How to Blow Dry Curly Hair: The Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Wash

The best curls start with the right care routine. If your client’s hair is fine or well moisturized, wash with NutriCurls Micellar Shampoo, and follow up with NutriCurls Detangling Conditioner for weightless care. If they prefer the deeper nourishment of co-washing, try NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner. The low-foam, luxurious cleanser rinses away impurities, while bestowing strands with curl-defining hydration for the ultimate 2-in-1. 

Meanwhile, for damaged curls that crave deep repair, ULTIMATE REPAIR is the answer. Wash first with the ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, which kickstarts the bond rebuilding process with a rich, sumptuous lather. Then, follow with the ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner. Creamy and sumptuous, it comforts stressed-out strands before rinsing completely clean. Curls feel light and bouncy – never weighed down. 

Step 2: Detangle

While a conditioner, co-wash or hair mask is still in the hair, you or your client can gently detangle curly hair. Remember: the hair should feel slick with product at this stage. If it’s not, you need to add more. Then work out knots with fingertips or a detangling comb, making sure you start from the ends and work up to the root in sections. It takes time, but it means knots can be eased out with as little dragging or tearing as possible. 

Step 3: Blot

How you towel-dry curly hair is just as important as how you blow dry curly hair. A delicate touch is needed, so use a soft cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel and blot out moisture – don’t rub. This way, you prevent causing frizz with too much friction. It’s a simple tip that also reduces breakage and split ends if the hair is fragile. 

Step 4: Treat

Finish the prep phase with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue, a lightweight, liquid, leave-in treatment that repairs damage in 90 seconds*, leaving your client with 12x smoother hair**. All you have to do is mist it from root to tip after excess water has been blotted out of curls, let it absorb for the full 90 seconds, then move on to the blow dry phase. 

Now it’s time to blow dry your client’s hair. Because Miracle Hair Rescue feels wonderfully weightless, you can layer it with styling products to get the best out of your client’s curls. Let’s choose the perfect blow dry product…

The Best Blow Dry Products for Curly Hair:

For Fine or Medium Curls

Airy-light mousses and foams are perfect for lending hold to finer curls, without the worry of weighing locks down or feeling too heavy. So, try a mousse like EIMI NutriCurls Soft Twirl if the curl pattern leans wavy, and EIMI NutriCurls Boost Bounce for more defined ringlets with mega volume. Shake well before use, then squeeze the mousse into palms and lightly scrunch up into the hair. Be gentle – the aim is to enhance the natural curl shape while lifting and adding body. 

For Thick or Coarse Curls

Thicker curls or hair that’s coarse and/or dry will love NutriCurls Curlixir Balm; a defining treatment that teams nourishing care with bounce-boosting results. It’s packed with Jojoba Oil and Panthenol to elevate moisture and shine, while helping to smooth out frizz in seconds flat for the ultimate blow dry primer. Apply it through hair in sections, taking care to add a little more to drier areas. You can delicately scrunch it in or even use a finger coiling to create the most flawless spirals. 

Image Credit: @gabrielathecolorist

Picking the Right Hair Dryer for Curly Hair

To blow dry curly hair, you need a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment. What’s great about diffusers is that they spread out the airstream of your dryer, so you can dry a wider area with optimal control. By dispersing the air, you also reduce the risk of disrupting the curl shape and you dial down frizz. In short, it’s the kindest, gentlest and most effective way of drying curls.

Diffusers work on all curly hair types, whether you or your client are working type 2 waves, type 3 curls or type 4 coils. For an even more curl-defining drying experience, try choosing a hair dryer that’s anti-static, like Sahira Anti-Static Hair Dryer. It keeps frizz at bay, reduces drying time, and is also ultra gentle on the scalp.  

Follow This Curly Hair Blow Dry Technique:

1. Apply Your Chosen Styling Product

While hair is still wet or damp from washing, your client should start their routine by applying their product of choice, whether that’s a mousse, a spray or a balm. Recommend they also use a heat protectant, like EIMI Thermal Image, taking care to mist it from root to tip to shield locks against heat damage. 

2. Let Hair Air-Dry 50% of the Way

So curls aren’t exposed to too much heat for too long, hair should be allowed to air-dry at least 50% of the way before blow drying. This way, your client’s blow dry will be quicker, shorter, and less damaging. 

3. Split Hair into Four Even Sections

Once your client is ready to kick off their blow dry, advise them to split their hair into four even sections. If their curls are thicker, they may need to work in six or even eight sections to reach every strand. 

4. Place Hair in the Diffuser Nozzle

Gently place a section of hair in the hair dryer nozzle, then ‘scoop’ upwards close to the root to create volume. The hair dryer should be on a low or medium heat setting.

5. Dry Hair While ‘Massaging’ with the Nozzle

While the curls are still scooped up in the diffuser nozzle, gently move it in a backwards and forwards ‘massaging’ motion. This will activate the shape of the curl pattern, and the constant movement helps to prevent frizz. Continue until the hair is 80-90% dry, then move on to the next section. 

6. Finish with Definition

Once the hair is dry, your client may want to define a few sections with a curling iron. Remind them to reapply EIMI Thermal Image first, then target just the pieces that need a touch-up. The final fix? A misting of NutriCurls Milky Waves Spray if their hair is fine, or a few drops of Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil to frizz-proof thicker curls and seal the ends.