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9 Hair Diffusers for the Best Frizz-Free Curls of Your Life
All of the bounce, none of the flyaways.
People with curly and natural hair are all too familiar with frizziness. Though many of us reach for the leave-in conditioner, hoping it will tame unruly tresses into beautiful, bouncy curls, there's one highly underrated piece of haircare equipment that blasts frizz away from your strands in minutes: hair diffusers.
The Best Hair Diffusers
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What Is a Hair Diffuser?
Chances are, you already have one of these nifty hair dryer attachments, and it's probably collecting dust in your room. But for those of you with wavy-to-kinky hair types, it’s time to dust off your diffuser and put it to good use.
We spoke to Annagjid “Kee” Taylor, celebrity hairstylist to notable stars like Keke Palmer, Tika Sumpter, Tiffany Haddish, Nafessa Williams, and many more, about why exactly a diffuser is such an important haircare tool for curls. She tells us, “One of the main benefits of using a hair diffuser is to dry and set your hair, defining curls with minimal frizz.”
Since diffusers distribute airflow, it’s able to maximize coverage which, Taylor says, “is better and less damaging for your strands” than using a regular dryer or a concentrator nozzle that only flows in one concentrated direction. “The multidirectional airflow also gives your locks more volume and body,” she says.
How to Shop
Understanding Your Natural Curl Pattern
Knowing your natural curl pattern will help you understand how your hair will turn out after using a diffuser. These attachments are meant to elevate your hair’s natural body and bends, so don’t expect ringlets when your hair naturally falls in subtle waves. Yes, you’ll see more volume and definition, but hair diffusers aren’t meant to do more than that.
Since there are quite a few hair types, finding yours can be difficult at first, but we have a nifty curl pattern guide for you to check out.
Assess How Long Your Hair Is
... Or rather, assess just much hair you have. Curly-haired people know that shrinkage makes your hair look much shorter than it actually is, plus curly hair is naturally more voluminous than finer, straighter hair types. The easiest rule of thumb to follow is that the more hair you have, or the longer your hair is, the bigger the diffuser you're going to need.
Now that you’ve gotten the 101 on how to use a hair diffuser and why they’re so vital for getting those curls tamed to perfection, check out a few of the most impressive, top-rated diffusers that internet reviewers (plus celebrity hairstylists) can’t get enough of.
Believe us: Once you use one of these diffusers on your curls, you’re never going to air-dry ever again.
Curls in Check 1875 Watt Diffuser Hair Dryer
Bed Head takes diffusing a step further with this innovative diffuser/dryer hybrid. Instead of a separate attachment designed for use on a traditional hair dryer, this has everything you need in one handy tool.
It features three different heat settings, as well as two different speeds, so you can truly customize your styling session.
Professional Hair Dryer Diffuser Attachment
Professional Hair Dryer Diffuser Attachment
Perfect for both long and short hair, this diffuser features 110-plus air outlets to distribute heat and prevent damage. We love the deeper bowl, too, which allows the dryer to get a better grip on your hair, making your curls even more defined.
Collapsible Silicone Hair Diffuser Attachment
Collapsible Silicone Hair Diffuser Attachment
This affordable hair diffuser is lightweight, easy to use, and can fit a wide range of blow dryers. But the best part is that it's collapsible, making it the perfect travel companion. Plus, it comes with a convenient travel bag, so you can take it with you anywhere you please.
The Bouncer Diffuser
The Bouncer Diffuser
Drybar knows a thing or two about proper heat styling. In addition to controlling airflow for properly defined curls, this one also cuts down on frizz and boosts shine.
Wedding hairstylist Senada Ceka says that this is one of her go-tos when she’s styling curls for its volumizing effect and shining results.
An excellent budget buy, this Conair pick offers everything you'd want in a hair diffuser for less than 13 bucks. It works well with nearly any blow dryer and delivers frizz-free curls and waves in a flash.
T3 offers an amazing assortment of quality hairstyling tools, this diffuser included. It's specifically designed to provide proper styling for soft, defined curls. It features vented finger-like extensions to distribute heat gently and evenly, resulting in voluminous, soft curls.
Italy Dryer Diffuser
Italy Dryer Diffuser
Another favorite of Ceka's, this hair diffuser lifts and separates hair while creating soft, bouncy curls without the frizz. This snap-on attachment fits BaBylissPRO Volare V1, Portofino, or Luminoso Dryers, while the slide-on hair diffuser is compatible with almost a dozen BaByliss hairdryers.
This pick is easy to use, but it's also great for your hair: It works for just about any hair type to add volume and shine, and it cuts your drying time down.
Not one, not two, but three celebrity hairstylists (Cheryl Bergamy, Michelle Cleveland, and Michael Boychuck) that we spoke to for this article all praised the wonders of this hair diffuser from Dyson. This diffusing attachment has extra-long prongs to get deeper into your hair, cutting down drying time in half.
But the true magic of this diffuser lies within its meticulous engineering, which means that it disperses air evenly around your curls for a more defined, frizz-free, and voluminous look.
However, there is one drawback: This attachment only works on the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, which costs a pretty penny (but is totally worth it if you have the cash to spend). Our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders, considers this the gold standard of beauty tools. To quote her recent review, “You can be a complete beginner or a professional hairstylist working on A-listers, and you’d still fall in love with this hot tool like I have.”
Universal Diffuser
Universal Diffuser
Bio Ionic's hair diffuser gets two thumbs up from us for one main reason: It has a universal fit, so you can pop it onto any blow dryer that you have.
This ultra lightweight hair diffuser features 12 air outlets for faster drying time. The diffuser itself was designed using natural volcanic minerals, which help your hair stay hydrated as you style it.
Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.
Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.
Nicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty. When she's not creating shopping guides, interviewing experts, and testing beauty treatments, you can probably find her walking around Lower Manhattan or overanalyzing the latest episode of "Succession." You can send all lipstick and calamari recommendations to her inbox and DM her memes on Instagram.
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