Members of the curly hair club, this one’s for you. At this point, we know coils, curls and waves deserve special care to keep them looking fresh and bouncy. Of all the hair styling tools in your kit (which includes hair oil and a hair mask), finding the best hair diffuser is essential.
Hair diffusers are bowl-shaped attachments that snap to your dryer to help diffuse the flow of air to your curls to encourage clumping and definition. With one of the top diffusers, you can speed up your drying time, leaving your curls super voluminous and defined, with less frizz and flyaways.
What to look for in the best hair diffusers
Has your blow-dryer ever left you with frizzy, dried-out hair? We get it. “A diffuser gently disperses airflow from your hairdryer, avoiding direct force or pressure preserving the hair’s integrity and shape,” explains Aliza Esmail, owner of Toronto’s Salon August. “Its purpose is to promote natural drying without disrupting the curl pattern.”
While diffusers work wonders for curly and wavy hair types, they are versatile enough for any hair type. “They accelerate drying without the need for forced air or concentration, ensuring a natural dry effect and minimizing heat damage,” says Esmail.
When it comes to finding the best one, she recommends a diffuser with longer prongs. “Diffusers with extended prongs promote airflow to the scalp, giving root lift for voluminous curls without compromising their structure and minimizing frizz. Certain diffusers optimize air passage through the prongs, expediting the drying process.”
After diffusing your mane, Esmail notes hair should feel bouncy, defined and soft. “[Through using a diffuser] you can both promote volume and fullness as well as contain natural textures.”
Best hair diffuser 2024
- Best overall: Hairizone Universal Hair Diffuser
- Best budget: LIGOLIG Hair Dryer Diffuser
- Best hair dryer with diffuser built-in: Dyson Supersonic™ hair dryer
- Best rated: Shark FlexStyle Curl-Defining Diffuser
- Best luxury: Bellissima Italia Diffon DF1 5000
- Best for waves: GIHALI Universal Hair Diffuser
- Best for coils: Segbeauty Universal Curly Hair Diffuser
Best overall
Hairizone Universal Hair Diffuser
This volumizing hair diffuser maintains your natural hair texture while delivering lush locks. Suitable for a blow-dryer diameter between 1.7 and 2.6 inches, the attachment diffuses harsh heat from the dryer and disperses air with gentle evenness.
It protects the hair from concentrated heat, blows away the frizz and slashes your styling time. We think it’s also one of the best diffusers for long hair.
Whether you have curly or straight hair, we suggest using low-medium heat on the hair dryer when diffusing for best results.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Maintains natural hair texture
- Defines curls
- Protects hair from concentrated heat damage and blows away frizz
- Adapts to over 90% of hair dryers on the market
- Flexible lockable buttons
- Use on low-medium heat settings for best results
Cons
- Some reviewers say the attachment can be loose
Best budget
LIGOLIG Hair Dryer Diffuser
This thoughtfully designed hair diffuser amplifies the natural beauty of your curls while giving them definition and bounce. Ideal for hair dryers with a diameter between 1.4 and 2.6 inches, the diffuser has 12 defined air nozzles to ensure the surrounding heat is maximized, the wind flow is reasonable and faster drying times.
Whether you have wavy, curly, or coiled hair, this diffuser attachment is the ultimate tool to achieve your desired look. Bonus: it fits 99% of blow-dryers on the market!
Pros
- Affordable price
- Easy to use
- Reduces frizz, adds volume and defines wavy curls
- Enhances the overall texture of your hair
- Adapts to over 99% of hair dryers on the market
- Available in seven colours
Cons
- Some reviewers say the attachment can be loose and take a bit longer to dry, but the value is exceptional
Best hair dryer with diffuser built-in
Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer
With a 4.9-star rating, the Dyson Supersonic™ Hair Dryer is a must-have. Using innovative technology, the tool is ultra-fast drying and has intelligent heat control to protect against extreme heat damage. The kit has five attachments, including a diffuser, which works to style any hair type.
Re-engineered to disperse air more evenly around your curls, the diffuser attachment simulates natural drying, helping to reduce frizz and define curls and waves. The longer prongs allow you to style more hair with greater control — and reach deeper into the hair. We love!
Pros
- Works to dry hair quickly
- Protects against heat damage
- Designed for different hair types
- Includes five hair-drying attachments
- Uses innovative technology
- Includes carrying case
Cons
- Somewhat expensive
Best rated
Shark FlexStyle Curl-Defining Diffuser
Shark FlexStyle’s diffuser works to give fast, even drying from root to tip in under 20 minutes. Natural texture and defined curls are the name of the game with this product. Better yet, the hair tool features retractable and extendable prongs, which work with shorter, finer hair and longer, thicker hair, respectively.
What’s more, the diffuser is a petal design, which creates a natural hold on curls to maintain volume while you’re styling. If you have longer hair, the deep bowl works for styling larger sections, which cuts down on drying and styling time. Reviewers praise the fast drying times and how efficient it is.
Pros
- Innovative petal design
- Fast-drying and adaptable to your dryer’s heat and speed settings
- Easy to use
- Retractable and extendable prongs for different hair lengths
- Ideal for wavy and curly hair
- The design creates a natural hold on curls
Cons
- Only compatible with Shark FlexStyle Hair Dryer
Best luxury
Bellissima Italia Diffon DF1 5000
This luxe diffuser aims to define curls, tame frizz and boost volume with minimal heat damage. Bellissima uses innovative Ceramic Argan Oil technology and two combined heat and airflow settings, to add hydration and shine to your mane. The easy-to-hold handle makes it comfortable and easy to dry your curls.
What’s more, the diffuser has a Curl Booster System that gently dries and shapes curls by optimizing heat and air through 100+ micro air outlets and 12 fingers. It’s faster and easier than air-drying! Best of all, the hair tool is light and compact, which is perfect for travel.
Pros
- Fast-drying
- Easy to hold
- Lightweight
- Uses unique hair-drying technology
- Ideal for wavy, curly and coily hair (our top pick of diffusers for curly hair)
- Travel-friendly
- Designed for the North American market (110V)
Cons
- Only compatible with Bellissima Diffon Ceramic hair dryer
Best for waves
GIHALI Universal Hair Diffuser
Looking to give your mane a little more oomph? This universal hair diffuser is designed to help dry your hair faster and prevent unwanted hair damage using indirect heat. Whether you have straight, wavy or curly hair, the well-balanced nozzle minimizes frizz, boosts volume, and emphasizes the natural curl of your hair type.
The stylish diffuser is lightweight and portable, so you can bring it with you anywhere with ease. It even features a one-hand button design, which makes it easier to install and use.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Easy to use
- Adapts to over 99% of hair dryers on the market
- Defines natural texture and prevents frizz
- Works on any hair type
- Travel-friendly
- Choose from seven colours
Cons
- Some reviewers say the attachment can be loose
Best for coils
Segbeauty Universal Curly Hair Diffuser
This universal hair diffuser locks in moisture and keeps your coils looking bouncy. Suitable for a hair dryer diameter between 1.6 and 3.1 inches, the diffuser is a honeycomb design, which ensures heat and air are spread out evenly without disturbing your curls and heat-damaging your hair.
To set it up, twist the base, slide your dryer barrel in and press the base button, it’s There are three pieces of resilient rubber to keep the diffuser snugly attached, without providing any damage. With the large bowl, you can style and dry your hair at the same time!
Pros
- Affordable price
- Adapts to over 99% of hair dryers on the market
- Fast-drying
- Even heat distribution
- Innovative honeycomb design
- Easy to install and release
- Available in four colours
Cons
- Some reviewers say the diffuser is big, beware if you have shorter or fine hair!
- Can be tricky to adjust the airflow
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