There is no doubt that curly hair looks gorgeous in photos and earns us a lot of compliments, but if you have curly hair, then you also know that taking care and maintaining it on a daily basis can be a lot effort sometimes. You could already be using the best shampoos for curly hair in your hair wash routine, followed by leave-in conditioners for added moisture. But if you are still left with curls that tend to get frizzy and don't last longer than two days after your hair wash, then you could be doing something wrong – specifically when it comes to drying your hair. This is where the best diffusers for curly hair will help transform your hair styling routine.
Benefits of using a diffuser for curly hair
If you already use the best hair dryers for curly hair or choose to air dry your curls to avoid heat damage or excessive dryness like me, you might be thinking how is a diffuser going to make any difference? I was the same too, until I saw how much better my curls could look when dried and styled with a diffuser.
I saw the difference after a styling session offered by Francesco Aresco, Advanced Stylist at The Cult Hairdressing Salon in London and he also shared his top tips when using a diffuser for curly hair.
A diffuser means less frizz
“I would always recommend using a diffuser over a regular hair dryer when it comes to curly hair as the scattered airflow and diffusion spreads the heat and air all over your lengths without causing any frizz,” he says.
It enhances curl definition and volume
While air drying is a good option, constant movement and disturbance while drying might cause loss of curl pattern and increased frizz. “This is where a diffuser brings the difference as it helps to hold the natural curl pattern while drying, without loss of moisture,” he says.
Airdrying can also be time consuming, and you may sometimes end up sleeping with damp hair which is not advised. Since air drying mostly happens with your hair down and does not involve any volumizing, your roots have end up looking a bit flat.
Using a diffuser comes with benefits like fast drying, minimal heat damage and improved volume and curl definition.
A diffuser won't strip away moisture
“The diffused air and heat is not harsh, does not cause excessive dryness which eventually leads to frizz and therefore it protects your curls,” he adds.
He also recommends using moisturising hair masks while washing your hair to help lock in hydration and keep your hair shiny for longer. This will also protect your hair against harsh hard water.
Diffuser for curly hair - before and after
How to use a diffuser for curly hair
If you are already used to the functioning of a hair dryer, the basics of using a diffuser will come naturally to you. What is different is the method of drying your hair and the attachments a diffuser comes with. To begin with, most diffuser hair dryers come with the diffuser bowl attachment and the concentrator attachment.
The Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer which tops our list of the best diffusers for curly hair comes with more attachment options like the wide-tooth comb attachment, gentle air attachment and flyaway attachment in addition to the diffuser and concentrator, which makes this diffuser suitable for a more wider range of hair types – from straight to curly. However, I mostly use the diffuser attachment to style my curly hair as this is what gives me the best results.
“For me, preparation is fundamental when it comes to curly hair. This is why it is important to use the best curly hair products that suit your hair type before drying and styling your hair,” Francesco says.
Whether you are more comfortable using hair mousse or using the best styling brushes for curly hair to enhance and define curls before drying it, it is important to prioritise products that are gentle and add moisture to your hair.
“I feel curly hair reacts better with water-based products, especially with fine curls, you need light products that do not weigh the hair down. However, for more coily hair, you will need products with stronger hold. You also opt to layer it with a light leave-in conditioner for added shine and moisture,” Francesco says.
Curly hair diffuser tutorial
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Apply your leave-in conditioner and styling products on your hair
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Lock in your natural curl patterns using the finger coiling technique, the Curly Girl Method or any other curly hair styling guide that works for you. You can also use a styling brush to define and separate curls at this point. However, if you are in a rush or going for a more natural look, you can skip this step and directly go in with the diffuser. Francesco always recommends having a simple approach to styling curly hair and going in straight with the diffuser as he feels that creates a more natural look.
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Start with bending to one side and letting your hair collect in the diffuser bowl to slowly bring it up but not touching your scalp. You can use higher speed and heat settings on the lengths.
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Repeat this on the other side as well to evenly dry your lengths
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You can repeat this step by flipping your hair over your head and doing the same. This is going to add more volume and bounce to your hair
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Using the diffuser on the lowest heat and speed setting, start going towards the roots.
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Try doing this with your hair flipped over head too as this will create more volume at the roots to prevent a flat crown.
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The result will be shiny, voluminous and well-defined curls.
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If needed you can carefully apply a few drops of oil or some curl cream on the ends or the lengths if it feels a bit dry.
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After you are done styling and drying your hair, Francesco’s pro tip is – the less you touch your hair, the better it is for curly hair.
How to use a diffuser on short curly hair
If you are wondering how to use a diffuser for curly hair that is short, you can follow the same tutorial mentioned above. However, the only difference would be that your hair lengths might be close to your roots. In this case, it is better to use your diffuser on a low heat and speed setting throughout as using high heat near your scalp will cause heat damage and is not healthy. But otherwise, all the steps mentioned above will give you voluminous, defined curls.
FAQs
Does a diffuser make your hair curly?
Diffusers add more volume, bounce and definition to your curls which will give the impression of tighter and more pronounced curls. So, if you feel your hair is unable to hold curl pattern and loses definition, using a diffuser will definitely help to improve the appearance of your curls.
How does a diffuser differ from other hair dryer attachments?
Regular hair dryers and wider attachments are designed for maximum airflow and pressure for faster drying. But this could be damaging for curly hair as it is more prone to dryness, loss of moisture and excessive impact with airflow can disturb the natural curl patterns and therefore cause loss of definition and shine. Diffusers are made to distribute the airflow through small and pointed prongs that reach the roots and prevent the impact of air on the lengths which can cause frizz. This will help to increase volume at the roots and dry your hair while protecting the natural curls. Diffusers also come with bowls that make sure to lift the hair and evenly distribute the heat without any direct impact.
Should you diffuse curly hair wet or damp?
In my experience with curly hair, it is better to use a towel to scrunch the water and wetness from your hair before going in to diffuse. So the best results would be achieved when using a diffuser on damp curls.
How long should I diffuse my curly hair?
This depends on the thickness and length of your hair. But usually, it is recommended to use a diffuser on low heat and speed settings, especially at the roots to prevent any damage. So, with these settings in mind, diffusing mid-length hair for 15-20 minutes would give you impressive results and completely dry hair. But if you have shorter or finer hair, it might take you lesser time.
What to do after diffusing curly hair?
After using a diffuser, if your hair feels a bit dry you can choose to apply a few drops of the best hair oil that works for your hair type on your lengths, avoiding the roots. Take care as to note disturb the curls or pull down too much on the lengths. The most important thing when it comes to styling curly hair is to touch it as less as possible.
Akhila Thomas is a digital writer at Yours.co.uk and her areas of interest are beauty, fashion, food, wellness and lifestyle. She has previously written for magazines like Leftlion, Women’s Health and t’Art and worked extensively with art, culture, fashion and social media trends. She also likes to travel and explore new cultures and cuisines.