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How To Dry Curly Hair Without A Diffuser
If you have curly hair, there's a good chance that you've tried everything to get it dry. You've probably spent more money on diffusers than you ever thought possible and wondered why your curls don't dry faster.
The answer: diffusers aren't for everyone. In fact, many curly-haired people prefer natural methods of drying their hair so that they can avoid frizz and flyaways, which can happen when using a diffuser or other electronic device (like an ionic brush).
Here are some tips for how best to dry curly hair without using an electric device:a
Use A Towel To Squeeze Excess Water Out Of Your Hair After Shampooing And Conditioning It
The best way to dry curly hair is with a towel. It's easier than using a diffuser and it will give you better results.
After shampooing and conditioning your hair, do not rub it dry in a hurry or else you will damage the cuticle of your curls. Instead, pat the towel on top of your head until all excess water has been absorbed into the towel fibers.
Separate Your Hair Into Two Or Three Sections, Depending On How Much Hair You Have.
If you have a lot of curly hair and want to keep it all together, then use a comb or pick to separate it into two or three sections.
You can also use your fingers if that's what works best for you.
Using A Comb
Using a comb or pick, start from the bottom of a section and carefully detangle the knots. If you have time and are not in a hurry, try using your fingers for this step as well.
Be careful not to pull too hard on your hair when pulling out knots.
Gently Scrape Your Scalp And Detangle The Roots.
- Gently scrape your scalp and detangle the roots.
- Use a wide-tooth comb to gently remove tangles from your hair, starting at the bottom of each section and working up to the roots. You can also use a pick or brush if you have one available.
Very gently separate any tangles in the roots of your hair using a wide-tooth comb. Do not pull or tug on your hair, as this can cause damage to it and/or breakage.
Gently Blot Any Excess Water Out Of Your Hair With A Clean Towel.
To dry curly hair without a diffuser, gently blot any excess water out of your hair with a clean towel. Don't rub or press too hard; just use the towel to absorb the moisture as you would when drying your face.
Don't wrap hair in a towel and leave it there until it has dried. That will cause frizziness and can lead to more damage than what you're trying to avoid with this method.
Instead, use another clean sheet or two (or even three) for each section of wet curls, this will ensure that all strands get evenly exposed to air circulation as they dry out naturally and slowly over time instead of leaving them sitting under direct sunlight or near heat sources like blow dryers or curling irons (which may further damage them).
Taking Care Of Curly Or Kinky Hair Is Different Than Taking Care Of Straight Hair - But It's Not Hard!
- Curly or kinky hair is more fragile than straight hair.
- It's important to wash curly hair less often, because the oils in your scalp can cause it to dry out more quickly. If you do have to wash your curls, use a gentle shampoo and conditioner designed for curly or kinky hair (like Cantu or Tresemme). You'll want to use these products every other day at most so that you don't strip the natural oils from your strands.
- Use a wide tooth comb when detangling wet curls before using dryers on them again; this will keep those pesky knots under control while helping keep them soft and manageable.
Start Drying Hair By Scrunching The Curls.
Start drying hair by scrunching the curls. This is the best way to dry curly hair because it helps to bounce back into shape, remove any tangles and also gives you a nice shine.
Continue Scrunching With T-shirt.
Now that your curls are dry, it's time to use a t-shirt or microfiber towel to further scrunch the hair. This will help them curl even more and create a beautiful style.
This method is especially helpful if you have thick curly hair because it helps with volume and prevents frizzing up in the air over time.
Wrap curly hair into a towel turban.
The towel turban is the best way to dry your curls, and it'll help keep them intact while they're being dried. Make sure you don't have any knots or tangles in the rag, then wrap it around your head like a scarf and secure with an elastic band around the back of your neck (or over another towel). Leave for 10 minutes before unwinding from both ends of the cloth so that all curls are exposed to air circulation and drying heat from above. This method will give you tons of volume without having to use products such as hairspray or gel on top!
Apply Final Products To Wet Curls.
After the curling iron, you'll want to apply final products to wet curls. This can include light moisturizing products, leave-in conditioners and gels or mousse. A curl defining cream is another option if you want your hair to stay bouncy and shiny while it dries.
If you have long hair that's prone to frizzing when dry, try applying a gel or mousse first before applying any other styling products, a it will hold its shape better than other options if there are lots of flyaways around the roots!
Takeaway
The takeaway is that you can dry curly hair without a diffuser, but it's not easy. You'll have to work hard and be patient with yourself while you're doing it.
But if you're committed to your curly locks, the rewards are worth it! For me, using the right products in conjunction with this method has made my curls look healthier than ever before—even when I'm not trying too hard or worrying about them getting frizzy or limp (which happens sometimes).