How to Dry Curly Hair Safely: 3 Techniques to Try
How you dry curly hair has a big effect on how it looks and feels in between washes. It’s not as simple as blasting with a hairdryer; the right tools and techniques are needed to enhance your curl pattern. Get your ritual just right, and each coil will be beautifully defined, hydrated and frizz-free – but get it wrong, and you can blow them out of shape or cause lasting damage.
To help you nail it, we’ve pulled together the three best techniques for drying curly hair, with or without a diffuser. Keep scrolling for all the tips and tricks you need to level up your routine…
First, Blot Hair Dry with a T-Shirt
Before you choose one of the drying techniques below, you’ll need to remove excess moisture from your just-washed curls. Instead of reaching for a towel and rubbing strands dry, try a simple routine switch-up. Grab a soft, cotton, long-sleeved t-shirt you no longer plan to wear, and use it to gently blot from roots to ends. The last thing you want is to crush your curls – it’s all about bringing out their natural beauty – so allow them to realize their full potential by lightly pressing and twisting with the tee. Not only does this prove less damaging than rubbing your hair (which is extra fragile when it’s wet), but it causes less frizz once your curls are dry, so they’re easier to style.
Image Credit: @cameronkepford
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
1. Plop Your Curls with the Same T-Shirt
Once you’ve blotted curls dry with a long-sleeved t-shirt, you can segue seamlessly into ‘plopping’ your hair. This drying technique can involve the same cotton tee, a leave-in conditioner and some quick, simple wrapping on your part. It’s a great trick for making curls curlier, speeding up drying time, and keeping frizz at bay – especially if you have long hair that you want to tuck out the way while it dries.
How to ‘Plop’ Curly Hair:
- Apply NutriCurls Curlixir Balm in sections through mid-lengths and ends of hair.
- Lay the t-shirt on a table in front of you, with the sleeves and neck closest to you.
- Flip your curls forward and lay them across the center of the t-shirt (on the ‘torso’).
- Fold the bottom of the t-shirt back on the curls, to the base of your neck.
- Tie the long sleeves around your head to secure and keep curls wrapped up.
- Once you’re sure hair is 100% dry, release the curls and style with fingertips.
2. Diffuse Your Curls for Boosted Definition
A diffuser attachment might be the most popular piece of curly hair kit around. Great for drying any curl type, it fits onto the hairdryer nozzle and disperses the air evenly over a wide area. This way, you’re not blowing curls or waves out of shape, but respecting their natural pattern, all while reducing frizz for a flawless finished look. If you’re low on time and need to get your hair dry stat, a diffuser is the way to go. Just make sure you work some product into lengths and ends for added definition and shine.
How to Diffuse Dry Curly Hair:
- After blotting dry with a t-shirt, mist hair with EIMI Fresh Up; a curl-reviving spray.
- Layer in NutriCurls Curlixir Balm if your curls need a little extra care, taking care to distribute it evenly
- Section hair into four equal parts and secure each one with a clip.
- Flip your head upside down, release a section, and gather curls in the diffuser. Switch the dryer on.
- Keep the dryer on a low heat to minimize damage. Work section by section until all curls are 80% dry.
- Flip your hair back again, then finish with a little extra EIMI Fresh Up to enhance those abundant curves. Gently scrunch it in to reactivate the shape.
Image Credit: @gabrielathecolorist
3. Air Dry Your Curls for Heat-Free and Diffuser-Free Styling
Wondering how to dry curly hair without a diffuser? Using the best products for air-drying hair, you can tame frizz and enhance your curl shape naturally, without the need for extra kit. It may take longer than drying with a diffuser, but many find it makes their pattern more defined – especially if you’re finger coiling and/or clipping the roots. All you have to do is add your favorite product, twist, twirl or scrunch your hair, then let time do its thing. No heat, no tools, no problem. This zero-heat drying technique is particularly useful for those looking to repair damaged curly hair.
How to Air Dry Curly Hair:
- If your waves or curls are finer and tend to be well hydrated, mist NutriCurls Milky Waves Spray through the mid-lengths and ends. Meanwhile, if hair needs added nourishment, try NutriCurls Curlixir Balm. Apply in sections to ensure each and every curl is covered.
- Follow with EIMI Boost Bounce Mousse for curls that are craving body. This is especially useful if you find your curls are flatter in sections or need lift at the roots.
- Scrunch or finger coil your hair, and allow it to dry. If you’re finger coiling, work in small sections, twirling each piece around your finger then releasing, before moving on to the next. This can take time, but it’s worth it for the coily, ultra-defined effect you get at the end.
- You can also clip the roots if you want extra volume at the top. To do this, use claw clips on small sections of hair, placing them so that the root section is pushed up vertically.
- Once hair is 100% dry, use fingertips to add extra product to any stray flyaways. If you’ve clipped the roots, remove the clips carefully, making sure you don’t snag strands.
Image Credit: @michellethompsonhair
More Tips for Drying Curly Hair
1. Curate a Curly Hair Care Routine
Curls are much easier to dry and style when they’ve been cared for and prepped correctly, so make sure you’re using a shampoo and conditioner that suits your unique needs. If hair is highly porous and in need of hydration, the low-foam NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner will help. It’s great for co-washing locks with nourishing ingredients that purify and moisturize in one. The NutriCurls Micellar Shampoo is also delicate, yet offers a deeper cleanse when you need it. Great for waves and curls, it removes impurities without stripping strands. Follow with the Detangling Conditioner for light nourishment, or the Deep Treatment to prevent frizz, giving you luscious, touchable waves and curls from one wash to the next.
2. Build Up Product According to Your Curl Type
The collier your curl pattern, the more moisture your hair can soak up. That’s why, if your texture is tighter, you might want to add extra product to your styling routine. The Curlixir Balm is ideal in this case, as it offers instant nourishment, and the buildable formula can be layered up to suit the softness you desire. Milky Waves is also a go-to – think of it like a hydrating face mist for your curls. It’s weightless yet effective, helping to boost manageability and shine with every spritz.
3. Go Easy on the Brushing and Combing
If you feel your curls need combing, make sure you use a detangling brush or a wide-toothed comb. You don’t want to be raking through your curls with bristles that cause damage or iron out that coily shape. Be gentle and make sure your locks are well conditioned before you get started, then carefully tame section by section, making sure you don’t drag or tear the cuticle.
With these tips, drying your curly hair becomes quicker, easier and kinder to locks, allowing you to work the dreamiest coils that stay glossy and frizz-free all day.
