The 15 Best Diffusers for Curly Hair of 2024 Will Smooth and Define Coils

Best Overall

DevaCurl DevaFuser

$55 at Dermstore $39 at Walmart View on Devacurl.com

Type: Diffuser

You’re probably familiar with the curl innovation of DevaCurl, so it’s no surprise that the brand would have a one-of-a-kind diffuser made with curly hair in mind. The ceramic inner core preserves moisture to ensure shinier, sleeker-looking curls. Plus, the wide, hand-like head delivers 360 degrees of airflow to shorten your drying time. Just keep in mind that it takes longer to dry hair.

Best Budget

KingKam Silicone Hair Dryer Diffuser

$10 at Amazon $14 at Sears.com

Type: Diffuser

You don’t have to break the bank to get a quality diffuser. This collapsible travel-friendly blow-dryer attachment offers easy storage, funneling and softening the airflow of your hairdryer while also collapsing to a convenient size.

Best for Volume

Drybar The Bouncer Diffuser

View on Ulta $34 at Amazon $34 at Sephora

Type: Diffuser

This convenient diffuser gets major points for its large shape that’s able to dry big sections at a time. The circular shape cups your hair to distribute heat from roots to tips for great shape and volume. It’s also surprisingly lightweight so that every wash day doesn’t also have to be an arm workout.

Best for Travel

Hot Sock The Ultralight Diffuser

$9 at Amazon $9 at Walmart $7 at Beautyplussalon.com

Type: Diffuser

No room for your standard diffuser in your carry-on bag? This Hot Sock diffuser is the next best thing. While it doesn’t feature fancy prongs, it conveniently glides over the nozzle of your blow-dryer to reduce heat damage, limit flyways, and promote more defined curls.

Best Compact

Chi 1875 Series Advanced Ionic Compact Hair Dryer

$68 at Amazon $130 at Ulta $66 at Walmart

Type: Dryer + diffuser

When you want all of the bang of a quality hair dryer with less of the bulk, this compact ionic dryer is a great solution—and of course, it comes with a handy diffuser attachment. With three heat settings and two speed settings, you can control the amount of heat you subject your hair to while diffusing the airflow for a more precise drying experience. This is pricier than other options on our list—but you're getting a whole drying system, not just an attachment.

Best Splurge

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer

$429 at Amazon $429 at Sephora $430 at Ulta

Type: Dryer + diffuser

This Supersonic hairdryer is quite the splurge, but users who love it say it’s worth every penny. Aeleise says that this dryer “has power and heat but doesn't displace the hair even on the highest air setting. It's game-changing because the hair can dry in half of the time.” Its technology takes blow-drying one step further by doing the work of your favorite heat protectant and guarding your hair against damage for 75% increased smoothness and 132% decreased flyaways—no matter the humidity. Yes, it's expensive, but it's also won over fans who swear by its results, so we think it's worth the spend.

Best Classic

Conair InfinitiPro Hair Dryer

$40 at Ulta $35 at Target $26 at Walmart

Type: Dryer + diffuser

There’s a reason why Conair is celebrated for making quality hair tools—they just get it right, and this classic hairdryer is no exception. The ceramic technology makes for safer drying, and you can also use the cold shot when you want to avoid heat. The diffuser also has prongs with multiple lengths so it can evenly distribute air through thick hair.

Best Smoothing

Revlon Salon Infrared Hair Dryer

$22 at Amazon $27 at Walmart View on Opensky.com

Type: Dryer + diffuser

This blow-dryer and diffuser set was made with humidity in mind. With infrared heat technology and a diffuser with widespread prongs, you reduce your risk of over-drying your hair. The results? Smoother curls and enhanced shine.

Best Adaptable

Hairizone Hair Diffuser Adaptable for Blow Dryers

$25 at Amazon $39 at Walmart

Type: Diffuser

When you buy a diffuser that doesn’t come with your blow-dryer you can run the risk of it not fitting—but not with this adaptable head. With a quick squeeze, it can adjust in size to fit 90% of blow-dryers on the market. Use the diffuser for a sleek finish.

Best for Thick Hair

CONFU Hair Dryer With Diffuser

View on Amazon

Type: Dryer + diffuser

Having a diffuser sounds like a great curly-haired solution unless your hair is too thick for tiny prongs to penetrate. That’s why this diffuser is such a standout. It has extra-long prongs that can reach the roots of thick hair, and the convenient, lightweight dryer is ergonomic for comfortable styling. For tighter curls, Aeleise offers her advice for maximum definition and flyaway-free diffusing, “When using a diffuser on tighter curls do not put it into the hair. Hover it over the hair 4 to 6 inches like a portable hood dryer. Move it in the direction the hair grows, root to end, not end to root, to reduce the possibility of frizz. Don't put your hand in your hair either till the hair is 60% to 75% dry.”

Best Hair Tool Set

Lovppy Silicone Hair Dryer Diffuser Set

$17 at Amazon

Type: Diffuser + combs

If you’re ready to give your entire wash day styling routine an upgrade, this set of hair tools is a great place to start. It comes with a collapsible silicone diffuser, detangling brush, plus fine-tooth and wide tooth combs to reduce breakage.

Best for Loose Curls

Bed Head 1875 Watt Diffuser Dryer

$28 at Amazon $28 at Walmart

Type: Diffuser + dryer

This diffuser sets itself apart from the pack for its unique design that has a large surface area—making for quick drying and faster results. The removable diffuser is evenly spaced for added definition, texture, and increased volume.

Best Hooded Dryer

Glow by Daye Soft Bonnet Hood Dryer Attachment

$22 at Amazon $22 at Walmart

Type: Hood attachment

Now, this isn’t exactly a diffuser, but the even distribution of the air gives you all of the benefits of a hairdryer with the convenience of an attachment. It’s great for setting roller styles or twist-outs, but it can also be used on wash-and-go styles for easy, effortless drying. Plus, the flexible material fits virtually any blow-dryer.

Best for Fine Hair

T3 Soft Curl Diffuser

View on Sephora View on Nordstrom View on Bloomingdales

Type: Diffuser

This do-it-all diffuser works for both curly and coily textures, and for all hair types. However, it’s especially choice for those with finer strands. The vented extensions evenly disperse heat, helping to add volume, all while defining your spirals in the process.

Best Multitasker

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System

$330 at Amazon $299 at Sephora $300 at Ulta

Type: Diffuser + dryer + attachments

This isn’t a diffuser, it’s not a dryer, and it’s certainly not your run-of-the-mill hot tool. There are not one, not two, but three different attachments included: a blow-dryer head, two different size curling wraps, a round brush, and a unique, flower-shaped diffuser. The diffuser is noteworthy in and of itself, with retractable and extendable prongs that help shape your curls to perfection. Plus, this also gives you the option of wearing your hair smooth if you want to blow it out, or adding back waves with the curl wraps. Not to mention that it measures and regulates the air temperature a whopping 1,000 times per second, helping to drastically cut down on the likelihood of heat damage.