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“The diffuser is a bowl shape that cups curls as they dry,” she says. Gordon is also a fan of this dryer, and uses it for clients with thicker, coarser curls. It has ventilated prongs, which means more consistent airflow from root to tip, according to Pattern Beauty.
Pick products for your hair type
If you'd rather not spend it with sopping curls, we've got you covered. From the chicest diffusers adding incredible lift and shine to budget-friendly options that will leave you with salon-level results, we've rounded up the best hair diffusers for curly hair on the market right now. If your goal is Tracee Ellis Ross on Girlfriends-level hair, this is the one for you.
Bellissima Italia Diffon Supreme Curly Dryer
I got the $600 Dyson Complete Diffuse for curly hair - Business Insider
I got the $600 Dyson Complete Diffuse for curly hair.
Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough diffusers for curly hair from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at and we will evaluate the product ASAP. With infrared heat technology and a diffuser with widespread prongs, you reduce your risk of over-drying your hair. While it doesn’t feature fancy prongs, it conveniently glides over the nozzle of your blowdryer to reduce heat damage, limit flyways, and promote more defined curls. We conducted hours of research on the best diffusers for curly hair, evaluating each model by its design, benefits offered, and what type of hair it works best on. After consulting with a haircare expert and considering dozens of options, we landed on the following best in show.
Dyson Gentle Air Attachment
Spend time drying each area (aka root to tip) for about 30 seconds or so before moving on to the next section. The whole dry time will vary depending on your hair length, hair type or hair porosity. The nozzles are usually plastic, bowl-shaped and feature prongs inside the attachment.
Featuring a digital LED display for heat and power settings and an indicator light when it's time to change the filter, this tech-savvy Paul Mitchell dryer performed well in GH Beauty Lab testing. Plus, it comes with a diffuser included (not pictured), key for drying curly and natural hair textures. As a curly-haired person, we're typically more susceptible to heat damage than someone with straight or even wavy hair. If you don't have the time to air-dry, or you want more voluminous curls, then a diffuser is absolutely worth trying.
The best diffusers for curly hair, tested and reviewed
Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Lucy is a freelance beauty editor and regularly contributes to woman&home's beauty section. To finish things off, you could spray a light mist of flexible hold hairspray to set your curls. Birnur (she/her) led the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute from 2007 to 2023. And Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she also has a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University. Byrdie contributor Kindra Moné has been creating fashion and beauty content since 2013.
Zuvi's Halo Hair Dryer, which comes with a sizable diffuser attachment featuring eighteen prongs, uses a combination of infrared light, high-speed air, and cooler temperatures to define curls and reduce frizz. If your blow dryer didn’t come with a diffuser attachment, you’ll want to make sure the diffuser you choose securely fits onto the nozzle of your dryer. Some hair diffusers also come with an adjustable or slip-on design that makes it easy to use with various models. In any case, make sure you’re considering the diameter of the diffuser to ensure proper fit. For one, they "help smooth the hair by controlling airflow and dispersing it in concentrated areas, helping to keep the hair’s cuticle smooth as it’s drying," says Johnson. This is ideal for maintaining shape on those with curly or natural textures, as the hair isn’t manipulated as much as it would be if you were to use your hands, and thus, the hair's natural curl pattern won't be disturbed, says Johnson.
If your blow dryer didn’t come with a diffuser attachment, consider this budget-friendly option that’ll fit onto any dryer. It’s lightweight and easy to tote around, making it great for travel if you’re strapped for space. To use, slip the diffuser onto the nozzle of your dryer, ensuring there’s at least two to four inches of space between the sock and the end of the dryer.
We spoke to experts about what to look for when shopping for hair diffusers. We also put together a list of what to shop based on their recommendations and guidance. The holes or vents in the bowl of a hair diffuser control how much air will flow through the device.
It has little holes that redirect the air, spreading it out over a larger area instead of blowing it all in one direction with a ton of force. Jessica (she/her) is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute and a longtime product tester, reviewer, writer and editor of beauty and lifestyle content. You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera. Continue using your diffuser all over your hair, dropping your wet curls into the diffuser and drying on low to "gently diffuse hair to about 80% dry," advises Diaz. Letting it air dry towards the end will give it a bouncy finish that looks hydrated. If you still have knots, you can gently run your fingers through soaking-wet hair to detangle before twirling or scrunching curls.
Plus, it features a cold shock button that helps you lock in definition after drying, per the brand. Diffusers are attachments that snap or clip onto the end of your hair dryer. True to their name, diffusers help to "diffuse" or soften air flow, evenly dispersing it over a larger area of hair. This ensures that the air is not disrupting your wave pattern while minimizing heat damage. If you don’t already have a Dyson hair dryer, I suggest immediately adding it to all your holiday/birthday wish lists right now. And if you’re already in possession of one, pick up the Supersonic Diffuser, which helps gently dry even super-thick curls with a steady stream of air to reduce frizz and drying time.
For undeniably defined waves, we would suggest filling each section of hair into the diffuser bowl and bringing the bowl close to your scalp for a few seconds. Keep repeating this motion until your entire head of hair is dry, and you'll notice stunning waves beginning to take shape. We already trust Rizos Curls to take care of our hair thanks to their hair-defining products, and they just keep giving us more with this conveniently collapsible diffuser attachment. Perfect for travel and the minimalist, this is a straightforward choice that’ll fit any hair dryer. The flexible neck is perfect for the long-haired beauties who worry about awkward hair flips. Plus, many testers say this tool cuts their drying time in half, minus the damage from the heat.
They disperse the air generated by your dryer across a much wider surface area, which in turn distributes it more evenly through sections of your hair, making the drying process much gentler on your strands. This in turn helps to maintain curly hairstyles' shape and keeps excess frizz to a minimum, so they really are a worthwhile investment. A hair diffuser is an attachment that snaps or slides onto your blow dryer to manage the airflow.
Plus, while this diffuser works with Drybar’s hair dryers, it also fits most other blow dryers, too! A downside with this diffuser is that it’s not a universal attachment – the ghd Professional Diffuser is designed for use with the brand’s Air and Helios hair dryers only. The diffuser fits the Air directly, and the ring attachment supplied in the box is used to fit it to the Helios. If you do have a ghd hair dryer, however, this diffuser attachment is a great investment for curly or frizz-prone hair.