We recently came across this new-to-us method of plopping hair: with a veil net! Curly hair stylist Brianne Prince shared this method with us, and we can’t wait to give it a try.
What is plopping?
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 to plop with?
“What type of fabric?” you may ask. The possibilities are endless, and I recommend experimenting to find which fabric is right for your curls.
I have plopped my hair using:
1. A king-sized jersey pillowcase 2. A long-sleeved t-shirt 3. A handkerchief 4. A PinkTag plopping towel 5. A veil netT-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 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”>, it can be a benefit.
My favorite way to plop
My current favorite tool 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 or blow dry.
How to plop
There are many different ideas 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 plopping for a maximum of twenty to thirty 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.
My tutorial
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!
Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dBq89vFKatUHave you plopped with a veil net? What was your experience? Share in the comments section below.
This article was originally published in 2015 and has been updated.
