5 Best Hair Dryers for Curly Hair in 2021

Conair Curl Fusion
Ionic Ceramic Styler
and Hair Dryer

XTAVA Peony Hair
Dryer with Turbo
Johnson Motor

DevaCurl
Blow Dryer
with Diffuser

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I love curls! But I don’t love all the fuss and nonsense that comes with getting them perfect.

There are so many rules and precautions that sometimes I would just rather not style my hair.

That was until I decided to take my time and find the best hair dryer for curly hair. This cut down the steps of my styling process drastically and left me with healthier hair that didn’t need as much work.

Ready to find out how to find a hair dryer for curly hair that won’t ruin your good hair day?

Let’s get right to it!

The Best Hair Dryers for Curly Hair

This dryer has 1800 watts and ionic technology that gives you complete control over your style.

The ceramic will help you prevent heat damage, even if you forget to use a heat protectant spray. I loved the volume lift attachment that came with it.

Even without product, I had a ton of extra volume after each use, which made my curls that much more bouncy.

I definitely notice a difference on the days I don’t use this hair dryer. My curls don’t seem to be very perky and I just don’t feel like they’re as smooth as they could be, either.

Luckily, my hair dries super fast when I use the Conair Curl Fusion, so it’s easy to build into my morning routine. If you’re looking for a fast way to get runway-ready curls, this is the hair dryer for you.

Key Features:

  • Volume lift attachment included
  • 2 heat or speed settings and cool shot button for added versatility
  • Ceramic technology prevents heat damage
  • 1800 watts of power
  • Ionic technology adds shine

Specification:

Brand
Conair
Model
1800 Watt Curl Fusion Ionic Ceramic Styler; Purple
Weight
1 pound
Pros
  • This hair dryer does the best job of preserving curls while drying the hair
  • Its noise level is moderate
  • Great for naturally curly hair
  • It does a great job even on low heat and blowing strength
Cons
  • Not dual voltage for traveling
  • Its effectiveness depends on the kind of hair you have

I loved the look and style of the Xtava.

It’s sleek and has a futuristic vibe that looks great in my bathroom.

This hair dryer has a salon-grade motor and advanced ionic technology, which is a necessity for curly-haired girls. It has two heat settings and two-speed settings, along with a precision nozzle that helps you direct the perfect amount of heat only where you need it.

This is great for days when you don’t wash your hair but just spray it with a little dry shampoo and product.

My favorite feature of the Xtava hair dryer was its cool shot button. I used it to lock in the perfect curl and it always lasted all day.

Even if your hair is long, you’ll be in and out of your bathroom in no time with this dryer, and your curls will look amazing.

Key Features:

  • Turbo travel hair dryer with an attachment nozzle
  • Compact lightweight 1875 watt powerful
  • Advanced ionic technology
  • Includes a concentrator nozzle attachment so you can style with precision
  • This blow dryer is designed to fit snugly in your suitcase without taking up too much space

Specification:

Brand
Xtava Professional
Model
Ionic Hair Dryer Peony Pink Salon Blow Dryer
Weight
3.1 pounds
Pros
  • This dryer is compact
  • The heat, power, and weight of this dryer are spot on
  • Its handle is perfectly shaped for smaller hands and is very light weights
Cons
  • The cord is a little too short

This hair dryer was made for both curly and wavy hair.

If you’re not sure if you need a hair dryer for curly hair or not, give this one a try.

It’s made for even the slightest amount of curl and can really give you the volume and boost in curls you’re after.

You’ll love the softer and shinier curls this hair dryer can produce, along with the fantastic way it eliminates frizz. It has a unique hand-shaped diffuser that delivers 360-degree airflow as it gently dries curls and leaves them looking amazing.

My sister has just barely curly hair, but when she uses the Devacurl, her hair is suddenly bouncy, shiny and full of volume. I’ve always been known as the one with curly hair, but when she uses this dryer, it’s hard to tell which of us has curlier locks.

Key Features:

Specification:

Brand
DevaCurl
Model
DevaDryer Ionic Hairdryer with Diffuser
Weight
2.65 pounds
Pros
  • It comes with a diffuser
  • It perfectly works for curly hair
  • Hair looks full-looking with the right amount of wave
  • Dries the hair without frying it
  • It easily creates pretty, smooth, shiny, frizz-free waves in my hair
  • Makes no frizz and fly aways
Cons

This blow dryer looks like it belongs in a salon, but the price says otherwise.

It’s definitely a contender for the best blow dryer for curly hair.

It features a sleek design with two speeds and an impressive three-heat setting that give you complete control over your drying experience.

It features tourmaline-infused ceramic that speeds up drying time without being too damaging, while also reducing static and improving moisture levels.

This hair dryer also has ionic technology, which creates a whole bunch of negative ions that break down water molecules. This helps to dry your hair faster while sealing in moisture.

Just make sure that you don’t over-dry your hair, which cancels out the effects of the ionic technology.

Key Features:

  • 1875 Watt Professional Tourmaline Ceramic for Healthy, Sexy Hair
  • Infrared Heat dries hair quickly and efficiently without damaging hair
  • This dryer features three heat settings, two speeds, and a Cool Burst that leaves hairy silky, smooth, and shiny
  • It includes extra long 9’ cord, has removable air filter, and 2 nozzle attachments

Specification:

Brand
Opulent Care
Model
Best Ionic Hair Blow Dryer
Pros
  • The cord is nice and long and does not tangle
  • This dryer makes hair drying a lot quicker without burning or frizzing your hair
  • The attachments snap on securely
Cons
  • It is a little heavy and pretty large

Need the best hair dryer for curly hair that does it all, and then some?

This one has plenty of attachments, including the best diffuser attachment for curly hair, and settings to give you everything you’ve ever wanted from a hair dryer.

It has a lightweight and ergonomic design, along with a dual filtration system and a quiet but powerful motor. It also has negative ion technology, a necessity for getting the perfect curls that aren’t dry or brittle.

I love the three heat settings and two-speed settings on this model. It also features the cool shot element for freezing my curl, giving me the perfect look every time I use it.

It comes with a nozzle for heat concentration, along with what I think is the best diffuser for curly hair and even a comb pick that allows you to volumize while you dry.

I feel like this dryer practically cuts my drying time in half. It saves me styling time too, because of the different attachments and settings.

This is my go-to hair dryer for days when I need a little extra confidence in my hair.

Key Features:

  • 1875 watts with negative ion technology
  • It comes with a concentrator nozzle, diffuser & pik
  • You can choose from 3 heat settings and 2-speed settings

Specification:

Brand
Vokai Labs
Model
Ceramic Hair Blow Dryer Professional Ionic Turbo Blower 1875 Watts With Negative Ion
Weight
2.8 pounds
Pros
  • You will love the extra attachments
  • It works great for all hair types
  • You will cut dry time in half with its steady ion power
  • It is very powerful
Cons
  • Some of its attachments do not fit snugly or snap-in

Is It Bad to Blow Dry Hair Every Day?

It’s not the actual act of blow drying your hair every day that makes it bad for your hair. The problem is that most of us don’t take the proper precautions to protect our hair, or we’re using styling products that aren’t made with hair health in mind.

This leads to dry hair that’s more susceptible to damage. Damaged hair can look unattractive, be hard to style, and even lead to excessive hair shedding and loss.

If you need to blow dry your hair on a daily basis, you must take the proper precautions and use the best blow dryer for your needs.

How to Pick the Right Blow Dryer for You

Not all hair dryers are created equal. Some are ideal for long and straight hair, while others are made for us curly-haired girls. If you’re simply basing your hair dryer purchase on color and price, you’re probably not using one that’s made for you.

There are a few different things you should consider when finding the best hair dryer for curly hair.

First, you’ll want to decide on wattage. The higher the wattage, the harder and faster the fan and motor will work, which will dry your hair quicker.

You’ll also want to decide if you want adjustable temperatures, which can help you to avoid heat damage.

You might also want to consider dryers that offer multiple speed settings, especially if your hair is on the finer side.

If you really have no idea which blow dryer would be best for your type of curls, take a look at my reviews in just a moment. But first, I want to talk about how to blow dry curly hair so that you’re not damaging it or not getting everything out of your hair dryer.

Tips for Blow Drying Curly Hair

If you have curly hair, you know the challenge that comes along with blow drying it. There are so many precautions we have to take to keep our hair not just healthy, but also bouncy and curly.

If you’re not completely confident in your hair drying technique, take a look at these fast tips you can use once you have the best blow dryer for curly hair:

Dry Your Hair a Bit

Your hair should be about half-way dry before you use the blow dryer. If it’s still soaking wet, you’re sure to be causing damage, no matter how careful you are. Either use a towel or even just your hand to get rid of excess moisture and let the air take over for a bit. Once your hair begins to dry, it shouldn’t be much longer before you can hit it with the hairdryer.

Use a Diffuser

This is a must for us curly-haired girls. If you don’t have a diffuser that came with your blow dryer, you can always buy one separately. Plenty of hair dryers do come with diffusers, so with a little research you can find the best diffuser for curly hair.

Keep Your Hair Dryer Straight

Try not to move your hair dryer while it’s on. Focus it on one section of hair and blow it dry. Turn the hair dryer off before you move on to another section. This will get your hair dry but won’t cause too much damage.

Don’t Blow Dry All the Way

You should stop blow drying your curls when they’re about 90% dry. This will keep you from drying out your strands. A few scrunches with your hand should complete the job. You can also use a hot air brush to touch up any damp spots.

Also, make sure that you’re always using a heat protectant spray and use enough to cover all sides of your hair. You can also look into haircuts for girls with curly hair and pick one that best suits your face shape and hair color. Sometimes the right cut can make a huge difference.

Blow Dryer for All Types of Curls

No matter your curl type, you want to make sure that you’re using a ceramic hair dryer that uses infrared heat and high wattage. This will help to dry hair from the inside out in record time so that you can prevent frying, damage, and frizz.

Blow Dryer for Thick, Unruly Curls

Thick and unruly curls can look absolutely amazing, but it sure is difficult to let them dry! You’ll want to find a hair dryer with about 2000 watts. The faster you can dry your hair, the less time there is for it to be damaged. If your hair is unruly, you’ll definitely want to make sure that you’re using the best hair dryer for curly hair with a diffuser to minimize frizziness.

Blow Dryer for Long Curls

When you have long hair, it will always take a long time to dry your hair. While you’ll want to look for a dryer with high wattage, and a diffuser to keep things looking healthy and great, you’ll also want to keep weight in mind. It seems silly but if you’ve narrowed your choices down to two hair dryers that seem to be just about the same, go with the lighter one. Your arm will thank you!

Blow Dryer for Noncommittal Curls

Do your curls do whatever they want, when they want? Then you need a hair dryer that lets you control ionic settings. This will let you either dry your hair so that it’s smooth and easy to straighten or let your curls puff up, giving you volume that’s sure to make everyone else in the room jealous.

Blow Dryer for Frizzy Curls

There’s nothing that ruins my day faster than frizzy curls. That’s why you need a hair dryer that can stop them from happening in the first place. Look for one that has high wattage, ionic technology, and temperature control to give you the freedom to adjust your settings as needed, depending on the weather.

Blow Dryer for Tight Curls

Tight curls are stunning but need a bit more care. A combo of tourmaline and ceramic will help to dry your hair quickly without using too much heat and causing damage. Be sure that you choose one with a diffuser that can keep up, leaving your curls springy and even.

Having curly hair can be a bit of a battle sometimes. But once you find the best hair dryer for curly hair, you can easily make your hair smoother, curlier, and healthier.

From there, it becomes much easier to dry your hair, head out the door, and enjoy the compliments that come rolling in.

If it’s time for a new blow dryer, get one that was made for you and your curls. It’s a decision you’ll never regret.