Curly Terms Series: Diffusing, Plopping, and more
- curvehairstudio
- May 29
- 5 min read
I remember my mom telling me as a child that "people pay big money for your curls", she meant perms but she wasn't wrong in terms of the trial and error that many of us went through on our journey to loving our hair. All waves, curls, and coils are unique and the envy of many, but drying it properly is often a challenge. The wrong drying method can lead to frizz, uneven or limp curls, or even damage. This guide explores all the different ways to dry curly and wavy hair, focusing on hover diffusing vs cup diffusing, but also covering air drying and plopping. Understanding these techniques will help you keep your curls defined, bouncy, and healthy and allow you to choose a drying method that best suits your hair goals and lifestyle.
Understanding the Basics of Drying Curly and Wavy Hair
Curly and wavy hair has a unique structure that makes it prone to dryness and frizz. The natural oils from the scalp take longer to travel down the hair shaft, so curls need gentle care to maintain moisture and shape. Drying methods that use direct heat or rough handling can disrupt the curl pattern and cause damage. We often think that the tighter the curl, the stronger the hair is but that is often very much the opposite of what's happening in the hair.
Choosing the right drying technique depends on your hair type, curl pattern, and desired look. Let’s explore the most popular methods and how they affect your curls.
Hover Diffusing: What It Is and Why It Works
Hover diffusing is a drying technique where the diffuser attachment on a hairdryer is held slightly above the hair without touching it directly. The warm air gently circulates around the curls, drying them evenly without disturbing their natural shape. This acts as an alternative to hood drying as most of us don't have a hood dryer at home.
Benefits of Hover Diffusing
Less Frizz: Since the diffuser doesn’t touch the hair, it minimizes frizz if your curls are more reactive and prone to frizz.
Even Drying: The warm air flows around the curls, drying them more uniformly than airdrying
Style Set: Hover diffusing kick starts the drying process and the "cast" from your styling products starts to form. This helps to lock in your style and reduces reactivity.
Gentle on Hair: This method is considered indirect heat so there's no damage from this.
How to Hover Diffuse
Start with freshly cleansed, conditioned, and detangled hair.
Apply your styling products in their usual order and combination.
Attach a diffuser to your hairdryer and set it to low or medium heat, and medium airflow.
Hold the diffuser a few inches above your hair, moving it slowly around your head.
Focus on drying the roots first, then move to the mid-lengths and ends.
Avoid touching or scrunching your hair while drying to prevent frizz.
Hover diffusing works well for curls and coils that need gentle drying to avoid frizz without disrupting the curl pattern, or looser curl patterns that aren't looking to create more body and bounce but just want to get their hair dry.
Cup Diffusing: What Makes It Different
Cup diffusing involves placing sections of hair inside the diffuser bowl, almost like "cupping" the curls. The diffuser is pressed gently against the hair, allowing the warm air to dry curls from the inside out. The "cup" should then be held up against the head or facing down slightly to reduce the creation of fly aways.
Benefits of Cup Diffusing
Bouncier Curls: The diffuser bowl holds curls in place, encouraging tighter, more defined ringlets. The heat causes looser curl patterns or clumps to contract creating more spring and volume.
Faster Drying: Direct contact with the hair speeds up drying time. 5 minutes of cup diffusing will take an hour off of your air dry time.
Controlled Shape: Cup diffusing helps shape curls by encouraging them to form inside the diffuser because we're essentially holding it in a "scrunch" as it dries.
Gentle on Hair: The diffuser protects curls from direct heat and air blasts. This is also considered indirect heat.
How to Cup Diffuse
After cleansing and conditioning, apply styling products to wet hair, move your curl clumps into the position you want them to dry in.
Set your hairdryer to low (not cold) heat and attach the diffuser. Use the fastest airflow setting.
Take a section or side of your hair and gently place it inside the diffuser bowl.
Press the diffuser lightly against your scalp, holding the curls in place making sure that the diffuser isn't facing "up" and is just going to blow the curls around.
Dry each section for 60-90 seconds before moving to the next. There is no need to bounce all around your hair when we're drying with intention.
Continue until you've made your way around the head. You can then airdry or repeat the diffusing around the head if you want it to be more dry.
Cup diffusing is ideal for looser curls that benefit from extra definition and faster drying. It is very normal to start with either cup or hover diffusing and then switch to the opposite method if desired.
Air Drying: The Gentle Classic
Air drying is the simplest and most natural way to dry curly and wavy hair. It involves letting your hair dry on its own without heat or tools.
Benefits of Air Drying
No Heat Damage: Avoids any heat-related dryness or breakage.
Natural Curl Pattern: Preserves your hair’s natural shape and texture.
Low Maintenance: Requires minimal effort and no special tools.
Tips for Effective Air Drying
After cleansing and conditioning, apply your desired combination of styling products on soaking wet, fully detangled hair.
Gently squeeze excess water out with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt to reduce frizz.
Avoid touching your hair while it dries to prevent frizz and allow your styling products to set.
If you want more volume, flip your head upside down occasionally during drying or root clip to create more lift and direction.
Air drying works best for those who have time and patience, and whose hair responds well without heat.
Plopping: A Popular Method for Defined Curls
Plopping is a drying technique that uses a T-shirt or microfiber towel to wrap wet hair and encourage curl formation while reducing frizz.
How Plopping Works
After applying styling products, place a soft T-shirt or microfiber towel on a flat surface.
Flip your head over and lower your curls onto the fabric.
Wrap the fabric around your head and tie it to secure.
Leave your hair wrapped for 10-20 minutes. There is no real benefit to leave your hair in a plop for longer than that as your towel or T-shirt can only absorb so much and will be saturated at this point.
Remove the wrap and let your hair finish drying naturally or with a diffuser.
Benefits of Plopping
Enhanced Curl Definition: Helps curls clump together for a more uniform look.
Frizz Reduction: The soft fabric absorbs moisture without roughing up the hair cuticle.
Reduced Air Dry Time: Plopping allows you to get dressed, etc without dealing with your wet hair and will cut down on your air dry time.
Plopping is a great middle ground between air drying and diffusing, offering some curl definition with minimal effort. Not recommended for looser waves who want volume, or shorter hair as it can flatten the root and make shorter clumps dry in an unnatural position that won't lay properly afterwards.
Additional Tips for Drying Curly and Wavy Hair
Use a diffuser attachment that feels comfortable for you to use and allows for ample airflow. Size does not matter here.
Always use low or medium heat settings to avoid heat damage.
Avoid rubbing hair with towels; instead, gently squeeze, pulse, or scrunch.
Apply your favourite products when hair is wet to lock in moisture.
Experiment with drying times and techniques to find what works best for your hair.
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