How to Use a Diffuser on Curly Hair 5 Tips for Blowdrying Perfect Curls

Table Of Content

• How to Find the Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair
• Bellissima Italia Diffon Supreme Curly Dryer
• Shop popular hair dryer diffusers
• How to Use a Diffuser Without Ruining Your Curls
• Straight hair
• Shark Beauty FlexStyle Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler for Curly & Coily Hair
• The Finishing Touches
• How to create the big bouncy blow dry

Also, remember, once you start diffusing your hair, avoid touching your hair with your fingers. Trust me, it makes a huge difference in the smoothness of the curl. If you have curly or wavy hair, the best thing you can do is to use both! All you need to do is replace the concentrator with the diffuser for fast drying and softer, bouncier curls. The effectiveness of this hair styler depends on its overall design.

How to Find the Best Hair Dryer for Curly Hair

You can also flip your head upside down to get more volume at the roots, and dry hard-to-reach spots at the back and center of your head. "Using a towel that’s more textured causes hair to break," says Lexie Sachs, Director of Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab. "A smoother fabric for drying your hair means there’s less friction, so hair is less likely to get damaged." Once you’ve finished shaping your strands, spritz your favorite heat protectant spray all over, making sure to cover each and every strand—and in doing so, protect your hair from damage. If you’re not trying to add definition or volume, you can experiment by holding the diffuser so it points horizontally, diffusing from side to side. Avoid brushing your hair, which can ruin the curl pattern and lead to frizziness.

Bellissima Italia Diffon Supreme Curly Dryer

You can also towel dry your hair manually for a bit to get rid of the moisture. I spent hours watching who knows how many YouTube videos in hopes of perfecting my naturally curly hair routine. Time after time, I saw women using this funky-looking attachment, known as a diffuser, on their blow dryer, and the end result was, well, flawless. So, I decided to pick one up for myself, and I've never looked back. First, you will need an appropriate hair dryer and a hair dryer attachment or adapter. You can often get a universal hair diffuser attachment as well, which works on most common brands of hair dryer.

Shop popular hair dryer diffusers

It’s also important to remember that moisture is key when using a hair diffuser. She recommends using products that give hair hold and moisture. She likes starting with a leave-in-conditioner, followed by a hydrating cream, and the finishing off with a gel. When you're ready to go, she suggests gathering curls carefully and placing them on the mouth opening of the diffuser. Then move the diffuser in a circular motion for another five seconds. The experts have spoken, and these are the products they say will help you achieve smooth, full, bouncy curls.

In addition to speeding up drying time – something that can take especially long for a thick head of curls – a good diffuser creates frizz-free, defined, voluminous curls. With a traditional hair dryer, the force of the air can prevent your hair from clumping and creating frizz. A diffuser works by reducing the force of the air so that curls can dry undisturbed. You've endured the constant trial-and-error of testing products and techniques to make your hair look defined and healthy. Not to mention, because your curls or coils tend to be drier than straight hair, frizz is also a challenge.

For the fastest drying time, always start at the roots or the top of the head. Another hack that I love is using pin curl clips to lift hair at the roots and get nice volume on top. You can shake out hair and fluff the roots for an extra boost of volume. Some curlies like their curls to be super defined, and some don’t mind sacrificing a bit of definition in favor of volume – it’s a personal preference! But if you prefer volume, then you can flip your head over and fluff it at the roots.

Pasta strainer hair diffuser: God help me, I did the stupid TikTok thing and it worked. - Slate

Pasta strainer hair diffuser: God help me, I did the stupid TikTok thing and it worked..

Posted: Thu, 02 Feb 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Shark Beauty FlexStyle Hair Blow Dryer & Multi-Styler for Curly & Coily Hair

Ionic Ceramic technology reduces frizz by up to 75 percent and protects hair from damage, making it a top pick for curly girls. Those with thick or long curly hair will appreciate the extra-large size of this diffuser, making it possible to dry your curls more conveniently and quickly. Rather than a traditional hair dryer with attachment, this pricey two-in-one handheld dryer and built-in diffuser is designed to be easier to hold thanks to its unique shape. After that's been done, lift a section of your hair into the diffuser, then turn your hair dryer on low — too much heat can harm the curl, and too much airflow can make curls look frizzy.

Now that we know why the diffuser is a go-to for textured hair, you're probably wondering if it's really necessary in the styling process. You see, those large spikes in the attachment change the airflow from the blow dryer from being direct and aggressive when using a traditional nozzle to being slow and steady. And that's the golden ticket to blow-dried curls without frizz and flyaways. "The attachment has dozens of tiny holes for the air to escape, so it's not as direct, like that of a nozzle," says brand celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis, brand ambassador for BetterNatured.

This means they will be slightly crunchy to the touch, but we'll address that in the next step. It's important to start at the roots, as this section will take much longer than the rest of the hair. "Once the product and the desired style have been placed, we can begin to diffuse," says Rogue (who demonstrates above). But before we dive into the step-by-step, here are a few important notes. You want to use the diffuser on wet hair post-shower, and the way you use the diffuser will vary on your hair length.

Before you diffuse, apply all of your styling products (heat protectant is highly suggested) directly after you shower or wash your hair. This includes specialist ionic hair diffusers from brands such as Halo, Muk, and Parlux. Naturally, these are compatible with hair dryers from the respective brand. Some come equipped with adjustable vents for controlling the airflow. While diffuser hair dryers enhance curls and reduce frizz, make sure you consider your specific hair goals when choosing one.

Lastly, look for a lightweight and ergonomic design for a comfortable styling experience. This is especially important if you will be using your dryer attachment for extended periods. She likes this “whipped créme” from Sebastian, which is actually a mousse that can help give your hair some volume and bounce. When prepping your hair before diffusing, Burnside likes to use this invisible oil as a leave-in conditioner. Shop TODAY asked stylists to break down everything you need to know about diffusers, including how to get the most out of the experience and which ones are actually worth your money.