How to Diffuse Curly Hair for Perfectly Defined Coils

What is the proper way to diffuse curly hair?

To maximise results and enhance your curl pattern, “always diffuse in sections,” says Bennett. “Some style their entire head and then diffuse after. I personally believe that when you do that, you don’t give all of the hair a chance to dry along with the diffuser.”

Instead, this causes your hair to dry “in the natural elements of the environment, which is not a controlled way to dry your hair, because the environment can have excess moisture,” she says. “If you go section by section, you’re ensuring that every bit of hair gets the same exact method, so that your result looks more uniform in the end.” Bennett says even slight variations can change your hair’s finish.

Should you diffuse curly hair with hot or cold air?

It’s up to you. “It is okay to use warm and hot air,” says Bennett. “But for curly girls, to be safe, I personally suggest using warm to cool air, because heat sometimes can manipulate the hair or stretch the curl.”

What should you put in your hair before diffusing it?

Prior to applying any products, make sure your hair is wet or damp. You can mist your strands with water using a spray bottle if needed. Then, to add definition, “depending on your hair type and texture, you could use a mousse or setting foam, which are similar products for different densities of hair, or you could use a gel or a cream,” says Bennett.

And although your diffuser will provide less intense heat on your strands, you still want to use a heat protectant to make sure your hair stays healthy and free of damage from any hot tools.

If you want to reduce frizz, the key is water, says Bennett. “Usually, when your hair is frizzy, it’s searching for water in the environment, because for some reason or another, the moisture has not penetrated the shaft of the hair,” she says. “Because the cortex of the hair is looking for moisture, it’s sending a signal to the outer shaft of the hair to go out into the environment and find moisture.” And when the hair does that, it causes the frizzy look. The solution is simple: “You need more water or water-retention products,” says Bennett. Think leave-in conditioners, hydrating curl creams, and more. Pro tip: “A quick way to blast frizz is to add water to your styling product and diffuse right away,” says Bennett.