The 13 Best Hair Diffusers For Curly Hair, Tested and Reviewed by Editors

Ouidad’s Hair Diffuser comes with two bowl inserts that allow you to adjust the depth and prong length: This feature makes the diffuser attachment compatible with hair textures ranging from fine, short curls to long, thick coils. Most diffusers are best suited to attach to dryers with a two-inch nozzle, but this one fits smaller nozzles, so you can attach it to your favorite travel hair dryer. The oval shape is less bulky to throw in a weekender bag, too.

Editor testing and review notes: “The unique oval shape of this hair diffuser is surprisingly ergonomic for working around your hair — it gathers more hair than round options for faster styling. I use the deeper bowl insert for the lengths of my hair and switch over to the shallow, longer prongs when I want more volume at the roots or need a touch-up on the mid-lengths of my hair. My only qualm is that it can feel a little heavy on a hair dryer, however the tool doesn’t fall off the dryer mid-use thanks to the grippy silicone nozzle attachment.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $47.53

Fitzsimons picks Devacurl’s Devafuser Universal Diffuser for short curly hair because of its lack of prongs. Without prongs, he explains, this best hair diffuser for curly hair is easier to grip onto shorter strands for an even blow-dry. It also provides 360-degree airflow to surround curls so that you cut down your drying time, while preserving moisture in hair and enhancing its shine. As an added bonus, its heat resistant and will fit most dryers — it features an expandable band at the base that secures the diffuser in place.

Editor testing and review notes: “If you’re accustomed to a bowl diffuser, this hand-shaped format will take a second to get used to: Rather than gathering your hair into the well of a diffuser, you simply press the tool against your hair and scrunch it up towards your scalp. I found the tool intuitive to use and loved how it shaped my curls without creating frizz. It’s particularly great for those who want definition without a ton of added volume.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $189

“InfinitiPro by Conair is one of my favorite diffusers for all curl types,” says Fitzsimons. “It applies gentle and even heat to your curls leaving them gorgeous and frizz-free.” You’re also able to choose a cooling air option which Fitzsimons says will help lock curls instantly. Easy to use and at a pretty great price, it doesn’t get much better than that. 

Editor testing and review notes: “If you’re searching for a simple hair dryer that comes with a diffuser, Conair’s beat out the competitors during testing. This duo feels like a $150 dryer in the hand — it has a matte finish material that’s easy to grip, features three heat and three airflow settings, and securely holds the included diffuser no matter what angle you’re using the tool while styling. The long prongs and shallow bowl give curls definition without overly scrunching them, so you’ll get a pretty, air-dried look.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $32.99

Tracee Ellis Ross’ hair care line, Pattern, puts curly girls first. After two years of development, Pattern’s The Blow Dryer launched in January 2023. Unlike most hair dryers that include only one attachment for curly hair, each of the four attachments in this blow dryer are specifically designed to uplift your curls. The bowl diffuser features aluminum plates that heat up to expedite your dry time. And the comb attachment helps detangle without flattening out your ringlets. If you’re looking to stretch or smooth your curls, the dryer has two attachments that’ll do the trick as well as the best hair dryer brushes out there.

Editor testing and review notes: “After testing Pattern’s hair dryer, I can assure you that curly girls will love the diffuser attachment — and every attachment option included. I found myself rotating between each one on my curly hair for different styling results, whether it’s the wide-tooth comb that detangles while drying or the bowl diffuser that gives my curls major bounce. Yes, the attachments are genius, but the hair dryer itself is, too. The heat and airflow settings cater to curly hair — I love that I have the option to use low, gentle heat with the diffuser to dry your curls without blasting them through the roof.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $189

Do you have a dryer that didn’t come with an attachment? No problem. One of the best universal diffusers is one of Brown’s selections, the HairiZone Universal Hair Diffuser. She says it’s adaptable for about 90 perfect different types of blow dryers. This best diffuser for curly hair is a great option for taking on the road — although it’s larger than other options, it’ll connect with most standard hair dryers, as well as the ones you encounter at hotels and bed and breakfasts.

Editor testing and review notes: “Many hair diffusers require you to wiggle the diffuser onto the nozzle of the hair dryer and hope for the best. HairiZone’s features an attachment mechanism that allows you to click the diffuser on securely with buttons that lock it into place. Note that the combination of a shallow bowl and short prongs make this option best for thin to medium-thick hair types — those with thick hair will require extra passes that prolong the drying time.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $25

Shark Beauty’s hair tools are all the rage for their affordable prices and luxury details. The genius of this diffuser for curly hair is its adjustable design: The prongs are extendable with the flick of a built-in lever, so you have a short- and long-pronged diffuser that work across hair lengths and thicknesses. The DefrizzFast Diffuser is compatible with the editor-approved Shark SpeedStyle hair dryer that’s both travel-friendly and high-powered for quick at-home styling on the daily.

Editor testing and review notes: “The DefrizzFast diffuser won top marks during my testing for its smooth, luxury feel — this one will never fall off of your hair dryer due the grooves that lock the attachment into the dryer’s nozzle. Some of the diffusers with extendable prongs I tested wouldn’t extend or retract evenly, but this one transitions between the two settings like butter. I noticed some overheating during a longer styling session, so definitely stick to low heat when you’re using it.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $29

Related:
Shark FlexStyle Review
Shark SmoothStyle Review 

For those looking for a budget-friendly option, Fitzsimons suggests the Conair Volumizing Diffuser, which he says, “will give you stunning, sculpted curls for about $10.” It’s great for all curl types and will help cut down on frizzy flyaways. It’s currently the top-rated diffuser for curly hair on Amazon, with over 10,000 five-star testing reviews. Plus, it fits with most hair dryers. 

Editor testing and review notes: “This no-frills hair diffuser gives major bang for your buck: It easily and securely attached to five different hair dryers during testing and features mid-length prongs that work across short to long and fine to thick curl types. For the price, I was expecting inexpensive materials, but this Conair diffuser felt sturdy and well-made in the hand. It sustained a few drops during testing without breaking or malfunctioning the next time I used it.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $11.99

Brown, Courtney, and Fitzsimons all agree: Dyson’s Supersonic Hair Dryer is the best splurge-worthy hair dryer. The dryer itself is a favorite for many, and some configurations come with the Gentle Air diffuser attachment, which Fitzsimons says will get you salon-quality curls. Brown adds that the dryer diffuser is lightweight and extra quiet, making it ideal for anyone with lots of curls. While it’s a pricey option if you don’t currently own a Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, Courtney says the powerful dryer and diffuser give a flow of concentrated heat that can set any curl in a matter of minutes, making it worth every single penny.

Editor testing and review notes: “If frizz is your number one foe, Dyson’s Gentle Air attachment is the diffuser for you. The attachment slows down the device’s high airflow speed while dispersing it, lending a windblown look you might get after a dip in the ocean. It’s also an excellent gentle option for sensitive scalps or damage-prone hair, thanks to the brand’s proprietary technology that dries hair without scalding the cuticle of your hair — you’ll get less frizz and flyaways immediately and in the long run.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $39.99

The T3 Soft Curl diffuser is one of Fitzsimons’s go-tos for long curly hair. Elongated prongs, he explains, are best suited for hair that is medium length or longer. Here, you’ll get vented finger extensions that distribute heat evenly and gently so that you get volume, body, and a faster drying time. You’ll also notice your hair looking super shiny and frizz-free with this best diffuser for curly hair.

Editor testing and review notes: “My thick hair hits at my mid-back, so drying it is always a process. T3’s Soft Curl diffuser stood out from other diffusers I tested due to the styling speed. A combination of the brand’s powerful hair dryer and this shallow bowl diffuser makes quick work of turning damp strands into beautifully defined ringlets and coils. It’s also a tad bit bigger than other diffusers, which provides more surface area for thicker manes.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $30

If you’re looking for the best diffuser hair dryer for curly hair that comes together in a set, Fitzsimons recommends the Remington Damage Protection hair dryer three-piece set. He loves the dryer’s heat control sensor to ensure that you’re not damaging curls or fading away color with excessive heat. The diffuser attachment will distribute heat evenly and will also be super gentle with your curls, for a shiny and soft look. Over 32,000 Amazon shoppers award this affordable hair dryer five stars.

Editor testing and review notes: “In my decade of experience testing hair dryers, I’ve discovered that few drugstore hair tool brands can compete with Remington in longevity: Even after multiple years of consistent use, these dryers work like new. And the unbeatable price point on this set doesn’t come at the expense of quality. The diffuser attachment locks into the dryer securely without leaking air where the two meet. It’s a little bigger than alternative options, but if you have the space, it’s worth it.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $19.16

“While diffusers work similarly in regards to volume, I would definitely recommend Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser for those looking to give their curls that extra oomph,” says Fitzsimons. This diffuser reduces the speed of heat and guarantees a very gentle blow-dry. You’ll also notice reduced frizz and defined, voluminous curls. As an added bonus, it fits most hair dryers, even if the one you own isn’t from Drybar. 

Editor testing and review notes: “An adaptable pick that fit on six standard-sized hair dryers during testing, Drybar’s diffuser is a great add-on that makes nearly any blow dryer friendly for curls. It has a rubber grip that expands for various nozzle sizes, and the attachment area is reinforced to keep its shape with repeated uses. Depending on the dryer, it may fall off during an extended period of use, but nine times out of 10 the tool felt secure.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $34

One of Courntey’s favorites is Ghd Professional’s Hair Dryer Diffuser. It has medium-length contoured prongs that help lift hair and keep curl patterns intact, while the shallow bowl shape makes it fit for adding some texture to natural wavy hair types. Pro tip: Courtney says to make sure you hold the dryer at a 90-degree angle as you diffuse curls to give your curls body and movement. 

Editor testing and review notes: “Ghd’s diffuser performs best on naturally wavy hair types, separating pieces and adding volume and texture without frizz. The shallow bowl allows you to press the diffuser up against the mid-lengths of your hair without stuffing strands into the well, so you get enhanced texture that lasts. Due to its high amount of vents, the tool dries hair quickly.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $30

Both Fitzsimons and Brown love the Bio Ionic Universal Diffuser for thicker hair textures. Fitzsimons says it’s important to look for a diffuser with longer prongs to allow air flow to reach the scalp without crushing the curls and disrupting the curl pattern. Brown agrees, adding that the diffuser’s prongs work extremely well for thicker curls. You can also adjust the airflow, which is always an added bonus. 

Editor testing and review notes: “I was impressed with the functionality of Bio Ionic’s diffuser out of the box — a quick look at the tool revealed rubber pieces on the nozzle end that grab onto the hair dryer for a secure fit, plus adjustable vents that can increase or decrease the airflow that passes through the attachment. I was able to shave two minutes off of my standard styling speed using the tool, so it’s a great choice for those who are short on patience when it comes to drying their curls.”

Price upon publish date of this article: $30