Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Beachwaver Co. Blow-Drying Hair Brush for $189: This cute blow-dry brush has a set of attachments that includes a diffuser. It’s a solid choice if you want both a blow-dry brush and a diffuser, but there are cheaper options if you don’t want the blow-dry brush included.
Our Favorite Products
Every person is different, and it can take some trial and error to nail down the right diffuser routine. Maybe you want to dry your hair fully, or maybe you want to take it to 80 percent. Maybe you want a leave-in, a curl gel, and a hair oil, or maybe you just need a little heat protectant. These are some products we like to use during our own hairstyling routines that might come in handy for yours.
Turbie Twist Microfiber Towel for $20: I like to plop my hair after the shower for a few minutes to absorb some water before diffusing. These microfiber towels are designed to stay put, and they soak up a lot of moisture without drying my hair too much. Others swear by plopping with a T-shirt, but this is what works best for me.—Louryn Strampe
Pattern Leave-In Conditioner for $28 and Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Cream and Gel for $19: I put a glob of leave-in conditioner in my hair after plopping, followed by a palmful of curl cream, and finally a generous amount of gel. This is what primes my natural curl clumps to look their best post-diffusion. It may be too heavy for some curl textures, but this is my favorite method. —Louryn Strampe
Kristin Ess Style Assist Blow-Dry Mist for $12: This is one of the most effective heat protectants I’ve tried that actually cuts drying time—halfway through blow-drying, I can actually tell where I sprayed it and where I didn’t. I wish it were as easy to apply as the Milk_Shake foam primer, below, but the bottle still has a decently targeted spray and the product is lightweight enough not to leave residue. —Kat Merck
Milk_Shake Lifestyling Blow-Dry Primer for $26: This lightly scented heat protectant is meant to prevent color fading and reduce drying time. It doesn’t do the latter quite as effectively as the Kristin Ess, above, and a little goes a long way, but it will shave off a couple minutes and gets high marks for coming out of the bottle as an easy-to-apply foam, so it’s a snap to ensure you’re getting even coverage. —Kat Merck
Davines This Is a Curl Gel Oil for $32: This gentle curl gel oil has been fantastic for my fine hair, helping my curls form and keeping them moisturized without weighing them down or making my hair crunchy. It starts out feeling like a gel in your hand, then transforms into an oil on your hair. It’s best to use with a diffuser, though I’ve occasionally used it on air-dry days with similarly good results. —Nena Farrell
