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13 Best Hair Diffusers for All Curly Hair Types and How to Use Them

 

Major volume, definition, and shine—ya know, the Holy Trinity.

Wash day can be a lot for anyone, but when you’re a part of the curly hair crew, it can turn into a whole ordeal, especially when it comes to drying your hair. If you struggle to keep your curls nice, tight, and intact, then it might be time to consider adding a hair diffuser into your routine. If you haven’t found a favorite yet—or don’t know how to use one—don’t fret, because we gotchu. Below, you’ll find all the deets on diffusing your curls and coils properly. Plus, we even hand-picked the best hair diffusers that are actually worth your money.

Whether you’re in the market for your first blow dryer/diffuser attachment or just want to add a great styling tool to your arsenal of curly hair products, below, you’ll find the entire list of the best diffusers around. Plus, we’ve got the 411 on how to use them, why they’re worth it, and how to shop for the best ones, thanks to some help from top Chicago hairstylist, Leigh Hardges.

BEST COLLAPSIBLE HAIR DIFFUSER

Ceremonia Diffuser de Rizos

PROS: GREAT FOR TRAVEL

CONS: DOESN'T FIT ALL HAIR DRYERS

There's so much to love about this diffuser from Ceremonia. Since it's collapsible, you can basically take it anywhere with you, making travel days so much easier. It can also easily attach to your hair dryer, thanks to its ribbed-grip end, and it can withstand temperatures of up to 400-degrees and even offers a special cool-touch surface, so there's no hand-burning. Since it has short prongs and a wide bowl, this diffuser would be ideal for medium- to short-length hair.

THE REVIEWS: "I LOVE THIS DIFFUSER! I attached it to my blow dryer, and the amount of volume and definition my curls got after they were dried is insane," reads one review. "I love that the diffuser has holes in the cap, unlike other diffusers, which is essential for diffusing the air and bringing bouncy curls."

BEST BLOW DRYER AND DIFFUSER COMBO

Revlon Infrared Hair Dryer
 

PROS: SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY COULD BE HOTTER

Curly hair is naturally dry, so you'll want a blow dryer that can do it all with a minimal amount of heat damage. This lightweight hair dryer uses infrared heat to lock in moisture and has two attachments—including a huge diffuser head with both long and short prongs that'll work great for those with mixed curl patterns. Plus, it also comes with three long hair clips to help with parting, sectioning, and drying.

THE REVIEWS: "This is better than my Chi. I love this dryer! Found this after tons of looking and figured, 'Screw it. For $20 it’s worth a test,' and YES IT IS," one reviewer writes. "This is the best dryer I’ve ever had. Lightweight, quiet, great diffuser, low and high heat, AND fan speeds. I was shocked how many dryers are just low and high heat, with no fan control! Just buy it—you won’t regret it."

BEST OVERALL HAIR DIFFUSER ATTACHMENT

Sindycurls Magic Collapsible Silicone Hair Diffuser
 

PROS: PERFECT FOR TRAVELING

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY IT COLLAPSES WHILE IN USE

This flexible, collapsible (!!) diffuser is made of silicone, so it'll take up precisely zero room in your bag. It can also stretch to fit around any blow dryer nozzle between 1.6 to 2 inches. And, because of its wide bowl (key for longer curl types) and short prongs (good for shorter hair), this diffuser is basically the best all-around attachment to try, regardless of your hair type.

THE REVIEWS: "Great diffuser! I love that it fits a range of dryer diameters, and the collapsible shape is excellent for travel," one tester writes. "I’ve had no issues with the diffuser collapsing while I am drying, Just work in sections so the weight of your hair doesn’t overload it."

BEST HAIR DIFFUSER FOR VOLUME

Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser
 

PROS: EXCELLENT AIR FLOW

CONS: NOT GREAT FOR TRAVEL
DOESN'T FIT ALL HAIR DRYER NOZZLES

Although this diffuser is technically designed for Drybar’s iconic Buttercup blow dryer, it can actually fit any blow dryer that has a nozzle diameter of 2 inches (a common nozzle size). Its staggered prongs also make it easy to catch and dry curls of any length without them slipping. Pro tip: Gather a clump of your damp curls with your hand and gently place the entire bundle on top of the bowl—rather than mashing the diffuser to your head—to help define your pattern.

THE REVIEWS: "I have looser curls/waves (blend of 2c-3b) and this is my favorite diffuser yet. Holds hair evenly without smashing or breaking apart the curls (my hair is about 4 inches past my shoulders)," reads one review. "I've had less frizz with this model compared to other diffusers. I do not have the matching hair dryer but was able to connect it to my BaByliss Portofino dryer."

BEST HAIR DIFFUSER FOR ALL CURL PATTERNS

DevaCurl DevaFuser Universal Hair Diffuser
 

PROS: UNIQUE DIFFUSER HEAD

CONS: DOESN'T FIT ON ALL HAIR DRYERS

Don’t be thrown by this wacky-looking diffuser—it’s basically a holy-grail tool in curly-hair communities. The slime-green “claw” streams air from all sides of its branches, helping dry your curls with significantly less frizz while protecting your hair from heat damage. Rather than piling your hair in a classic diffuser cup, slide this DevaCurl diffuser along your roots and hang out while it dries your curls.

THE REVIEWS: "If you have naturally curly hair, this diffuser will change your life. Well, maybe not your life, but it will do wonders for your hair," writes one reviewer. "Unlike some other diffusers that have rubber tips that grab onto your hair (not good if you're avoiding frizz), it gently lifts the curls and cradles them to dry them softly. It's pricey, but you get what you pay for. And it's MUCH easier to travel with given the shape of it (compared to the large barrel styles)."

BEST DIFFUSER FOR SHORT CURLS

UuColor Universal Hair Diffuser
 

PROS: FITS MOST HAIR DRYER NOZZLES

CONS: MIGHT BE TOO BULKY TO TRAVEL WITH

The nubby prongs on this diffuser are on the shorter side, making them especially excellent at drying shorter hair, like a curly pixie cut or recently chopped coils. Since cropped hair doesn't exactly have too much to "cup," you can try alternating traditional diffusing with the hover method, where you literally hover the bowl over your hair, slowly moving it around to dry your coils without smashing them.

THE REVIEWS: "I've been trying out the curly girl method for my 2a/2b hair and I thought diffusing would do me some good," a tester writes. "This diffuser works super well and has a large surface, meaning you can use larger hair sections. It fits my Conair Model 370FDVH perfectly. I think it would be a bit clunky to travel with but it is what it is."

BEST SPLURGE HAIR DIFFUSER

Dyson Supersonic Diffuser
 

PROS: COMES IN DIFFERENT COLORS
SNAPS ON EASILY

CONS: ISN'T COMPATIBLE WITH NON DYSON HAIR DRYERS

If you don’t already have a Dyson hair dryer, I suggest immediately adding it to all your holiday/birthday wish lists right now. And if you’re already in possession of one, pick up the Supersonic Diffuser, which helps gently dry even super-thick curls with a steady stream of air to reduce frizz and drying time. BTW, Hardges is a big fan of this diffuser, too.

BEST AFFORDABLE HAIR DIFFUSER

Conair Volumizing Diffuser
 

PROS: EASY TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF

CONS: MIGHT NOT BE COMPACT ENOUGH FOR TRAVEL

This diffuser attachment is only $13, and if you think that means it's cheap in quality, too, you’d be wrong: It’s one of the most popular diffusers for curly hair on Amazon, and it fits most hair dryers (and obvi, all Conair dryers). Just lift and plop sections of your damp curls into the bowl and diffuse away.

THE REVIEWS: "This fits perfectly on my hair dryer and did exactly what I needed it to. It helps keeps my waves and curls from being frizzy and stays on the whole time with no worries of coming off my hair dryer while I’m using it," one reviewer writes. "It’s not very compact so it is not the best for traveling but you could if you wanted to. Sturdy material but not heavy and super easy to install it on and take it off. I’d buy it again for sure."

BEST HAIR DIFFUSER FOR LONG CURLS

BestTrendy Professional Universal Hair Diffuser
 

PROS: FITS ALMOST ANY HAIR DRYER NOZZLE

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY IT'S HARD TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF

This diffuser for curly hair is bomb: It is pretty cheap ($19 ain’t bad for something with over 1k positive ratings), has a deep bowl for gathering your long curls in one bunch, and fits on the majority of common blow dryers, thanks to its silicone padded opening, which locks around the nozzle of your dryer without scratching it.

THE REVIEWS: "This is a great diffuser. I have a full-size Baby Bliss dryer and travel Baby Bliss and this diffuser fits both," according to one tester. "I recommended it to my stylist and my sister who both also love it. It has a flatter profile than most other diffusers and so it is easier to pack when traveling. I’d give it more stars if I could!"

MOST CUSTOMIZABLE HAIR DIFFUSER

Segbeauty Hair Diffuser for Curly Hair
 

PROS: COMES IN MULTIPLE COLORS
FITS SMALLER BLOW DRYER NOZZLES

CONS: ITS LARGE SIZE MAKES IT A LITTLE HEAVIER THAN OTHER DIFFUSERS

This baby is mega and sturdy, which is exactly what you want when you’re dealing with curly hair (flimsy diffusers that pop off in the middle of a drying session? I think TF not). It has an ultra-deep and wide bowl and medium-length prongs, making it perfect for any curl length. But the coolest (really) part? Its airflow is customizable. Just twist the attachment to the left or right for a stronger or weaker blast of air, which can help you control how your wet hair will dry and form.

THE REVIEWS: "I love this. It has totally transformed my curly hair journey and routine," one reviewer writes. "I use it for hover drying. It is lightweight and fits on my speed freak hair dryer which has a smaller-than-typical barrel. Would buy again!"

BEST HAIR DIFFUSER BLOW DRYER

Bed Head Curls in Check Diffuser Hair Dryer
 

PROS: PERFECT TO TRANSITION OR BRING OUT CURLS

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY IT'S LOUD
NOT BEST FOR LONG HAIR

If you only own a blow dryer for the sole purpose of diffusing your hair, then why not take the bulky attachment out of the equation and instead just use a dryer with a built-in diffuser? This one from Bed Head has more than 8,000 happy reviews on Amazon and for good reason: It has three heat settings, two-speed settings, and a cool shot button (use it in the final three to five minutes of diffusing to seal in your curl definition).

THE REVIEWS: "I am absolutely in LOVE with this hair dryer. I have always used a hair dryer with a diffuser, but this takes it to the next level," according to one tester. "I have so much volume, and my curls are perfect. No frizz whatsoever! The spikes make it kind of hard for traveling, and I am afraid I will break one, but that is the only reason I didn't give every area a 5-star! Buy it!"

BEST UNIVERSAL HAIR DIFFUSER

Hairizone Universal Hair Diffuser
 

PROS: FITS ALMOST EVERY BLOW DRYER
COMES IN MULTIPLE COLORS

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY IT DOESN'T STAY IN PLACE

This universal hair diffuser fits on virtually all blow dryers (unless you’ve got some wonky dryer whose nozzle is smaller than 1.7 inches or wider than 2.6 inches, but, like, why?), so you won’t need to buy a new blow dryer just for the attachment option. If you’re into ~aesthetics~, it comes in six different pastel and vibrant colors and, most importantly, has a wide bowl to scoop up and dry even super-long curls.

THE REVIEWS: "I lost my old attachment when I moved. This one is great! It's easy to attach by squeezing the side buttons and sliding it onto my dryer," writes one reviewer. "Really helps diffuse the air so it’s not coming at my hair straight. Perfect for curly/wavy hair!"

BEST SOCK DIFFUSER

Hot Sock Diffuser
 

PROS: PERFECT FOR TRAVEL
FITS ALMOST ANY HAIR DRYER

CONS: SOME REVIEWERS SAY IT'S A BIT FLIMSY

Here's the deal with sock diffusers: They soften the stream of hot air coming out of your blow dryer, so the air doesn't blast your curls apart and leave them undefined and frizzy. They don't necessarily cup and tighten your curls like a traditional diffuser, but unlike a traditional diffuser, they're thin, squishy, and fit over virtually any blow dryer, making it possible to diffuse your curls regardless of the dryer you're using.

THE REVIEWS: "Had no issues keeping it on my blow dryer. It's less heavy and clunky than the diffuser that came with my blow dryer," one reviewer writes. "Was able to dry my fine, shoulder-length hair without it blowing around and tangling. Will definitely take it with me when traveling."

What does a hair diffuser do?

 

As a refresher, hair diffusers are bowl-shaped attachments that disperse the flow of air from your blow dryer, helping to dry your curls more evenly and gently while encouraging definition and creating major volume. So rather than your hair blowing wildly into the wind (which = tangles/matting/nightmares), a diffuser cups and nestles your hair in one place while it dries. And not only are diffusers used to dry curls, but Hardges adds that they can be used to dry and set short hairstyles and updos without disturbing the look.

Are hair diffusers really worth it?
 

As a curly-haired person, you're typically more susceptible to heat damage than someone with straight or even wavy-textured hair. If you don't have the time to air dry or completely cutting out a blow dryer isn't an option, then a diffuser is absolutely worth looking into. Not only will you be able to walk away with those big and defined curls (if properly diffused), but you'll also be able to prevent experiencing any extra heat damage or breakage by switching to a diffuser.

How to choose the best hair diffuser
 

A diffuser might be universal when it comes to fitting around your blow dryer nozzle, but as far as finding the right hair diffuser to suit your specific needs, you'll want something a little more personalized. According to Hardges, there are three key features you want to check out when shopping for hair diffusers:

Find the right size

First of all, you have to make sure the attachment is compatible with the size of your blow dryer. Still, you also want to pay special attention to the diameter of the bowl: "The size or diameter of the diffuser determines how much surface area of the head will be covered," Hardges explains. "The cup size of the dryer is an indicator of how much hair it can hold while drying." In other words, the longer your hair, the bigger, wider, or deeper the bowl you'll need.

Determine how much airflow you'll need

The holes or vents in the bowl of a hair diffuser control how much air will flow through the device. "The airflow is determined by the placement and amount of holes on the diffuser, which determines how quickly your hair dries," says Hardges. Sufficient airflow is essential if your hair is very thick and slow to dry. Hardges adds that a diffuser with a lot of holes that are also smaller in size will help dry the hair faster without disturbing the curls too much.

Consider the prong size

For longer curls, look for a diffuser with longer prongs, which Hardges says will help the curls to retain their shape. Short, nubby prongs are better for shorter hair.

Meet the expert

Leigh Hardges is a top hairstylist of Maxine Salon. She specializes in coloring and maintaining curly and natural hair and is based out of Chicago, IL.