Compared to blow drying, a diffuser reduces frizz and dryness.
The idea that a diffuser is used only for curly hair is just a myth. A diffuser, which is attached to the end of any blow dryer, helps add volume, helps keep curls intact and helps add curls to otherwise straight hair. It works by evenly distributing airflow without blowing your hair in every direction. A diffuser helps bring out your hair's natural texture. It enhances or adds body and bounce, depending on the type of hair you have.
Maintaining Curls
Brush hair to remove tangles before washing it. Then wash hair with shampoo. Gently blot with a towel, but do not brush or comb to ensure waves or curls naturally clump together. Use a small amount of curl-enhancing product by spreading it evenly through hair. Turn your blow dryer, with the diffuser attached, to a high "high heat slow" speed setting if available. Dry hair underneath and go toward the top of your scalp, tilting your head from side to side and upside down for extra lift or volume. Finishing at the top helps control frizz since this area dries out the fastest and can't be over-dried. You may lift hair with fingers to add volume, or you may scrunch it if using a low heat setting. Leave some moisture in the hair by letting the ends dry out to prevent frizz. When hair is dry, tousle with fingers or style.
Curling Straight Hair
A diffuser will not add the same type of curls to straight hair as a curling iron or rollers would, but it does bring out hair's natural texture and gives it a natural wave. One way to do this is to add a curl-enhancing product to hair and set the blow dryer to a "high heat low" speed setting. Keep the diffuser three to six inches away from hair and, lifting hair away from scalp, scrunch it while tilting head sideways. Turn your head down to add volume all over. Let hair dry naturally for the last 15 minutes, and add some wax, mousse or hair gel to set the style. Another way is to just dry using circular motions from a 90-degree angle without scrunching. Diffusers imitate the way hair dries on its own, giving it natural movement.
Adding Volume
A diffuser can also add natural volume to your hair. To do this, dry your hair while tilting your head down the entire time. Add a styling product before blow drying. Tilt your head downward and point the diffuser toward your roots, moving down toward the ends of your hair. The warm air from the diffuser adds volume to roots, which are lifted away from the scalp using this method. When done, throw your hair back and brush. Finally, lock the style in by drying it using the coolest setting for about a minute.
Drying Hair
Use a diffuser to simply dry hair. A diffuser can be less destructive to hair than a traditional blow dryer. Start at the roots and dry hair using circular motions in the same direction, going toward the ends. Use a cooler setting when hair is almost dry, and don't dry hair completely. Always leave a little moisture to prevent over-drying, which causes frizz.
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