Blow Dry Curly Hair with a Diffuser

If you have a curly or frizzy hair type, using a diffuser attachment is a great way to dry your hair without causing your curls to fall apart and look fuzzy. The diffused air gently dries your hair while keeping your curls sleek and shiny. Prep your hair with the right products to protect your hair, then finish with a serum to hold your look in place.

Steps

Prepping Your Hair

  1. Apply conditioner in the shower. This will keep your hair moisturized and help your curls stay together instead of frizzing. After you rinse out your shampoo, apply it about an inch from your roots (since your scalp's natural oils will keep your roots area conditioned) and use your fingers to comb it through to the tips.[1]
    • Some people with curly hair opt to wash with conditioner only, since shampoo tends to dry out curly hair. Find the routine that feels right for your hair's texture. If your hair has been dry and brittle conditioner washing might be worth a try.
  2. Rinse out the conditioner with cool water. Rinsing with cool water (as cool as you can handle) is better for curly hair. It causes the hair shaft to lie flat, rather than frizzing up, resulting in sleeker curls. Taking this step will help hold your curls together when you diffuse them after showering.
  3. Gently squeeze excess water from your hair. Flip your hair upside down and use your hands to squeeze out the water rather than twisting or wringing it out. Again, this will help your curls stay pretty and bouncy. When you towel dry your hair, the curls separate and frizz up.
  4. Smooth leave-in conditioner into your hair. This is optional, but it's a great help if your hair tends to get very dry and frizzy. Rub some leave-in conditioner between your palms and gently work it through your hair, section by section, until all of your curls are covered.
  5. Get your diffuser ready. Most hair dryers come with a diffuser attachment. It looks like a wide, circular nozzle with several prongs sticking out. Attach it to your hair dryer and set the dryer to a cool or warm setting.[2]
    • Using a cool or warm setting, rather than a hot setting, is much better for curly hair. A hot setting will cause your hair to dry out and get brittle.

Blowing It Dry

  1. Flip your hair upside down. Most curly-haired people know that volume at the roots is important, since curls are heavy and tend to flatten at the top of the head. To avoid this, start by flipping your head upside down. Your hair will dry in an upside-down position, and once you're finished your roots will have much better volume.
    • If keeping your head upside down gets uncomfortable, you can lean your head to one side or another instead. The important thing is not to sit upright, since gravity will cause your roots to flatten as your hair dries.
    • Another option some people like to use is lifting the roots with hair clips. Use claw clips to lift the roots from your head, and dry your hair with the clips in place. That way you won't have to hold your head upside down to get volume.
  2. Turn on the diffuser and hold it pointed up. Remember to use a low or medium heat setting. Hold the dryer so that the bowl-shaped diffuser is pointing to the ceiling.
  3. Lay a handful of curls in the bowl of the diffuser. Take a small handful of hair, keeping the curls intact, and coil it in the bowl of the diffuser. Just drop the hair into the diffuser; don't push it down or bunch it up. Handle your hair gently at all times.
  4. Lift the diffuser until it touches your head to dry your roots. You should feel the prongs separating the hair at your scalp in order to access your roots. Hold the diffuser there for several seconds to allow your roots to get dry. You can move it in a circular motion to lift the roots make sure all the hair in the section gets dry. When the roots feel dry, lower the diffuser and let your hair drop out of the bowl.[1]
    • Don't hold the diffuser in place for too long. You just want your hair to get about eighty percent dry. If you dry it too much it will frizz up.
    • Try not to over-dry the tips. If you can leave the tips of your hair hanging off the side of the diffuser, they'll quickly air-dry and you won't risk getting over dried ends.
  5. Move on to the next section of hair. Take another handful from next to the first section and repeat the process. Coil your hair in the diffuser, then bring it up to your head to dry your roots. When your hair is eighty percent dry, lower the diffuser and let your hair loose.
  6. Continue until your hair is dry. Section by section, dry your roots and curls with the diffuser. Since you'll need to have your head upside down, you might want to take a few breaks.

Finishing Your Look

  1. Apply hair serum or gel. This will define your curls and keep them from getting frizzy. Apply the product section by section, taking care not to pull your curls apart. There's no need to use a brush or comb; just use your fingers.
  2. Try not to handle your hair too much during the day. Curls tend to puff up when they're over handled. Now that your hair is dry, just let it be for the rest of the day. Try not to crush your curls with restrictive styles, hats and other accessories that might cause them to get too fluffy.
  3. Use light-hold hairspray if needed. Avoid using firm or maximum hold spray, since it tends to make curls look rigid and helmet-like. Use a light hold spray that allows your curls to move and bounce easily.



Tips

  • This may not work for everyone. Adjust your technique to fit you.
  • As your hair gets dryer, try not to touch it with your hands or this may result in frizz.
  • There are also sock diffusers; these can go on any diffuser and are good for traveling but cause a bit more frizz. To use one, hold it close to the curls and move up and down.

Warnings

  • As always be cautious with electronic appliances and do not use them around water.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://styles101.homestead.com/curls.html
  2. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/tools-techniques/3-easy-steps-to-a-perfect-home-blow-dry
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