15 Best Diffusers for Curly Hair, Tested and Reviewed for 2023

This diffuser is truly magical (like, 11,000 Amazon reviews-level magical) for drying and defining long and/or thick curls, thanks to the fact that its bowl is ultra-wide and its prongs are super-long and staggered. Not sure what that means? Basically, this attachment has more surface area to cup and hold your hair to help it dry more evenly, so you’re not stuck with half-damp, half-dry clumps of curls.

• Size: Fits ~1.8-inch hair-dryer nozzles
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but on the higher side for larger flow

THE REVIEWS: "This is by far the best diffuser I’ve ever used!!" one product tester writes. "If you have thick, longer hair or thick, shorter curls, this is the diffuser for you!! My curls came to LIFE with this diffuser!! Love the volume! Highly recommended 10/10!!"

Ok, I genuinely loooove this diffuser because it gives me, a control freak, major control over my entire curl-diffusing routine. The attachment has an adjustable, twistable top that allows you widen or shrink the air flow coming through the diffuser, so you can customize how much—or how little—drying power you want. And for me and my mix of ultra-fine and super-coarse hair, I need to be able to customize the flow to help mitigate excess heat damage and prevent frizz and flyaways.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.4 to 2.6-inches
• Air vents: Customizable and adjustable

THE REVIEWS: "It makes my wavy hair dry even curlier, likely due to the quick drying power and the vents in the little spikes/tubes that can go to your scalp and dry the roots," notes one tester. "I love this diffuser and would highly recommend it for anyone."

This diffuser for curly hair is awesome: It's pretty cheap (at least, for something that has more than 1,000 positive ratings), has a deep bowl for gathering your long curls in one bunch, and fits on the majority of common blow dryers, thanks to its silicone padded opening, which locks around the nozzle of your dryer without scratching it.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.4 to 2.4 inches
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but on the higher side for larger flow

THE REVIEWS: "This is a great diffuser," according to one tester. "I recommended it to my stylist and my sister who both also love it. It has a flatter profile than most other diffusers and so it is easier to pack when traveling. I’d give it more stars if I could!"

This diffuser attachment is only $13, and if you think that means it's cheap in quality, too, you’d be wrong: It’s one of the most popular diffusers for curly hair on Amazon with more than 13,000 positive reviews, and it fits most hair dryers (and obvi, all Conair dryers). Just lift and plop sections of your damp curls into the bowl and diffuse away.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.75 to 2.3 inches
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but on the fewer side for softer flow

THE REVIEWS: "This fits perfectly on my hair dryer and did exactly what I needed it to. It helps keeps my waves and curls from being frizzy and stays on the whole time with no worries of coming off my hair dryer while I’m using it," one reviewer writes.

This baby is mega and sturdy, which is exactly what you want when you’re dealing with curly hair (flimsy diffusers that pop off in the middle of a drying session? I think TF not). It has an ultra-deep and wide bowl and medium-length prongs, making it perfect for any curl length. But the coolest (really) part? Its airflow is customizable. Just twist the attachment to the left or right for a stronger or weaker blast of air, which can help you control how your wet hair will dry and form.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.73 to 1.77 inches
• Air vents: 114 (with customizable flow)

THE REVIEWS: "I love this. It has totally transformed my curly hair journey and routine," one reviewer writes. "I use it for hover drying. It is lightweight and fits on my speed freak hair dryer which has a smaller-than-typical barrel. Would buy again!"

Although this diffuser is technically designed for Drybar’s iconic Buttercup blow dryer, it can actually fit any blow dryer that has a nozzle diameter of 2 inches (a common nozzle size). Its staggered prongs also make it easy to catch and dry curls of any length without them slipping. Pro tip: Gather a clump of your damp curls with your hand and gently place the entire bundle on top of the bowl—rather than mashing the diffuser to your head—to help define your pattern.

• Size: Fits most 2 inch hair-dryer nozzles
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but on the wider side for more air flow

THE REVIEWS: "I have looser curls/waves (blend of 2c-3b) and this is my favorite diffuser yet. Holds hair evenly without smashing or breaking apart the curls (my hair is about 4 inches past my shoulders)," reads one review. "I've had less frizz with this model compared to other diffusers."

If you only own a blow dryer for the sole purpose of diffusing your hair, then why not take the bulky attachment out of the equation and instead just use a dryer with a built-in diffuser? This one from Bed Head has more than 11,000 happy reviews on Amazon and for good reason: It has three heat settings, two-speed settings, and a cool shot button (use it in the final three to five minutes of diffusing to seal in your curl definition).

• Size: N/A (all in one!)
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but highly vented for fast drying

THE REVIEWS: "I am absolutely in LOVE with this hair dryer. I have always used a hair dryer with a diffuser, but this takes it to the next level," reads one tester review. "I have so much volume, and my curls are perfect. No frizz whatsoever! The spikes make it kind of hard for traveling, and I am afraid I will break one, but that is the only reason I didn't give every area a 5-star! Buy it!"

This universal hair diffuser fits on virtually all blow dryers (unless you’ve got some wonky dryer whose nozzle is smaller than 1.7 inches or wider than 2.6 inches, but, like, why?), so you won’t need to buy a new blow dryer just for the attachment option. If you’re into ~aesthetics~, it comes in six different pastel and vibrant colors and, most importantly, has a wide bowl to scoop up and dry even super-long curls.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.7 to 2.6 inches
• Air vents: 211 (with varied sizing)

THE REVIEWS: "I lost my old attachment when I moved. This one is great! It's easy to attach by squeezing the side buttons and sliding it onto my dryer," writes one reviewer. "Really helps diffuse the air so it’s not coming at my hair straight. Perfect for curly/wavy hair!"

Don’t be thrown by this wacky-looking diffuser—it’s basically a holy-grail tool in curly-hair communities. The slime-green “claw” streams air from all sides of its branches, helping dry your curls with significantly less frizz/flyaways while protecting your hair from heat damage. Rather than piling your hair in a classic diffuser cup, slide this DevaCurl diffuser along your roots and hang out while it dries your curls.

• Size: Fits almost all standard, full-size hair dryers (really)
• Air vents: Holes on both sides and edges of the diffuser for all-around even flow

THE REVIEWS: "If you have naturally curly hair, this diffuser will change your life," writes one reviewer. "Unlike some other diffusers that have rubber tips that grab onto your hair (not good if you're avoiding frizz), it gently lifts the curls and cradles them to dry them softly. It's pricey, but you get what you pay for."

If you don’t already have a Dyson hair dryer, I suggest immediately adding it to all your holiday/birthday wish lists right now. And if you’re already in possession of one, pick up the Supersonic Diffuser, which helps gently dry even super-thick curls with a steady stream of air to reduce frizz and drying time. BTW, Hardges is a big fan of this diffuser, too.

• Size: Fits all Dyson hair dryers
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but on the higher side for faster drying times

THE REVIEWS: "It cut down on damage, the time it took me to dry my hair, and helps my curls to have body," one reviewer writes, while another adds, "This dryer and diffuser are the BEST! Completely different curls, less dry time (I don’t completely dry), and no frizz. I set on low heat or now heat and dry on low."

As you already know, your curly hair is naturally dry, which mean you'll want a blow dryer that can do it all with a minimal amount of heat damage. Enter: this lightweight hair dryer that uses infrared heat to help mitigate moisture loss. It comeswith two attachments, including a huge diffuser attachment and a targeted blow-out attachment, along with three duckbill hair clips to help with parting and sectioning while drying.

• Size: Really only fits included hair dryer
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but one of the highest on this list, making it an MVP at drying quickly

THE REVIEWS: "I love this dryer! Found this after tons of looking and figured, 'Screw it. For $20 it’s worth a test,' and YES IT IS," one reviewer writes. "This is the best dryer I’ve ever had. Lightweight, quiet, great diffuser, low and high heat, AND fan speeds. I was shocked how many dryers are just low and high heat, with no fan control! Just buy it—you won’t regret it."

The nubby prongs on this diffuser are on the shorter side, making them especially excellent at drying shorter hair, like a curly pixie cut or recently chopped coils. Since cropped hair doesn't exactly have too much to "cup," you can try alternating traditional diffusing with the hover method, where you literally hover the bowl over your hair, slowly moving it around to dry your coils without smashing them.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.4 to 2.6 inches
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but has some of the biggest, widest, and varied sizes for fast drying

THE REVIEWS: "I've been trying out the curly girl method for my 2a/2b hair and I thought diffusing would do me some good," a tester writes. "This diffuser works super well and has a large surface, meaning you can use larger hair sections."

There's so much to love about this diffuser from Ceremonia. Since it's collapsible, you can basically take it anywhere with you, making travel days so much easier. It can also easily attach to your hair dryer, thanks to its ribbed-grip end, and it can withstand temperatures of up to 400-degrees. Since it has short prongs and a smaller bowl, this diffuser would be ideal for medium- to short-length hair.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.57 to 2 inches
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but is primarily a vent, so it'll dry curls faster

THE REVIEWS: "I LOVE THIS DIFFUSER! I attached it to my blow dryer, and the amount of volume and definition my curls got after they were dried is insane," reads one review. "I love that the diffuser has holes in the cap, unlike other diffusers, which is essential for diffusing the air and bringing bouncy curls."

Here's the deal with sock diffusers: They soften the stream of hot air coming out of your blow dryer, so the air doesn't blast your curls apart and leave them undefined and frizzy. They don't necessarily cup and tighten your curls like a traditional diffuser, but unlike a traditional diffuser, they're thin, squishy, and fit over virtually any blow dryer, making it possible to diffuse your curls regardless of the dryer you're using.

• Size: Fits all hair dryers
• Air vents: No classic holes—the material itself allows for a soft, diffused stream of air

THE REVIEWS: "Had no issues keeping it on my blow dryer. It's less heavy and clunky than the diffuser that came with my blow dryer," one reviewer writes. "Was able to dry my fine, shoulder-length hair without it blowing around and tangling. Will definitely take it with me when traveling."

This flexible, collapsible (!!) diffuser is made of silicone, so it'll take up precisely zero room in your bag. It can also stretch to fit around any blow dryer nozzle between 1.6 to 2 inches. And, because of its wide bowl (key for longer curl types) and short prongs (good for shorter hair), this diffuser is basically the best all-around attachment to try, regardless of your hair type.

• Size: Fits hair-dryer nozzles between 1.6 to 2 inches
• Air vents: Number of holes not listed, but is primarily a vent, so it'll dry curls faster

THE REVIEWS: "Great diffuser! I love that it fits a range of dryer diameters, and the collapsible shape is excellent for travel," one tester writes. "I’ve had no issues with the diffuser collapsing while I am drying, Just work in sections so the weight of your hair doesn’t overload it."