These Diffusers Will Make Your Curls Look Incredible

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If you have thick, curly hair, you probably already know that you need one of the best diffusers for curly hair in your routine. Because if you’ve ever tried air drying your curls, you already know that it can take forever and leave a lot to be desired as far as the finished result. Think: lack of definition, bounce, and less volume. If you want to achieve a bouncy blowout–big, ’90s hair is back–or accentuate your natural texture without all the frizz, the best diffusers for curly hair can make a big difference.

“A blow dryer diffuser directs the airflow, so it does not disturb the curl pattern,” explains Todd Faul, senior cosmetology educator at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes-Dallas. “Diffusers can be used on hair that has been permed to enhance the curl, or on naturally curly hair to enhance your God-given curls.”

As you begin your journey to find your diffuser match, it isn’t always as simple as picking up the most affordable or prettiest option. Not every diffuser will fit every hair dryer, so that’s something to look out for. If you’re not crazy about your current hair dryer, now may be the time to purchase a dryer and diffuser combo so that you know that they’re compatible. It’s also key to have your goals in mind. Looking for extra volume? More definition? Those factors can help guide you toward the right diffuser.

We tapped top hair stylists for their favorite diffusers, scoured customer reviews, and included a few options we’ve tested and love to find the best diffusers on the market. Whatever your curl wishes are, here are the 16 best diffusers for curly hair that really wowed us.

DevaFuser

If you want to add volume but keep definition, this diffuser is gentle enough to do both. The hand-like tool gently cups hair, instead of disturbing it, so you can get the best of both worlds. Want to see if it will fit your hairdryer? See specs and measurements here.

Amazon rating: 4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I love, love, love, LOVE this diffuser! The fingers slip into areas of my hair around my head in ways that a traditional diffuser cannot. For example, I can slide it *into* the curls instead of just scrunching them. It gives me great lift at the roots.”

InfinitiPRO by Conair Ionic Ceramic Hair Dryer

“The best diffuser for adding volume, and the most economical, is the Conair Infiniti pro,” says cosmetology educator Todd Faul. “It is lightweight with lots of power and works great to enhance your curls with the diffuser attachment.” It touts ceramic technology for faster drying and less damage, plus the set comes with another attachment for creating sleek blowouts as.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I have had the orange version for about 16 years and it’s still going strong! I bought a second one in burgundy for my vacation house. Works just as great. I have curly hair and use the diffuser daily. My curls are beautiful and bouncy and it doesn’t dry my hair out.”

Infrared Hair Dryer

If you’re searching for a new tool that does it all, consider this one. This hair dryer comes with a diffuser, a smoothing attachment, and even some hair clips to make the process easy. Many Amazon reviewers noted its reasonable price, but decent blow drying and diffusing skills that stand up to more expensive competitors.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I really like the Revlon Drying Power blower in white, and the color is simply gorgeous. It comes with both an acrylic or plastic nozzle and a diffuser, which is a great plus. I also appreciate the hair clips and cooling button included. Another positive is that it’s not heavy to hold, and the heat it provides is just right for my hair drying needs.”

Diffuser De Rizos

If you’re looking for a diffuser that's no muss, no fuss, then look no further. This diffuser is made of heat-resistant silicone, and it can fold down, making it easy to store and travel with. Plus, the silicone barrel fits on almost every hair dryer, so you don’t need to buy a new one. If you don’t use a diffuser often, rest assured this is a great purchase as it doesn’t take up too much room.

Revolve rating: 4.2/5 stars

An expert reviewer says: “When I travel, trying to decide which hair products to bring is always the hardest part of packing. For my curls, a diffuser is absolutely essential, but most are so bulky. I love that this tool collapses so I can easily pack it use it with hotel hair dryers.” –Tatjana Freund, Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor

SoftTouch 3 Diffuser

If you’re lucky enough to have long, curly hair, then you know that drying those curls can take a ton of time. This diffuser paired with the T3 AireLuxe dryer can quickly dry a ton of hair without leaving behind any damp spots. The T3 dryer is one of our favorites because it dries hair quickly, and adding this diffuser is chef’s kiss for enhancing any wave pattern.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An expert reviewer says: “I absolutely swear by my T3 blow dryer, in part because it means I can use this diffuser. I swear this cuts my drying time in half, and my curls always come out defined and voluminous.” –Tatjana Freund

Black Orchid Hair Diffuser

If you’re trying to speed up the drying process, opt for a diffuser like this one. It has 360-degree airflow, meaning your hair will dry evenly. It’s also very large, so you can scoop up a big bundle of curls and dry them super fast. Note: this diffuser doesn’t fit all hair dryers! It has a 1.8-inch nozzle diameter, so it will only fit dryers that have the same measurement.

Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I have long, very thick hair, and I can’t believe how much hair I can get inside this thing!! Wish I would have gotten this a long time ago!”

Special Edition Supersonic™ Hair Dryer in Blue Blush

Looking to invest in your haircare? Dyson is considered one of the leaders in hair tools, and their Supersonic Dryer is worth the hefty price tag. Not only does it come with a magnetic diffuser (this tiny detail is a game changer–it makes each attachment feel super sturdy when it’s on), but it comes with a comb attachment, concentrated nozzle for straightening, a flyaway tool, and more.

Sephora rating: 4/5 stars

An expert reviewer says: “At first, I thought that the dryer was too powerful, but once I learned how to use it, there was no going back. And all of the attachments are so fun to play around with and really work. I find that the best combo for a smooth, yet bouncy curl look is to use the diffuser on the lengths of towel-dried hair and then the smoothing nozzle on top to minimize frizziness and flyaways.”—Lisa DeSantis, ELLE.com contributor

Pink Collapsible Diffuser

If you’re packing your bags to go on vacay, don’t stress if your hairdryer can’t fit. This collapsible diffuser fits on almost every hair dryer on the market, including those dryers that hotels have, so you can keep styling on the go.

Rizoz Curls rating: 4.7/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “With the help of this diffuser, my curls look amazing!”

De-Frizzion Dryer

Looking for a hair dryer that meets all of your curls’ wishes? This baby packs a punch with anti-frizz technology, three heat settings and a cold shot, and a huge diffuser head. If you’re looking for shiny, healthy curls that are defined with tons of volume, look no further.

Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “I’ve always had an issue with frizz, and this diffuser one million percent removed 99 percent of it! Highly recommend to any one who’s trying to love their curls cause I know it’s a lot of work. Curl Smith Diffuser will change your life! I have low-med porosity hair, mainly 3B curl pattern.”

Diffuser Attachment

For curls that look just as good as what you can get in a salon, try the GHD diffuser attachment. It makes quick work of even long, thick curls, without using too much heat. This diffuser can be used with the GHD Helios dryer, or their Air Professional dryer.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “As a hairstylist, I ordered this diffuser for the purpose of working with naturally curly hair. This nozzle fit perfectly on my blow dryer and stays put until I detach it. It is strong and sturdy so it will last for many years to come.”

The Blow Dryer

From Tracee Ellis Ross’ curl-specific brand, this blow dryer took two years to get right and features four attachments including a diffuser that offers much more than meets the eye. Its prongs are spaced out to provide proper ventilation to heat curls evenly for shaping and setting. For a customized blowout that’s tailor-made to your unique curls, there are three heat and two speed settings to choose from. You can read ELLE’s full review of Pattern for more information.

Ulta rating: 4.2/5 stars

An expert reviewer says: “I love that Pattern’s heat system has an attachment for all, well, hair patterns and textures.” –Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com Beauty Commerce Editor

Ion Diffuser

Whether you’re traveling, sharing a hair dryer, or simply on a budget, this fabric diffuser can be tightened onto your classic blow dryer to create a diffusing effect. “The sock diffuser will fit on pretty much all hair dryers,” says Faul. “Made from a lightweight, heat-resistant fabric instead of plastic like most diffusers, it’s perfect for people that travel as it is easy to pack in your suitcase and will fit on any hair dryer that is provided by the hotel that you’re staying at.”

Amazon rating: 3.2/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “This little diffuser is perfect. The picture doesn’t show the elastic strap that holds it to the dryer, but it does have one. My other diffusers leave me with lots of frizz or constantly pop off the dryer during use. I now keep this one permanently attached to my dryer. I have lots of curly 3A hair and this product dries it without frizz and lots of shine. A truly great product for curly hair!”

The Bouncer Diffuser

Searching for a bit more bounce? That’s what the Drybar diffuser is best at. It helps lift curls off the scalp, giving you tons of volume without adding frizz. Plus, while this diffuser works with Drybar’s hair dryers, it also fits most other blow dryers, too! The proof is in the pudding.

Ulta rating: 4/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “My hair dryer worked fine, but I needed a diffuser attachment. This one fits my Rusk CTC hair dryer perfectly, and it actually dries my hair faster than the one that came with my blow dryer. I’d recommend!”

Curls in Check Diffuser

This tool was created to help accentuate your natural texture. It’s great for people with wavy hair who are looking to keep a natural bend in their hair. This dryer and diffuser are super lightweight, which means your styling routine can stop being your workout routine, too.

Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “The best method for my own head of curls is to wash it as normal, put a small amount of leave-in conditioner on my hair to maintain moisture, and finger twist with Mop Top custard. After finger-twisting, I just gently diffuse with this dryer upside down first, then left and right before finally upright, until hair is dry.”

Universal Hair Diffuser

This brand has taken notes and created the diffuser of our dreams. Not only does this fit almost every hair dryer on the market thanks to some clever design, but it also has a huge barrel, so even people with the thickest hair can style and dry their hair quickly.

Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I love that this diffuser is adjustable to fit on many hair blowers. It works well and I’ve had no issues with anything melting or overheating.”

Negative Ions Ceramic Hair Dryer with Diffuser Attachment

Whether you’re looking to rock your natural texture or give yourself a sleek blowout, this hair dryer and attachments can make all your hair dreams come true. With a diffuser, smoothing attachment, and comb attachment, you’ll never need to step foot in a salon again.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says:“No frills, but it had everything I needed with the cool setting being perfect and the absolute best part was how crazy lightweight it is!”

How do diffusers work?

“Diffusers essentially diffuse the air coming out of the dryer, so it reduces the velocity and spreads it out further, which is great for mimicking air-drying,” says David Lopez, New York-based celebrity hairstylist and curl expert. While a traditional blow dryer pushes air out and causes frizz, a diffuser will just gently dry hair without any friction.

Who should be using a diffuser?

“I would say anyone who wants to mimic air-drying, or perhaps encourage some volume in their natural waves or curls, and of course, someone with curly hair,” says Lopez. Diffusers are great for anyone who wants to add a bit more volume to their styles as well. “Even people with straight hair can use a diffuser,” adds Faul. “They will be surprised to see how much body and wave they can get out of diffusing their hair.”

How do you prefer to use a diffuser?

“First, I just really rotate the diffuser around the head and around the hair, without touching or manipulating the hair at all until a cast starts to form from the product that you use,” says Lopez. “Then, once a cast starts to form and you want to start building volume, you can tilt your head side-to-side or flip upside down gently and then encourage some volume and some more curl.”

What's the best way to prevent frizz when using a diffuser?

“Wait until your hair is completely dry before you start cupping it to encourage the curl,” says Lopez. “The more you touch your hair while it’s drying, the more you are going to encourage frizz. So, I always tell people to let the hair dry first to at least 85 to 90 percent, basically almost completely dry, before you start cupping it and encouraging volume, so you don’t have as much frizz.”

What should you look for in the best diffusers?

Faul says to look for diffusers that best suit your needs. If you’re looking for a more customizable experience, look for something with several different heat and speed settings. As for sizing, it’s important to pay attention to the specs to make sure that the diffuser will fit your blow dryer. And of course, if you need something for traveling, it would be wise to look for something that’s collapsible and easy to pack.

Meet the Experts

David Lopez is a New York-based celebrity hairstylist and curl expert.

Todd Faul is the senior cosmetology educator at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes in Dallas.

Why trust ELLE Beauty

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items.

Lisa DeSantis is a freelance writer who has been in the beauty industry for nearly ten years. She began her career in beauty and fashion at QVC and has since written for and contributed to top women’s magazines and digital brands such as Health, Real Simple, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, Byrdie, Well & Good, and more. She has tested thousands of products and considers herself a professional guinea pig who’s always on the search for the next big trends in beauty, wellness, and beyond. For this story, she interviewed two professional hair stylists and poured over hundreds of customer reviews to find the best diffusers for curly hair worth shopping. Each was evaluated on factors like reported results and features offered.

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