We challenge you to find a single woman with curly, frizzy or even just wavy hair who is not regularly in a state of conflict with her tresses, her hairdryer, or both at the same time. The structure of curly hair makes it particularly sensitive to humidity, temperature, static electricity, etc. Maintaining beautiful curls therefore requires daily attention!
When it comes to drying curly hair, you'll find many opinions on the subject here and there, most of which are contradictory: some recommend banning the hairdryer altogether, while others swear by using a diffuser fitted to the appliance.
How should you dry curly hair? How can you use a hairdryer diffuser to dry your hair to perfection? Velecta® Paris asked its expert hairdressers for their opinion, and these are the answers they gave. Today, Céline Laramy, aka @lesbouclettesdeceline, a hairdresser who specialises in curly hair, shares her experience and gives us her valuable advice. The experts at Velecta® Paris tell you the secrets of the brand's diffusers and explain just how effective they are: try them now, you’ll see the difference!
Understanding the nature of curly hair
In order to find out the best way to dry your curly hair, you must first understand why hair grows straight or curly in the first place. It's a question of genetics - more specifically, follicle genetics. The follicle is the subcutaneous part of the hair, under the scalp.
Knowing all this, it's natural to wonder what the best way to dry curly hair is if you want to sculpt the curls without damaging the hair. This is where Céline Laramy's advice comes in.
How to dry curly hair: step-by-step advice from our expert
- Washing your hair
The trick to drying curly hair starts at the washing stage, especially if you're looking for volume: if this is the case, our curl expert recommends washing your hair upside down to loosen your roots and gain volume naturally.
- Towel drying curly hair
Before addressing the question of how to blow-dry curly hair, it is best to towel dry the hair in order to remove as much water as possible, as Céline Laramy explains:
- Use your hand or a wide-tooth comb to remove any knots from your hair without breaking the curls;
- Scrunch your hair with your hand - this is an accordion-like motion of pulling your hair up from the ends to the scalp while holding it in the palm of your hand - doing this allows you to start defining your curls while preserving their contours and at the same time removes any excess water from your hair;
- Use a treatment product that is best suited to your hair texture, such as a cream and/or gel, and follow the recommended technique. If you have frizzy hair, apply the product(s) to each section of your hair, with your head facing upwards.
And that’s it! Now your hairdryer is ready to take to the stage! But how do you blow-dry curly hair without damaging it? Céline Laramy recommends using a hairdryer diffuser, to help protect the fragile nature of curly hair.
What is the best way to use a hairdryer diffuser when drying curly hair?
A diffuser is a hairdryer attachment that evenly distributes the air blowing out of the hairdryer over a larger diameter than the hairdryer outlet would do on its own. The softened airflow is more gentle on the fragile constitution of curly hair, while the prongs on the inside of the diffuser help to separate and sculpt the curls. Céline Laramy explains how to dry curly hair with a diffuser:
If you are looking to achieve volume:
1) Hold your head upside down and direct the airflow of the diffuser from the bottom to the top: this lifts the roots and achieves more volume. Dry your hair as much as possible in this position.
2) Raise your head and continue drying with the diffuser, but this time with your head tilted to one side and then to the other.
3) Return to the starting position (head down) to finish off.
If you are not looking to achieve volume:
OPTION#1:
- Repeat steps 1) and 2), then finish drying while keeping your head upright and keeping your diffuser at a distance.
OPTION#2:
- Dry with your head upright and keep your diffuser at a distance
In all cases:
- Allow the diffuser to dry your hair to a moisture content of about 20%. This moisture level is when your hair's shine is at its peak. With a little experience, you will learn to recognise it!
The diffuser's design and manufacturing quality has a direct impact on how well curly hair is cared for during the drying process: uniform heat distribution is the best guarantee for curl protection. Velecta® Paris diffusers are designed in accordance with extremely rigorous specifications, which allow us to guarantee a high quality drying experience. Don't take any chances with your curls!
How to blow-dry curly hair with a diffuser: extra tips
Blowing speed and temperature settings, diffuser position: our curl expert explains how to dry your hair with a diffuser and gives you all the tips you need to achieve the desired effects for your hair type.
- Keep the temperature low to avoid drying out your hair. If you have very long and/or thick hair, increase the blowing speed instead. With a powerful hairdryer, you can dry your curls quickly without damaging them.
- When your hair is almost dry, use the slowest speed before finishing off with the cold air function to set the curls.
- If your hair is quite thin, blow-dry using the slowest speed for the entire time and finish off with the cold air function.
- To avoid frizz and tight curls, make sure the diffuser is directed along the length of the hair, never from the ends to the roots. Hairdryers that feature an ionic function eliminate static electricity and can be very effective in taming stubborn curls.
- You can also use a serum to protect your hair.
And that’s it! Now you know how to dry your curly hair with a diffuser!
Which hairdryer diffuser should I choose?
Velecta® Paris brand diffusers are designed specifically for a particular range of hairdryers. This ensures their effectiveness and optimises airflow distribution during the drying process. Experience it for yourself!
