Most people know what a hair dryer is, and probably use it on a consistent basis to speed up their getting ready process so that they can head out the door without dripping wet hair. But what about those various hair dryer attachments that may have come with your hair dryer when you originally purchased it, such as a diffuser? For those who have seen diffusers but have never really used them, you are probably wondering what does a diffuser do on a hair dryer.
Whether you have naturally curly, straight, thin, or thick hair, a diffuser can be a great addition to your hair styling routine. Even though we all have different hair types, we can probably all agree that we don’t want to spend the time and money that it takes to get a blowout from an appointment at our hair salon or with a professional hair stylist. For beautiful blowouts on our own, it is important to know what a diffuser is and what benefits and advantages it will add to your hairstyle.
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The Benefits of Using a Diffuser
There are many benefits and advantages of using a diffuser while blow drying your hair. First of all, since diffusers make the hot air from your hair dryer blow in different directions instead of on just one area at a time, it is less damaging on your hair than using just your normal hair dryer. Even though you should always use a heat protectant spray or heat protectant serum on your hair before using any heated styling tool on it, the dispersed air flow minimizes the amount of heat damage that will occur on your hair while blow drying.
In addition, diffusers help to define the curls in your hair while still reducing frizz that occurs on your hair throughout the day. The multi-directional airflow allows your hair to dry more evenly than with the singular airflow from a normal hair dryer vent, which reduces the amount of frizz on your hair. A diffuser can even add additional volume and body to your hair, making it look curlier and fuller after drying with this particular attachment. All of these benefits and advantages are why it is important to know what does a diffuser do on a hair dryer, no matter what your hair type is.
What Does a Diffuser Do On a Hair Dryer
A hair dryer diffuser is an attachment that snaps or clips onto the vent of your hair dryer. More times than not it is a round piece, that has several bristles or ridges on it that stick out. Hair dryer diffusers help to disperse the hot air that is blown out of your hair dryer, by creating multiple currents instead of just the one. Hair dryers on its own only blow hot air out of one current, which is very concentrated on top of a singular section of your hair. When the diffuser is attached to the hair dryer, the air is circulated around your strands of hair, instead of the air being blown straight onto it in one area.
Hair dryer diffusers are essentially very similar to shower heads. Just like how a shower head disperses water coming out of the faucet, hair dryer diffusers disperse the air that is blowing out of a hair dryer so it spreads over a greater area of your hair. Hair dryer diffusers are sometimes included in the box when you purchase a hair dryer, but if they are not, they are also sold separately.
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How to Use a Diffuser On Natural Hair
Using a diffuser while blow drying your hair is not difficult, but it is a little different than blow drying your hair with your normal hair dryer. Just like with your traditional hair dryer, start out by first washing your hair with a good-quality shampoo and conditioner, and squeeze the excess water out of your hair. When you’re out of the shower, gently towel-dry your hair or wrap your hair in a towel for a few minutes, so that your hair isn’t dripping wet when you begin drying.
Apply a heat protectant spray or heat protectant serum to your hair to guard it from the high temperatures that your hair dryer will reach, and to minimize the amount of heat damage that will occur on your hair. Run a wide-tooth comb through your hair to get rid of any knots or tangles that might be in your hair before blow drying. Try to avoid using a brush on your hair especially while your hair is still wet, because it may cause breakage to your strands.
Attach the diffuser to the vent of your hair dryer, and set your hair dryer to a low or medium heat. Try to use the lowest heat setting possible to dry your hair with, to minimize the amount of heat damage that will occur to it. Place the diffuser over your first section of hair that you want to dry, and fluff your hair with your fingers so that your hair goes into the bowl of the diffuser, and leave your hair in the diffuser for about 30 seconds so that it can dry. Repeat this for all of the sections in your hair that are about the same size as the width of your diffuser.
After all of the sections in your hair are dry, turn your blow dryer to its cool setting, and blow the cool air onto your hair for a couple of minutes. This will help to add shine and softness to your hair, because the cool air will close the cuticles in your strands, locking in the moisture. Depending on your personal preference, lightly apply holding hairspray, texturizing spray, or shine serum to your hair when you are done to hold your hairstyle in place, add additional shine, and reduce the amount of frizz that will occur on your hair throughout the day.
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Tips for Properly Blow Drying Your Hair With a Diffuser
To get the best results from blow drying your hair with a diffuser, there are a few things to keep in mind while styling your hair. First of all, it is important to dry your hair on the lowest heat setting possible to lessen the amount of heat damage that will happen on your hair. Even though this may take a little longer to get the drying process done than it would using a high heat setting, it will benefit your hair in the short-term and long-term, and will keep it healthier overall.
If you want to add more volume and lift to your hair while blow drying with a diffuser, it is beneficial to flip your hair upside down and diffuse from there. Doing this also helps to separate the roots of your hair, which gives it that additional boost. If you choose to do this, make sure that you are careful about where you place the diffuser on your hair, so that your hair does not form knots and tangles.
Another thing to consider when using a diffuser on your hair is to use the correct type of diffuser for your specific hair type. If you have naturally curly hair, a euro-style diffuser is best for holding your curl patterns. If your hair is naturally straight, a tourmaline diffuser helps to eliminate frizz while creating volume and curl to your hair. If you want large curls at the end of your blow drying session, a bed-head diffuser makes it easier to create them while blow drying. There are tons of different diffuser options out there, so the different kinds are worth looking into before purchasing based on your hair type.
Getting a beautiful blowout on your own and in the comfort of your own home can be a difficult task, but a hair dryer diffuser can make it much easier for you. Diffusers help to add curls, lift, and volume to your hair while blow drying, while also reducing frizz. Now that you know what does a diffuser do on a hair dryer, what the benefits are of using a diffuser while drying your hair, and how to use a diffuser on your hair, it is time for you to get to blow drying so that you can create the gorgeous hairstyle of your dreams!