I was a teenager during the 2000s, a time when it seemed like everyone was straightening their hair. Needless to say, it took me a while to embrace my curls. Now, the best hair dryers for curly hair have my full attention. Why? I'm of the belief that natural curls and waves are gorgeous and deserving of all the TLC in the world. That being said, caring for curly hair can be a bit different from caring for straight hair, so you'll need the right tools.
Curly hair needs more moisture than straight hair, and that's all due to the texture. It's a lot more difficult for the natural oils from your scalp to travel down the hair, and that's why curly hair is way more susceptible to dryness. Whether you're diffusing curly hair with a dryer or giving yourself a blow out, it's important to choose tools that minimize damage and promote hydration.
The best hair dryers for curly hair have innovative features like infrared heat, negative ions, ceramic parts, and multiple heat settings that help to trap moisture inside the hair and prevent frying so curls stay happy and healthy. Many have also been designed specifically for curly hair types — which is something it was hard to find just 10 years ago. If you're looking for defined, bouncy, volumized curls, check out these top five blow dryers.
1A Dryer With 360-Degree Air Flow & A Hand-Shaped Diffuser Made For Curls Of Any Type
DevaCurl Blow Dryer And Diffuser, $165, Amazon
DevaCurl makes a whole bunch of hair products specifically for curly hair (like shampoos, leave-in treatments, and towels), but this one is pretty darn innovative. This DevaCurl set comes with a blow dryer and a diffuser, and both are created to give you softer, shinier curls — no matter what type you have.
The dryer uses ionic technology and a 1600-watt motor to speed up drying time. The hand-shaped diffuser is designed to hold a lot of hair at once and deliver 360-degree air flow to surround your curls (even up against the root) for more volume and uniformity. "A must have," comments one reviewer. "I think I'm actually in love with this blow dryer."
2This Highly Rated Ionic Infrared Dryer That's Great For All Hair, But Especially Curls
Kaleep Professional Salon Hair Dryer, $46, Amazon
With an insane 4.8-star rating and over 600 reviews, the Kaleep Professional Salon Hair Dryer is something special for all types of hair. That being said, it's especially great for curls. It comes with a wide diffuser with even heat distribution and long fingers for the longest, thickest hair. It also dries hair quickly and with minimal damage because of the negative ions (which smooth hair and lock in moisture) and the far infrared heat (which dries hair from the inside-out instead of frying the exterior).
Finally, there's the powerful 1875-watt motor that provides quiet but strong airflow, three heat settings, and two speed settings. "I got this professional dryer mainly for the diffuser to use on my curly hair," says one reviewer. "My hair was able to hold better curls."
3A Unique Dryer Made Specifically For Curls, At A Very Affordable Price
Conair 1800 Watt Curl Fusion Ionic Ceramic Styler, $30, Amazon
"My curls look their best ever," says one curly-haired reviewer who "definitely" recommends this hair dryer. The Conair Curl Fusion dryer has an interesting shape, but that's all part of the curl-friendly design. It has an exceptionally wide and flat nozzle to allow tons of air flow and a diffuser attachment that helps with definition and volume.
It's also made with ceramic parts to infuse ions into the hair and prevent damage, and it's a great option for people who are concerned about the health of their hair. That's because it gets hot enough to set your curls, but not enough to burn them. Best of all, at $30 (way less than its competitors), it's extremely affordable.
4A Budget-Friendly Dryer That Won't Suck The Moisture From Your Curls
Remington Hair Dryer, $20, Amazon
This Remington hair dryer utilizes negative ions and a ceramic grill to ensure that your hair dries with the finish you love, but without any damage to your precious curls. With an 1875-watt motor to decrease drying time, and two detachable dryer heads — a diffuser and a concentrator — this highly customizable hair dryer may be cheap in price, but definitely not in effectiveness and quality.
"It's hard to believe a hair dryer could make a big difference but this one absolutely DOES. I'm sooo thrilled with it," writes one reviewer. "My kinky/curly fine/thin hair has dried much faster than usual (even though it's the same wattage as my previous dryer) and so smooth, soft, shiny and healthy looking."
5The Perfect Dryer For Blowing Curly Hair Straight
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dryer, $78, Amazon
Heat damage is a total curl-killer, so if you're going to straighten your hair from time to time, make sure you've got the right tools. The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Dryer gives you minimal damaging side effects because of its genius features. It's got a 2000-watt motor for optimal air flow, maximum far-infrared heat to penetrate deep into the hair, and a NANO titanium construction with integrated ion generator.
Best of all, roughly 1,600 reviewers can't stop singing its praises: "I'm a redhead with long, thick hair. I don't know why I haven't purchased this sooner... it cuts my drying time in half without the super-hot heat that can damage my hair!"
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