ICYWW: These Are the Only Diffusers A-List Hairstylists Use on Their Clients
We got the 411.
Sabrina Talbert
If you've ever gazed skeptically at the weird, claw-like shape of a diffuser and thought to yourself What the heck do I do with this? You're definitely not alone. Diffusing your strands to get the most out of your natural texture and/or curls is an art, and learning to perfect said art is no easy feat. There will definitely be some trial and error involved as far as the process you use and the products you choose, but making sure you have a best-of-the-best diffuser is one of the most important (and easiest!) steps toward mastering your drying routine. Oh, and if you thought diffusers were only for people with wavy, curly, or coily strands, think again.
"I am always shocked by how many people think they don't have any curl or wave," says celebrity hairstylist Matthew Collins. "That said, no matter your texture, if you diffuse the right way, you will get at least 25% more wave or curl pattern in your hair. All hair textures can enhance their curls and waves with a diffuser. There are just different steps or product choices you'll have to consider." (Don't worry—we'll take a deep dive farther down.)
Of course, even though diffusers will enhance all textures and hair types, they are an especially strategic PIC for peeps with curly and coily strands. Since the airflow is dispersed evenly over a larger part of your hair, it's less disruptive to your natural curl or wave pattern, and the best models will also help curb frizz while upping the ante in the shine and volume departments
Below, we're chatting with Collins and hairstylists Ro Morgan and Drew Schaefering to find out which diffusers they trust to enhance their celebrity clients' curls, and they'll also share what to try and what to avoid when it comes to using your new diffuser on your curls. Keep scrolling! Ten of the best diffusers, according to pros and reviews, are just ahead.
The Best Diffusers for Curly Hair, at a Glance
- Best Overall: T3 Soft Curl Diffuser
- Best for Travel: The Curly Co. Collapsible Hair Diffuser
- Best Lightweight: YS Park Large Metal Mesh Diffuser
- Best Budget: Hot Sock Diffuser
The Best Diffusers for Curly Hair in 2025
Best Overall: T3 Soft Curl Diffuser
Yes, this diffuser from T3 is one of the best options for coiled, tightly coiled, or curly hair, but it will also enhance fine and wavy textures. The proof? It's the exact model celebrity hairstylist Bryce Scarlett used on me last year to re-create Margot Robbie's signature red carpet waves.
"Break it up a bit," he says. "When you're drying the hair with a diffuser, it becomes a game of how much heat you can play with to get the perfect volume before it starts to get frizzy. You have to take the time to really get to know your hair. Anything that has to do with natural texture demands some trial and error."
Pros: Affordable
Cons: Not as easy to use for beginners, compatible with T3 Aire Luxe hair dryer only
Heat settings: 1
Features: Even heat distribution
Customer review: "I’ve had a couple diffusers before, and never really cared about them. I bought this one for my daughter, because she has beautiful curls, but ended up using it for myself. It dries your hair super fast and gives you volume. I don’t like to blow dry my hair, but I’ve been using this more and more. I have wavy hair and don’t have to use a blow dryer but this elevates it."
Best for Travel: The Curly Co. Collapsible Hair Diffuser
"Collapsible silicone diffusers are great for traveling and are super easy to store," notes Morgan. Plus, they also fit a variety of hair dryers!
Pros: Portable, compact, lightweight, affordable
Cons: Doesn't fit large barrel dryers
Heat settings: 1
Features: Collapsible
Customer review: "I am VERY happy with my decision. It fits my hair dryer perfectly and stores away nicely (it also allows me to give my old, faithful diffuser a break!).
The basket portion of the diffuser is generously wide, so styling is easy as it feels like it is cradling my hair. I use low heat, or no heat, and my curls come great with every use."
Best Lightweight: YS Park Large Metal Mesh Diffuser
"I love this diffuser because it fits on any dryer, converting it to a great diffuser without the bulky attachments of other brands," says Schaefering.
Pros: Compatible with many dryers, budget-friendly
Cons: May take a long time to dry hair for some textures
Heat settings: 1
Features: Quick Adjust Strap for a secure fit, concentrates heat to pinpoint areas.
Customer review: "This diffuser is super cool because it’s easy to travel with and fits on most clients blowdryers. I love using it for warming up a few highlights, and whenever I show clients, this they want one too."
Best Budget: Hot Sock Diffuser
Not only is this top-rated sock diffuser great for all curl types (whether you're permed or have naturally wavy or curly hair), but Ro says it's also an especially strategic option if your strands have heat damage since it doesn't yield any direct heat.
Pros: Budget-friendly, beginner-friendly, good for travel
Cons: May not work as well as traditional diffusers
Heat settings: None
Features: Compatible with most dryers
Customer review: "It’s does the job! I needed something small for international travel that fit in my bag and wasn’t too heavy. It worked great for diffusing my hair the design fit on all of my hairdryers in the hotels as well."
The Best Tips for Using a Diffuser Like a Pro
Tip #1: Flip your head to create more volume. "If you want volume, flip your head over and diffuse until it's dry," Morgan instructs. "Make sure the diffuser is under your hair as you dry."
Tip #2: Use your fingers to your curls' advantage. "If your curls need some help and encouragement to avoid frizz, use your fingers and twist small sections of hair to detail curls as they dry, and apply your favorite curl or moisturizing products," shares Schaefering. "The trick is to touch the hair as little as possible until it is nearly dry. Once your curls start to take shape, scrunch and encourage the curl—just don’t brush them out!"
Tip #3: When in doubt, less is always more with your diffuser. "Less is always more—less heat, less power, less movement, less everything," says Collins. "You want to touch and manipulate with your hands as little as possible, scrunch up in your diffuser as little as possible, and just go very slow and gather an area of hair and gently bring it toward your scalp area." To get a tighter curl and more volume, Collins recommends doing the above process with your head upside down, gathering one section of hair in the diffuser at a time and scrunching it slowly toward your scalp. Let it sit there for some time (that's why low heat is important!), and once that area is 70% dry, move on to the next section, working your way around your head.
Tip #4: Use your diffuser to "shake out" your curls. "When the look is dry, your curls may be clumped together," says Collins. "If you want to break it up and expand the look, put your dryer on cold, and use the fastest air setting to start shaking out your curls." Psst! Hot air will make your curls fall, but the cool air will lock in your style and keep it frizz-free.
The Most Common Diffuser Mistakes
Mistake #1: brushing through wet hair. "First, it all starts when the hair is wet," Schaefering tells us. "Curls group together when hair is wet, and we need those groups to stay together as it dries. This means that from wet to dry, we want to avoid using combs, brushes, or anything tighter than a wide-tooth comb to detangle."
Mistake #2: rough-drying hair with a bath towel. "Avoid rubbing and flipping your head over in addition to wrapping the towel on top of your head," notes Schaefering. Instead, try gently squeezing or blotting excess moisture out when you're still in the shower.
Mistake #3: not being patient. "We tend to move hair around thinking that it will dry faster if we do more to it," shares Schaefering. "Breathe and trust the process by allowing the diffuser to do its work without moving your hair too much."
Mistake #4: setting your heat too high. According to Morgan, most people make the mistake of using too high of heat while they're diffusing their strands. "I always suggest using your diffuser on the low heat setting. Additionally, using a diffuser on the cool setting can really help lock a style in a style," he says.
Mistake #5: touching your hair too much. "People usually keep touching the hair while it’s drying, which disrupts the curl, making it frizzy," Morgan points out.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Diffuser Depending on Your Hair Type
"The whole purpose of a diffuser is to create a soft flow of hot air that dries hair without moving it and, therefore, disrupting curls and causing frizz," Schaefering explains. "For some, it's as simple as drying our hair in its natural state, keeping the curl formations together and pretty. For others, it's a scrunching and manipulating technique that gives our hair and curls more body and bounce. Diffusers can be used to dry hair from a wet state to dry, and they also can be utilized to set an already-styled look to last longer by using clips, hair spray, and heat."
According to Collins, if you have wavy, less curly hair and are really looking to enhance your curl as much as possible, there are two important courses of action. First, be sure to elevate your diffusing process by applying a styling product with polymers—aka something that will create some grip and hold like a mouse, gel, or texture spray. Second, gather and direct the section of hair toward your scalp as you diffuse to create the most curl.
However, if your hair is very curly or coily, Collins says you'll want to use a more emollient type of product (think oils, creams, and smoothing formulas) with your diffuser. "The denser or coarser your hair is, the more product you'll need to use to make sure you have definition and max shine to your hair," he adds. Additionally, you'll want to focus more on definition rather than shortening/enhancing the curl by bringing your sections close to the scalp like someone with a less curly texture might do. "Basically, everyone can enhance their curl with a diffuser, but it’s about finding a diffuser that gives you enough control, using it correctly, and adding in the right types of products," he notes.
On the ultra-straight side of the hair spectrum? Follow Morgan's advice by twisting or braiding your hair and then diffusing.
How We Chose
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best diffusers for curly hair, we leaned heavily on expert insight and our knowledge as beauty experts. We also considered several factors, including heat settings and special features. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews were also kept in mind when creating this list.
Why Trust Us
Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
This story was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over five years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor.
- Sabrina TalbertAssistant Beauty Editor, Who What Wear
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