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Prep Time Needed: 2 or 3 minutes Total Time Needed: Varies depending on hair length, texture and thickness Difficulty: Medium Most of us have limited appreciation for hair diffusers. These styling tools are an often-overlooked hair dryer accessory that can help upgrade your primping process. At first glance, this pronged attachment can be intimidating—you may be envisioning a complex process, but once you learn how to use a blow dryer with a diffuser, we promise you’ll be singing its praises. What is a hair diffuser?If you’re not sure exactly what a hair dryer diffuser is, don't feel bad. A lot of people don't! A hair diffuser is a blow dryer attachment that often comes with new hair dryers. The attachment has a bowl-like shape with prongs that are meant to cradle hair while it’s drying. If your hair dryer didn't come with a diffuser, you may have to buy the attachment separately, but they're typically inexpensive and buying one on its own will allow you to find the perfect diffuser for your hair type and preferred style. What does a hair diffuser do?This nifty attachment closely mimics air drying by diffusing warm air around each section of hair. It also stops you from pulling hair straight or making it frizzy as you blow dry it. Essentially, the diffuser’s bowl gives your hair space to dry while keeping the curls separated by plastic spikes. The air is circulated around the wet hair, which mimics the properties of air drying, results in more clearly defined curls. Hair will generally feel softer, and those with straight hair will often get more volume. Ready to try it out? Follow these steps to use your hair diffuser. Step 1: Detangle and dry your hairBefore you get out of the shower, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle your hair. Scrunch your hair with a microfiber towel to remove excess water—don’t use a terry cloth towel, as this can increase frizz. Taking out excess moisture helps the process go faster than it would if you had soaking wet strands. Step 2: Add product, if desiredApply your preferred hair product, like a leave-in conditioner or curl cream, through your hair. Step 4: Diffuse hair in sectionsPlace a small section of hair into the diffuser bowl, then bring the dryer toward your head, making sure all of the hair is cradled within the bowl. Step 5: Alternate sectionsHold the diffuser in place for 30 seconds before moving on to the next section. Continue this process until your hair is dry all over. You may need to use hair clips to hold sections out of the way to reach the under layers of your hair. Make sure you don’t rotate the dryer while your hair is in the bowl, as this will cause major tangles. Step 6: Final scrunchOnce your hair is dry, add any finishing products to maintain volume or curl, and scrunch your hair one last time. What is a hair diffuser good for: Tips for all hair types Diffusers are most commonly used on curly hair. If you’re using a hair dryer with a diffuser, you’ll see the best results if you have naturally wavy or curly hair. However, it’s still possible to achieve a voluminous, wavy look if you have straight hair. Here are some tips on using a diffuser on every type of hair. Natural hair
Curly hair
Wavy hair
Straight hair
If your hair diffuser has been sitting in the bottom of a drawer since you bought it, now's the time to break it out. It takes a little practice, but you'll quickly get the hang of diffusing, and it can bring new life to your tresses. How do you use a regular hair dryer as a diffuser?DIY sock diffuser
Cover the end of your blow dryer with a breathable fabric (like a cheesecloth), leaving about a 2 to 3 inches of bubble at the end. Attach using one of your hair ties and that's it. Use it to dry your wet waves and curls like you would a normal sock diffuser attachment.
What do you do if your hair dryer doesn't have a diffuser?Let's get this straight! You can naturally diffuse your hair by air drying. It's as simple as that. As mentioned before, all you need to do is scrunch the hair with a microfiber towel or a cotton shirt and apply a leave-in conditioner afterward.
Does the type of hair diffuser matter?“A diffuser for each individual will be different,” says Brown. “I don't believe all diffusers should have a certain amount of prongs or that size should be a certain way.” If you're looking for a little more guidance, Fitzsimons says that those with longer hair should opt for a hair diffuser that has longer prongs.
What happens if you use a diffuser on straight hair?While you can use a diffuser on straight hair (expect extra volume and movement), curly and wavy hair benefit most from the transformative tool. "It adds definition, shape, and body to existing waves and curls—with little or no frizz," says Nunzio Saviano, owner of the Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City.
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Can you use a diffuser on any hair dryer?
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