If you’ve got curly or wavy hair, the best hair dryer with diffuser can help you maintain those natural curl patterns without letting your hair shrink, flyaways or frizz. A hair diffuser (also known as a blow dryer diffuser or a diffuser attachment) is a round plastic add-on that slides onto the nozzle of your hairdryer to distribute the airflow in an even and controlled way.
“When you use a diffuser on a low setting and gently move it over your hair, the airflow stretches the strands and gives them a softer look. This prevents them from getting flattened by traditional hair-drying techniques, which can cause shrinkage and frizz,” says stylist Paola Torres of Westfield, New Jersey’s Utopia Hair and Day Spa.
The best hair diffusers come in different sizes to fit various hair lengths and styles, but they all have the same purpose: to slow down your hairdryer’s airflow to distribute it evenly over your strands rather than in a concentrated way as a standard nozzle attachment does. “The best diffusers also have a cool shot button that provides a burst of cold air to seal the cuticle, tighten and set the curl pattern and give your hair extra shine,” explains stylist and LOOKFANTASTIC contributor Anna Kimble.
To get the most out of your diffuser, you should start by liberally spraying a heat protectant on your damp hair to create a barrier between your curls and the harsh heat of the hairdryer. Then, let your curls dry a little (but not completely) and use your fingers to fluff them up and shape them into the desired style. hair dryer with diffuser