Hair diffusers are what you need to help your curly or wavy tresses reach maximum potential

Step fresh out of the bathroom with dripping wet locks, and most of us will turn to towel-drying first before air drying or blow-drying.

But there’s another method for drying your tresses that might not be on your radar just yet. It’s one that can offer you not just a quicker alternative to air drying and a less damaging option to blow-drying, but also a way to intensify your curls. Yup, we’re talking about hair diffusing.

https://www.tiktok.com/@denise_._yan/video/7033176922079350063

TikTokers are showing us just how hair diffusing is done. They use large diffuser attachments to scoop their damp locks – fast forward to the end of the video, and they’ve nailed jawdroppingly curly tresses, and with impressive volume too.

So, whether you’re looking to bring back the bounce into your curls, or fluff up your straight hair with more volume, read on, because we share everything you need to know about hair diffusers in Singapore!

What are hair diffusers?

Hair diffusers are attachments that are fixed onto the nozzle of a hairdryer. They are often large and bowl-shaped, and they literally diffuse the air that’s released from the hairdryer. Instead of flowing in a concentrated stream, the air comes out of the hairdryer spread over a wider area and in a more controlled manner.

Since hair diffusing uses a more spread out airstream than blow-drying, it’s gentler on the hair and causes less heat damage to your tresses. It roughens up the hair cuticle to a smaller degree, compared to intense blow-drying, thereby preventing frizz and allowing for curlier, bouncier, more voluminous hair.

What type of hair is diffusing best for?

Hair diffusers are most often used on curly hair, as they help to tighten the curls and do so in a more gentle manner too. Curly-haired girls would already know that their mane is more prone to becoming frizzy and dry, and blow-drying their hair with a traditional hairdryer attachment doesn’t help.

With a fast wind and concentrated airstream, blow-drying with a traditional attachment also leaves curls flat and limp. That’s why hair diffusers are the hero accessory for curly-haired girls: more bounce, more volume, and less frizz – it’s a win on all fronts of the curly hair battle.

Can hair diffusers also be used on wavy and straight hair?

Even though hair diffusers are the best blow-drying method for curly hair, they are also worth using when it comes to drying a wavy or straight mane. Regardless of hair type, hair diffusers reduce damage to tresses and give you a quicker way to dry your hair compared to natural air-drying.

Just the same as with curly hair, you can also expect more volume and movement for wavy and straight tresses.

If you’ve got wavy hair, hair diffusing will also help you to “lock in” your loose curls – fix those soft Korean-style waves in place – as long as you pair this drying method with the right techniques and hair styling products.

How to use a hair diffuser for bouncier curls

Use hydrating shampoos and conditioners

The best way to prep your hair for bouncier curls is to start in the shower!

Use deeply moisturising shampoos and conditioners to reduce frizz and dryness in your hair, even before you start the hair diffusing process. You also want to detangle your hair whilst in the shower, because combing your curly or wavy hair when it’s dry will change the natural shape of your curls, and cause them to look less defined.

Dry your hair with a microfibre towel

When you dry your hair, you want to just wrap it with a microfibre towel or even a T-shirt, since the fabrics are less textured than a traditional towel, and will help to protect your hair from damage.

Apply curl products to your mane

Before you start diffusing, you also want to apply a concoction of hair styling products to your mane; you can use curl creams, curl mousses, and curl gels that help to intensify curls.

Curl creams are lightweight and non-greasy on the hair, and they give your dry locks a boost of hydration whilst defining your curls.

If you want a bigger, fluffier mane, then curl mousses are a good way to go, as they’re thicker and give your hair more volume, especially at the roots. Many curl mousses also leave a slight cast that you can break after diffusing by scrunching your hair gently or tousling the roots.

For curls that are super defined and long-lasting, curl gels are a good choice. They create a crunchy cast on your curls, holding them in place and letting you truly bid good riddance to frizz.

While you apply the hair styling products, scrunch your hair towards the roots gently, or twist your hair into smaller sections to define your curls. Try not to comb out your hair, even with your fingers, as it will cause the curls to become less defined.

Diffuse the right way

Finally, it’s time to start diffusing your hair. Start the diffusing process by hovering the hair diffuser over hair until a cast sets, but not until it dries.

Then, place small sections of your hair into the diffuser bowl and lift it upwards towards the roots, holding it there for a while, before you move on to the next section of your hair.

To reduce damage, you should keep the temperature setting to a medium. Our tip? Reduce frizz by turning off the diffuser when you’re lifting it upwards, only turning it on when you’re holding the diffuser still at the roots!

If you’re hoping for more volume, you can also flip your hair to the sides, or hang it upside down over your head as you dry using the place in the bowl and lift towards the roots method.

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To dry the roots, gently lift your hair up with your fingers or with a hair pick and hover the hair diffuser over it. Again, try to touch your curls as little as possible, so as not to break the waves.

Voila, you’ll be flaunting voluminous, bouncy curls like never before!

Best hair diffusers to buy in Singapore

Not all hair diffusers are made equal, which is why we’ve rounded up our top picks that you can get your hands (and hair) on in Singapore. Remember to make sure that the diffuser you’re getting is compatible with the hairdryer you have at home before you make your purchase!

Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser

If drying your hair section by section feels like a huge amount of work to you, then you might prefer Drybar’s The Bouncer Diffuser, which is known for its large size. The diffuser bowl can fit bigger sections of hair at a time, which means that you dry your hair and get those gorgeous curls quicker.

While it is big, it is also surprisingly lightweight. The diffuser is also designed for Drybar’s Buttercup and Baby Buttercup hairdryers, but can fit on most other ones too – though reviewers note that the diffuser sometimes slips or falls off certain blowdryers.

Get Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser for S$47.06 on Amazon.

DevaCurl DevaFuser

While most hair diffusers have a bowl-shaped design, the DevaCurl DevaFuser is shaped uniquely like a hand. The prongs, or fingers, are great for reaching into your mane to dry your roots.

That means, unlike other diffusers that dry from the outside in, the DevaCurl DevaFuser lets you dry the roots first before the rest of your hair.

Get DevaCurl DevaFuser for S$56.10 on Amazon.

Hot Sock The Ultralight Diffuser

Now that many of us are getting to travel again, it’s important that we have a diffuser option that’s easy to pack, compact, and ultra-lightweight – and that’s the Hot Sock The Ultralight Diffuser.

Hot Sock’s diffuser isn’t like your typical diffuser. It’s like a sock that is placed over the hair dryer’s nozzle so that the air is released through the network of holes in the fabric, in a similarly diffused pattern.

While you can’t scoop your hair in sections to really enhance your curls, you can prevent frizz and heat damage with this portable, travel-friendly diffuser!

Get Hot Sock The Ultralight Diffuser for S$26.64 on Amazon.

Hairizone Universal Hair Diffuser

Hairizone might not be a big brand, but its diffusers have garnered excellent reviews from so many on Amazon.

The Hairizone hair diffuser is large, with lots of room for you to scoop your hair, and the best part is that it fits so many different hairdryer designs with its adjustable features.

Just make sure that your hairdryer has a nozzle diameter of 1.7 to 2.6 inches, and that the length of the nozzle is more than 1.8 inches. Your hairdryer’s nozzle also shouldn’t have a rubber ring that’ll prevent the diffuser from sliding onto it.

Since the hair diffuser comes in so many colours, you can also find one that best matches your hairdryer, and that you love!

Get the Hairizone Hair Diffuser for S$57.64 on Amazon.

Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and Diffuser

We’re all familiar with the quality of Dyson’s hairdryers and styling tools, and the brand’s diffusers are no exception.

The Dyson Supersonic comes with magnetic attachments that can be easily snapped onto the nozzle of the hairdryer. Snap the diffuser onto your Dyson Supersonic, and you’ll find that compared to other hairdryers and diffusers, you have a lot more control over how you dry your curls.

Even on the highest speed setting, the Dyson Supersonic cuts out a lot of ‘wind’ – your hair won’t get tousled around as much. Therefore, the diffuser reduces frizz to your tresses. The only downside is that it’s got a hefty price tag.

Get Dyson Supersonic (comes with diffuser attachment) for S$649 at Dyson stores or online.

BaByliss Curl Dry Hair Dryer with Diffuser

BaByliss is a brand that’s loved by professional stylists around the world, and its styling tools are often used at major European fashion shows too.

So, if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and Diffuser, then you just might find what you’re searching for with BaByliss’s Curl Dry Hair Dryer with Diffuser.

With two speed and four temperature settings, including a cool shot, you can style your curls without any heat damage to your locks at all!

Get BaByliss Curl Dry Hair Dryer with Diffuser for S$109.99 on Amazon.

Featured image credit: @juliekimster, @dafnemuilwijk/TikTok

Related read: Achieve salon-quality curls & silky-straight tresses with BaByliss’ styling tools – here’s where to buy them in Singapore