Diffuser Or Air Drying: Which Is Better For Curly Hair?

These days, it seems like everyone and their mother is sporting curly hair. Thanks to social media — and specifically TikTok — curly hair seems to be in trend now more than ever. Well, as it turns, some of you have had curly hair and you didn't even know it. According to Allure, "Turns out that it's possible for natural curls to fly completely under the radar if the hair isn't being treated the way it needs to be."

But how are curls meant to be treated? And specifically, how are they meant to be dried? While it might seem like a simple query, it's actually a notoriously debated subject when it comes to curly hair. But if you've known for a while that your hair is curly, this debate is certainly not new to you. However, if you're new to the world of curly hair, keep reading to find out the best technique to drying those curly locks.

Taking care of curly hair is notoriously difficult because there's really not a lot of control when it comes to it. Curly hair can be difficult to maintain, and it's more prone to tangles than straight hair is. In the end, your curls are just going to do whatever they're going to do — they've got a mind of their own.

While there are tons of different ways to take care of your curly hair that might work best for you, when it comes to drying your hair, there are really two main techniques: diffusing and air drying. Air drying it pretty self-explanatory — once you get out of the shower, you'll just leave those curls alone and let them gradually dry over time. Diffusing is a little more involved, however. A diffuser is a blow dryer attachment that changes the air flow so that, instead of a direct stream of air, it has a more diffused wide circle (via Total Beauty).

So which method should you choose? Well, people like the air drying method because it doesn't use any heat, and therefore you don't have to worry about heat damage. In addition, it literally doesn't take any time, so it allows you to multitask and go about your day while your curls are becoming luscious in the meantime. That being said, curly hair famously takes quite a while to dry because it can tend to be quite thick. So if you're trying to avoid those split ends and also don't mind walking around with wet hair for a few hours, air drying might be your best bet (via LUS Brands).

Diffusing is a great option if you're worried about frizz. Total Beauty says diffusing helps minimize frizz because there's "less hot air aimed at any one part of your hair." It also allows you to have more control of the overall style and look of your hair, and you can leave the house with your hair being totally dried and styled. However, there's no way around the fact that diffusing means more heat damage, which is a big problem for curly hair, as the less damage, the more luscious the curl (via Naturally Curly).

Whether you're a long time curly girl or newly discovered, whether you're diffusing or air drying, make sure you get out there and rock those curly locks!