The best hair dryers for curly hair to make blow-drying bearable

Looking for the best hair dryers for curly hair? You've come to the right place. For the curly girls of the world, finding the best hairdryer to enhance one's luscious locks is an ultimate priority. The phrase 'curly hair, don’t care' can be frustrating because being proud of your look doesn’t mean that you don’t care about it, right?

Rocking your natural hair can often take a lot of maintenance, such as finding the right conditioner for curly hair, selecting the right hair products for curly hair and the best mousse to help amplify your style. One of the most important unwritten rules to having beautiful, healthy locks, of course, is using one of the best hair dryers for curly hair. Though heat is believed to be not best for curly hair, it does beat waiting yonks for your hair to air dry naturally...

Closer's best hair dryers for curly hair at a glance:

Best hair dryer for curly hair overall: ghd Air Style Kit - view on Amazon UK

Best for anti-frizz: Bellissima Italia Diffon Supreme Hair Dryer with Diffuser - view at Boots

Best lightweight pick: T3 AireLuxe Professional Hairdryer - view on LookFantastic

Before you commit to a blow dryer, there’s a thing or two you need to know about looking after your hair and how to do it right. It’s essential that you get to know your hair and the drying process; that’s where we come in. We’ve gone back to the basics and found out exactly what you need to know about ionic hairdryers, ceramic technology and everything in between. You're in for a treat.

SHOP: Best hair dryers for curly hair

What causes curly hair?

We’re all about embracing your natural locks, and the best way to do this is by understanding what causes your curly hair. If you know why it grows, you’re going to have a better relationship with it and a deeper understanding of how to look after it.

The science behind curly hair is all thanks to the follicle, which is basically part of the skin that packs cells together to form hair. We know, we couldn’t believe it either.

The shapes of the follicles that your body produces determine the type of hair you’ll have - so if you have:

Round-shaped follicles - you'll have straight hair

Oval-shaped follicles - you'll have wavy hair

Hook-shaped follicles - you'll have curly hair

What are the different types of curls?

Identifying your hair type can be difficult because there are so many different types of curls and combinations that can make up your hair. If you’re looking to find out what your hair type is, the best way to identify your curl shape is when it is wet.

Type 2

Type 2 hair is typically described as wavy hair, but you can break this down even further to the different types of waves that you can experience.

2A: This is a soft wave that becomes curlier towards the ends of your hair.

2B: It’s a beach wave: that sun-kissed frizzy curl that we all love.

2C: A much deeper wave, this pretty much borders between wavy and full-on curly hair.

Type 3

Type 3 hair can be identified by its spring or corkscrew shape, which gives off volume - and sometimes frizz.

3A: Expect it to be ALL about the large, loose curl with the risk of frizz.

3B: If you have a springy, ringlet feel to your hair, you fall into this category.

3C: These curls can be described as a tight corkscrew, and you may experience frizziness.

Type 4

Type 4 hair is often fine and thin or wiry and coarse – it can be fragile, so it’s essential to protect this style.

4A: This is a tightly coiled look alright; you can tell if you have this hair type if you can see a visible S pattern.

4B: Ranging from wiry and coarse to fine and thin hair, if you have tight strands that are shaped like a letter Z, this is your type of curl.

4C: Like 4B, your hair will be densely packed but with less definition, and you’ll find the hair to be very delicate.

Now you're a little bit more clued up, to up your hair care regime, you don’t have to spend hours having a hair mask applied at a fancy salon. Yes, applying products will help to fight the frizz, but the battle doesn’t stop there.

From the moment you wash your hair, it can make or break what the results look like. Once you’ve jumped out of the shower, it's time to define your locks and help them look shinier than ever before. How, you ask? By bagging one of the best hair dryers for curly hair. Turns out you don't always have to splash out on a Dyson hairdryer to get the sleekest hair of your life.

Technical terms that you need to know about when it comes to hairdryers:

When it comes down to investing in the best diffuser hair dryer for curly hair, the technology and features that are built into any model are fundamental to the results. If you aren't 100 per cent clear on what the technology means for your hair, it may be detrimental to your overall look.

However, there's no need to panic as we've rounded up some terms you may see when shopping for hairdryers and explained what it means for you.

Negative ion: Simply put, this technology breaks down the water molecules, which will dry your hair faster. Other benefits include reducing frizz and helping to give your hair an ultra-smooth finish.

Infrared heat: If you see this functionality on a hairdryer, it means it will provide a consistent level of heat, which, in theory, should cut down how much heat exposure your hair gets.

Ceramic technology: Want even more protection from the heat? A ceramic hairdryer is basically a higher level of infrared heat, with less of a risk of causing damage to your hair.

Nanoe™ technology: Anyone who suffers from dry hair needs to look out for this feature in their hairdryer, as it helps to provide more moisture than any regular hairdryer. We also love that it reduces damage from brushing and keeps cuticles on the surface in good condition.

Should you use standard hairdryers on curly hair?

The short answer is yes, you can use a standard hairdryer on curly hair. But a diffuser hair dryer for curly hair will give you better results. These hairdryers listed above, for example, will help keep your hair soft and frizz-free, as well as prevent any heat damage.

Should I use products in my curly hair before blow drying?

You should absolutely use products in your curly hair before blow-drying. Not only can this help split ends and keep your hair looking glossy, but it will also save you time in the long run. Here are some incredible products to use in your curly hair:

We were lucky enough to get some incredible tips from hair specialist and director of SALON64, Ricky Walters, on ways to prevent damage to your hair, how to reduce frizz while drying your curly hair and so much more. Here's what Ricky had to say:

How can I stop my hair from being damaged when using a hairdryer?

“Diffusing curly hair is the best way to gently dry your hair, and it will cause little (if any) damage at all. If you are rebelling against your curls and blow-drying them smooth constantly, try the following:

"Turn your hairdryer down to a slow speed but on a hot heat setting. Although it will take slightly longer, your hair will thank you for it.

"Get a regular trim. If you are blow-drying and using heated tools such as tongs and straightening irons, it’s important to get all those split ends cut out of your hair. I recommended getting the snip every six to eight weeks.

"If your hair doesn’t become frizzy too quickly, then let your hair dry in a towel or gently remove some moisture from the hair at a slow speed before adding your brush and blow-drying. Plus, if you dry from soaking wet, it’ll take far longer, and you’ll use excess heat unnecessarily.”

How to stop curly hair from going frizzy when drying?

“Throw away the nozzle your hairdryer came with and replace it with a diffuser. Your curly hair needs to be dried slowly. Once setting your wet hair in ample product, diffuse your hair on a slow speed and hot heat. The frizzier the head of hair, the less you should dry it. Therefore, you may only wish to do this until it’s 50 per cent dry. If your hair is sensationally frizzy, leave it to dry naturally.”

How to blow dry curly hair so that it becomes straight:

“Tension while blow-drying is key… Don’t be afraid to pull on your brush with a little force to smooth out the hair. Taking small sections and working your way around the head slowly, but steadily is the best way forward. Using oil or serum to help reduce frizz applied on both wet and dry hair will help. I recommend OLAPLEX oil.”

Not ready to splash the cash? Check out the best Olaplex alternatives right here.

What is the best way to blow dry short curly hair?

“I LOVE a curly bob. The rules don’t really change with curly hair. Whether your style is long or short, it’s all about keeping the curls looking great and avoiding frizz. The frizzier the hair, the less you can afford to dry it with a hairdryer. The more manageable hair types can set in products and diffuse.

“You can manipulate your curl pattern by twisting two sections of hair around one another until it resembles something like a rope. Repeat this around the head and leave it to dry overnight for at least a day. When you take out these twisted sausages from your hair, you’ll have frizz-free incredible waves with zero effort.”

Lily Anderson was a Content Writer and Editor, working across Bauer Media Group's portfolio. Career highlights include interviewing 90s girl group B*Witched, becoming the unofficial queen of toilet rolls and taste-testing wine in the name of journalism. She is now a Wesbite Assistant at Peterborough City Council.

Piper-Ivy Huxley is a Homes & Lifestyle Product Writer for Closer, specialising in interior design, alternative fashion and beauty. When she’s not writing about homeware trends or her skincare routine, she’s snuggled up reading a witchy novel or binging (yet another) reality TV show…