Do not, I repeat, do not use your hands while diffusing your hair. Ouidad says, "The less you touch your hair the better." Why? Because touching your hair creates frizz and can cause your curls to loose their shape. So let the diffuser do the work, even if it feels like it's taking a long time.
Image via Imaxtree
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Step 5: Mist with hairspray
Once hair is dry, mist it with styling spray (try Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray, $24) to hold it into place. For wavy hair, you can mist spray while drying for extra hold.
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Step 6: Apply pomade or shine serum (optional)
If your hair feels crunchy or looks dull, rub some pomade or shine serum (try Ouidad Clear Control Pomade, $26) in your hands and smooth it over your hair (not through it or you'll loosen the curls you just created) like you're creating a ponytail and then down the ends. This will soften hair and add shine.
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Top-rated diffusers:
Ouidad says your blow dryer doesn't matter much, as long as you can put it on a low heat and air setting. You'll want a decent diffuser though to attach to it. Check out these popular options:
If you have curly hair (or just want curly hair) then a diffuser is a must-have item in your beauty arsenal. What is a diffuser? It's an attachment for your blow dryer that changes the air flow from a direct stream of air to a more diffused (get it?) wide circle of air. This helps to minimize frizz, since there's less hot air aimed at any one part of your hair, so it's perfect for curls. If your blow dryer didn't come with a diffuser, you can buy a universal one that will attach onto the nozzle (just make sure it's the right diameter before you buy).
For help using this tool, we talked to Ouidad, a curl expert and founder of the Ouidad line of hair products (specifically for curly girls) and Ouidad salons, which specialize in cutting and styling curly hair. She walked us through the step-by-step process for diffusing hair — everything from the products to use, the temperature of the blow dryer and even exactly what to do with your hands. Follow her guide and you're sure to wind up with defined, frizz-free, volumized and shiny curls.
Even if you don't have naturally curly hair we got tips to get it that way with a diffuser. See how you can go from wavy to full on curly in a snap.
