I Have Curly Hair, These Are the Best Blow Dryers for Frizz-Free Definition (2024)

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TL;DR

Pattern The Blow Dryer is my favorite dryer for so many reasons: It’s beautiful, lightweight, has great attachments, and makes my curls look perfectly defined. However, if you typically like to create smoother styles, the T3 Aireluxe Hair Dryer is hard to beat.

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Features: 3 speed settings, cold shot, 4 attachments: diffuser, wide-tooth comb, brush attachment, and concentrator nozzle | Heat Setting: 3

When I took this dryer out of the box, I said “Oooooh” out loud, to myself—it was that pretty. It comes in this gorgeous terracotta color that would elevate any vanity. I’d never seen so many great attachments for curly hair in one box. There’s a perfectly sized diffuser with aerated “fingers” so the air distributes super evenly, a wide tooth comb nozzle to help add lift at the roots, a smoothing brush, and a concentrator (for when you want a straighter style). The drier also uses ionic technology to help keep frizz and flyaways to a minimum and shine to a maximum.

It dried my hair completely in about 10 minutes which is really good considering how thick my hair is. The diffuser is in the top three of best I’ve ever used—it added volume without frizz and made my curls look like I’d used a curling iron. I loved the easy access cool shot button and how quickly you can switch between attachments (you just stick it on and it locks in place, then you release it by pressing the buttons on the side of the nozzle). This one’s definitely a keeper.

Features: Ergonomic handle, titanium ionic technology, cool shot button | Heat Settings: 3

Sometimes, you just need a simple dryer that does the job well without all the bells and whistles but rings in at a comfortable price. That’s the Babyliss Nano in a nutshell. It has a strong, even airflow that never felt like it overwhelmed my curl pattern. I liked that it worked with a universal diffuser, and came with concentrator attachments for blowouts. It was easy to adjust the settings (they’re all on the handle). It dried my hair relatively quickly and didn't create much frizz or flyaways.

I don’t love that it doesn’t come with a diffuser or any other attachments specifically designed for curly hair, but it’s great for those smooth blowout looks. It is louder than others I tested, so if you have a partner or baby sleeping, you may want to pick a different one.

Features: Scalp protect, pause detection mode, 3 airflow settings, smart attachment sensors; Attachments: wave+curl diffuser, gentle air attachment, concentrator, wide-tooth comb, flyaway attachment | Heat Settings: 4

From now on, when I think about a hair dryer with all the bells and whistles, I will always think of the Dyson Nural. Its technology is just a step above the rest. But what set it apart for me was how well it protects the hair and scalp from unnecessary heat, which is key if you have curly or color-treated hair (me, me) that’s more prone to frizz. When you switch attachments the airflow and temperature automatically adjust to the settings you most often use with said attachment (it remembers). There’s also a sensor that tells the dryer to lower the heat if you get too close to your scalp (where was that when I had bangs?).

All the attachments work well, but the diffuser is really something special—you can put it into “dome” mode for softer waves or diffuser mode for higher volume and tighter curls. Despite the powerful airflow, the dryer is still super lightweight and quiet. It dried my hair fast, and I had noticeably tighter curls and less frizz. The price, of course, is the stinger here, but if you want a truly other-level dryer that will keep your curls in peak shape, this is the one.

Read our full review: Surprise! Dyson Dropped a New Hair Dryer, and Yes, It’s Better Than the Original

Features: Finger-like diffuser and concentrator, ionic technology | Heat Settings: 3

This is a nutty-looking hair dryer, but it definitely does what it claims to do—make diffusing curly hair simple and easy—which is why I think it’s great for beginners. The diffuser hand (yes, it's an actual hand) can be adjusted to either act like a bowl you can put your hair into or cup hair and create lift at the roots. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you figure out which angles of the attachment are best for your drying purposes, it works well. I achieved decent curls and didn't create much frizz at all, thanks to the ionic button on the handle. The settings are user-friendly (low to high temp and low to high airflow toggles). There's also a handy cold shot button on the handle to seal styles. It dried decently fast as well.

There were some downsides: It’s a little heavy, and more cumbersome to maneuver than the others I tested. When you want to change up how the diffuser is oriented, it takes a bit of pulling, which can be uncomfortable mid-dry when the diffuser is hot. But if you’re newer to the world of drying curly hair, this versatile, diffuser-forward dryer is where it’s at.

Features: 3 speed settings, cold shot, 3 attachments: diffuser, brush attachment, and concentrator nozzle | Heat Setting: 4

Who doesn’t love a dryer with great attachments that you’ll actually use? That’s what the SpeedStyle offers and then some. It’s also just a fantastic hair dryer that’s lightweight and super cute to boot. When you order it, you get to choose any two attachments you want to come with it at no extra cost (and you can always get more). My favorite was the diffuser with spokes that you can adjust up or down for added root lift. It's a serious game-changer.

Testing this one after testing the Dyson was key because I could see just how well it compares, and let me tell you, it's a very close race. It has most of the same attachments and is just as chic looking (I actually think it's sleeker and lighter-weight). While the attachments aren't magnetized, they connect almost as seamlessly and you can lock them into place so they won't budge while you're using the dryer. It dries comparably fast, too. It's also a fraction of the price, but the Dyson does come with all the attachments (and a handy case).

Features: 3 speeds, cold shot, T3 RapidAire IQ Technology that you can turn off | Heat settings: 5

Boy, was this hair dryer designed to smooth strands! It's automatically ionic (and a powerful ionic generator at that: it saturates airflow with 10 million negative ions per second) meaning it's built to mitigate frizz and promote shine. There is a button to turn that off, however, I’m not really sure I'd ever use that since I don’t really need more volume and don’t want to tempt frizz. I love the settings on the handle—you have five temp settings and three airflow speeds. When you turn it on, it saves the settings you used last so you don't have to think about it (this is especially great for curly-haired folks who likely have temperatures and airflow settings they know help protect their curls from damage).

The dryer comes with two different-sized concentrators designed to target the airflow so you get the smoothest sections. It's lightweight and dries hair relatively quickly (I got a full blowout done in 20 minutes). I deducted curly points since the dryer doesn’t come with a diffuser (you can get one, but it's sold separately). I also kept accidentally hitting the cool shot button since it's right where the handle meets the blower, and my hand often rides up as I dry. Other than that, it produced a gorgeous blowout with tons of shine.

FAQ

• How do you blow-dry curly hair without losing curls?

  Use a blow-dryer specifically designed for curly hair or one that either comes with an attachment for this purpose (aka a diffuser) or will work with a universal diffuser. Don't use a brush when blow-drying—instead, use a dryer with fingers or prongs that separate and move over your curls to dry and shape them without causing friction and flyaways. A diffuser sends even heat to your hair, separating your natural curls and moving with them to dry without causing friction.

• What heat setting is best for blow-drying curls?

  Spino advises against using your dryer on the highest setting the whole duration of your blow-dry, as this can cause static. "Some people prefer to start high to get the drying going, then switch to low, while others may start straight away at low/medium heat," she explains. What works best for you will depend on your hair type and how much time you're willing to spend on drying.