Waves and curls can’t just be done with a blow dryer – you need the best diffuser to manage your curls. If you’re new to diffusers, add them to your hairstyling regimen. Long story short, the uncontrolled airflow of a regular blow dryer can make your hair extremely tangled from loose to tight curls, while the nozzle splitter for smooth blowouts can completely eliminate frizz. A diffuser is a typically bowl-shaped attachment with multiple vents that slows down and evenly distributes airflow and heat for defined curls.
Best Splurge: Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer, $500
Best for Curly and Coiled Hair: Pattern Beauty Hair Dryer, $189
Best Quick Dry: Xtava Black Orchid Diffuser, $25
Best Budget: Conair Volumizing Universal Hair Diffuser, $12
Best Smart Tech: T3 Aire IQ Hair Dryer Kit, $400
Professional hairstylist Syd Hayes believes that diffusers are one of the most underrated styling accessories on the market. “[The diffuser] is one of the most effective styling tools, especially for people with wavy, curly or kinky hair. It helps enhance natural texture without causing frizz,” Hayes tells Vogue. Even if you don’t have curly or kinky hair, don’t neglect your diffuser.
Assuming you’re determined to let your curls air dry, skip the diffuser — that’s certainly true, but professional hairstylist and Pattern Beauty instructor Ebony Bomani encourages you to think again. “Air-drying your hair isn’t ideal because curls stay wet longer and hair is most fragile when wet,” Bomani tells Vogue. “However, if you insist on air-drying your hair, at least air-dry your roots (for volume and scalp health).”