gives you much greater control over the end result.”

Hair Plopping Product Recommendations