How to Use a Diffuser to Blow-Dry Curly Hair

Curly hair: the type of hair that’s seen as an absolute blessing, unless you actually have it, at which point you’re all too aware of just how difficult it can be to manage. Ugh, why can't curls really just be as gorgeously carefree as they’re viewed? While all of our beauty wishes can’t magically come true, with the right hair tool attachments we can get pretty darn close. Case in point: the diffuser. Not sure what that is? Well, there’s a pretty good chance you accidentally chucked it aside when you first opened your blow-dryer, thinking it was an unnecessary tool taking up much-needed space in your never-big-enough bathroom. Girl, we feel you. But, if you have curly hair, truth is, it’s time to start scouring your shelves for your diffuser or heading to the store to pick one up if you don’t have one. Known for their ability to diffuse air into curls, effectively drying strands while keeping spirals intact, diffusers are basically every curly girl’s BFF. Don’t believe us? Find your diffuser or add one to your collection, along with the following curly hair products, including shampoo, conditioner, and curl cream. Then, give the below steps a whirl to blow-dry curly hair with a diffuser.

What You Need to Blow-Dry Hair with a Diffuser

Before attaching your diffuser to your blow-dryer, you have to prep your hair and make sure you have the right products.

What you’ll need:

Wide tooth comb

L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Shampoo

L’Oréal Paris EverCurl HydraCharge Conditioner

L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Curve It Curl Taming Cream

Blow-dryer with diffuser attachment

L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Weather Control Hairspray

How to Blow-Dry Curly Hair with a Diffuser

Once you have the right products, follow our diffuser tutorial below.

Step 1: Wash your hair

A pretty head of curls starts with the way you wash them. Before applying any heat to your spirals, start in the shower with a shampoo and conditioner combo designed for curly hair. When you hop out of the shower, resist the urge to towel-dry your tresses and reach for a T-shirt instead. The soft cotton material will better nurture your curls than the rough fibers of a towel.

Step 2: Massage curl cream into your mane

After ringing your curls out, apply a generous amount of curl cream to your damp mane. Be sure to rake the product through your hair, as opposed to rubbing it, to avoid any frizz formation.

Step 3: Comb your hair

While raking your curls, you may have found a few trouble areas that are particularly knotty. Before diffusing your hair, be sure to get those knots out. To help you create a tangle-free mane, use a wide-tooth comb to gently comb through any trouble areas.

Step 4: Diffuse your hair

With your diffuser in place at the end of your blow-dryer, flip your head over and use your diffuser to gently cup your hair and dry it to perfection. When drying, be sure to finish your drying sesh with a cool shot to help create the appearance of seriously shiny spirals. What’s more, while drying, be sure not to move your blow-dryer the way you would when there’s no attachment, as diffusers are meant to take their time, drying each section of hair fully before moving to the next.

Step 5: Lock your look

After spending the time to dry your curls to perfection, you have every right to want them to last. Since frizz is the number one culprit in turning a good hair day into a bad one, be sure to finish your look with a quick spritz of weather-control hair spray.

Now that you know how to use a diffuser to dry your curly hair, why not take your hair care routine a step further by brushing up on the 5 Best Haircuts for Curly Hair. With the right haircut and this drying technique, your mane will surely look its best.