The Best Hair Dryer For Curly Hair: Diffusers, Budget-Friendly

Before using this hair dryer, if you’d ask us to cough up over $400 on a hair dryer, the answer would be a hard pass. After using this hair dryer, we can confidently say the Dyson Supersonic is worth the investment if your hair is curly. Many curly hair professionals use this in their salons because it delivers targeted heat that won’t fry curls. You can use it without an attachment to dry through a wash and go when you want some extra volume, or you can use the diffuser attachment when you don’t want to disturb your curls too much. I personally love the comb attachment, which is great if you’re stretching your hair for braids or a silk press.

Don’t underestimate the power of a good styling brush for curly hair, especially if stretching your curls for buns or braids is part of your regular styling routine. This one is popular amongst people with curly hair because it quickly runs through curls (we recommend working in small-ish sessions for a really smooth finish) and smoothes while it dries. The only caveat: depending on the thickness of your hair, you may have to pass this through your sections multiple times, which is something to keep in mind if you’re trying to limit the use of heat.

This dryer uses air to dry hair to cut back on excessive due to aggressive heat. It has a long nozzle design, which is perfect for drying or fluffing out a curly fro. If heat damage from hot tools is your main concern, it might be worth investing in this one.

A hooded dryer can be the unsung hero of any curly routine if your goal is defined curls that last for days. You can get one like this Conair Bonnet dryer, which provides a 360-degree air flow, which dries your entire head evenly. It’s a great option to set your hair for a wash-and-go style: just rake through your product and sit under the dryer for as long as you need for your hair to take shape. Once your curls are 100% dried, you can pick or fluff as you wish. This hooded number also has a two-heat setting and can adjust to your height. The only downside? It’ll take up more space than the average handheld drier, so ensuring you have somewhere to house this is key.

This dryer takes the guesswork out of safe heat settings by allowing you to select your hair texture and adjust accordingly. If you want more control, you can also change the speed settings. We’ve seen a lot of hair dryers, but few are beating T3 when it comes to the little details featured in this one.

This was made specifically with curls in mind, and its 8-inch diffuser attachment is spacious enough to cup various textures, from loose waves to tight coils. Thanks to the size of the diffuser, you can dry more hair once, and drying more hair at once means more time in your life back.

Conair is a reliable brand of tools, and this one is a great choice if your hair is curly. It has six total heat and speed combinations and two different attachments, so you can customize it based on your needs. It’s a budget-friendly option, too, and it won’t drain your pockets but will do the job of drying your curls quickly.

Who better to create a hair dryer for curly hair than someone with curly hair? Tracee Ellis Ross used her experience and expertise with natural hair to develop this hair dryer, which is honestly so durable yet extremely chic.

This one is perfect for someone like me with thick, natural hair. The blow dryer can gently diffuse curls and also stretch hair. The brush attachment also has thermal-protected bristles, so you can smooth your hair (think for a bun or ponytail) without worrying about your hairbrush melting.

Fans of this device like to compare it to the Dyson for good reason: it heats up nicely, has a sleek design, and does a great job drying and diffusing curly hair. It rings up at over $100 but still won’t cost as much as a Dyson if you’re on a budget.