Hi curlies! I’m sorry for not posting this long, I’ve been working on different things, amongst them a new video on how to blow-dry curly hair using a diffuser. In it, I’m sharing my drying routine to get frizz-free and voluminous curls.
I’ve already posted a photo tutorial on how to blow-dry curly hair, but I thought it’s about time to also do a short video on it!
Before linking to the video, I’d like to summarize the most important issues when it comes to blow-drying:
- always use a diffuser when blow-drying curly hair
- only turn on the blow-dryer when it directly lies on your scalp and when you’re not moving it
- whenever you’re moving your blow-dryer: turn it off (if you don’t, you’ll end up with a lot of frizz)
- set your blow-dryer to low air and medium to high heat (I like switching back and forth between medium and high heat)
- do you want more volume? Try blow-drying your curls until they’re 100% dry
If you’re still not sure, whether you should give blow-drying a try, read the blog post I wrote about the difference between air- and blow-drying.
And finally, my YouTube video on diffusing:
June 18, 2015
I’ll give it a try. It looks like it takes you a lot to dry your hair, though. I usually don’t spend so much time drying my hair – perhaps that’s why they’re frizzy.
June 18, 2015
All in all it takes me about half an hour to plop and then blow-dry my curls!
June 18, 2015
For me, it’s a lot. Having a 9-months-old baby boy, I only have a few minutes left for me. But I’ll do my best to give it a try. 🙂
June 30, 2015
smile 🙂
ur video helped me a ton …… last week i hv used diffuser to dry my hair … quite hpy i didnt c any frizz bt i was nt hpy with da volume …. i imagined more voluminous hair i guess.. plz try to share a complete video starting from applying products to diffusing dem .. lv to c u :*
B hpy 🙂
July 6, 2015
Hi! This is awesome thanks 🙂 When I come out of the shower my hair is in clumps and after I plot all the curls get smushed to my head when I brush them forward. If I try to move them before I diffuse I lose all of the curl and get frizz. Do you have any suggestions to get lift at the roots while keeping the big clumps?
July 7, 2015
Hi Holly, you shouldn’t brush your curls when they’re not soaking wet and covered with conditioner – if you do, this will break up all of your clumps.. maybe this article I wrote can help you with the clumping: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-hair-type-3a/5-must-know-steps-for-making-3a-curls-clump/ 🙂
July 7, 2015
This is a great video! Your blog has been a lifesaver. I’m in the market for a new blow dryer. Do you have any particular ones you would recommend?
July 8, 2015
Hi Deandra, I actually don’t think it matters that much what kind of blow-dryer you get, just make sure it comes with a diffuser 🙂 The one I’m using is from Remington and quite old…
July 22, 2015
Do you have some suggestion haircuts for short and curly? I would like to see some short haircuts for naturally curly hair and its shape if I get a straght blowdry.
August 6, 2015
When watching the blow drying curls with a diffuser video, I wondered how you know how and where to place the bobby pins? I assume the bobby pins are to maintain volume? I’m pretty new to letting myself be curly; a friend directed me to your site. Thank you so much! I never knew my hair could be this curly! I wouldn’t have spent decades fighting my curls.
August 6, 2015
Thank you for you comment – I’m happy to hear you started to embrace your curls!
Yes, the bobby pins are for additional root volume. I wrote a whole article on clipping: https://www.justcurly.com/curly-tips/get-more-root-volume-clipping-curly-hair-with-bobby-pins/ I hope you’ll find all the answers there 🙂 otherwise feel free to write again!
September 5, 2015
Hi! I just stumbled upon your website and it was basically everything i was looking for!. I always let my hair air-dry just because i’m lazy and didn’t know how to blow dry. one question i have for you is what is your shower routine? the reason i ask is because i don’t know if i should brush my hair in the shower or comb it, if i should use a t-shirt or a towel. my curls are similar to yours but i’ve been experiencing a lot of hair loss on the crown of my head and also REALLY FLAT roots. AMAZING blog would love to hear your recommendations 🙂
September 6, 2015
Hi Andrea, thank you! I always finger-comb my curls while they’re wet and soaked with conditioner. After washing my curls, I plop with a t-shirt (you should try to avoid terry towels as they cause frizz. Take a loot at my latest video to get some more root volume: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r5aVCv9Os0
October 21, 2015
Hello, Curly! Wow, your hair is gorgeous!! I’ve just started to embrace my curls, and I’m currently using a coconut milk serum for repair and shine, and a thickening cream before blowdrying. I love them both, but I keep asking myself if there’s something better. What products do you use just before blowdrying? In particular, what you used in your video. If you cannot mention brand names, maybe you can use words that rhyme with them? I hope so. Thank you. 🙂
October 22, 2015
Hi Theresa, thank you! I usually only apply the Mop Top anti-frizz medium hold gel or the Kinky Curly curling custard before I start to blow-dry my curls. Don’t worry, I can name brands, as I am not sponsored by any of them 🙂 hope this helps!
November 9, 2015
Hi, thanks for the tutorial! I have a question. When I diffuse my hair until it is fully dry, the curls look great for about an hour at most and then they lose their curl and start to frizz. My hair only seems to curl nicely when I let it air dry. Would you by any chance know why my hair loses the curls and become frizzy after I diffuse it? When I diffuse and when I air dry my hair I use the same products. I use devacurl archangel gel and occasionally I use the devacurl coconut curl cream on top of the gel.
November 12, 2015
Hi Layla, it’s normal that your curls lose some volume after diffusing them. However they shouldn’t turn frizzy! It’s difficult to say why they’re getting frizzy. Using a leave-in might help you to prevent frizz!
April 16, 2016
thank you so much!! my hair is always frizzy and this gave me amazing curls. I was wondering if there are any tips to help these curls stay in as mine start loosening pretty quickly- thank you again 🙂
April 16, 2016
this also happens while I’m drying them to the other wet hair
April 16, 2016
Hi Molly, thanks for your comment! I think it’s natural for curly hair to loosen a bit. If you’re looking for a way to refresh them on second days, this might help you: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/wavy-hair-type-2/how-to-sleep-refresh-2nd-day-curly-hair-bi/
May 16, 2017
Hey! What kind of product do you use when you use the diffuser? (any specific brand?) Thanks a lot ! Valérie
May 19, 2017
Hi Valérie, I actually keep switching products and brand. However I always try to stay away from sulfates and silicones as much as possible – that has really helped me to keep my curls well moisturized when diffusing!
June 6, 2017
Your curls are fantastic. I was just wondering, which dryer/diffuser do you use or recommend. I need a new one and I don’t know where to start.
November 19, 2017
I loved your video and it was helpful for a couple of tricks I wasn’t already doing with my diffusing. I was wondering, however, if you know of any tricks for helping the curls to curl BACK/AWAY from your face? I don’t have so much of a problem getting my curls defined, etc, they’re just constantly curling right INTO my face, which means I have to pin them back which I’d rather not do. I was hoping there was some miracle blowdrying trick to help with this 😛
August 24, 2021
Simply amazing. Just getting into these things with my wife and hopefully my daughter. But I must say, with your hair, it gives you a whole lot of different styles Perfect and yea, it’s 2021 and a lot has happened with Covid and all. But with round 3 coming into the U.S., may as well learn the hair idea. So thanks. Yep, 65 year old man and beauty is STILL my hobby.