Curly hair and a standard hair dryer don't mix well. Point a concentrator nozzle at your curls on full blast and you'll end up with a frizzy mess that looks nothing like what you started with. That's not the dryer's fault. It's the wrong tool for the job.

What curly and wavy hair actually needs is a diffuser, lower airflow speed, and controlled heat. The right dryer with the right technique keeps your curl pattern intact, cuts frizz, and dries your hair without turning it into a birds nest.

This guide covers the three best options in the UK right now — from a £25 budget pick that includes a diffuser in the box, to a £400 Dyson built specifically for curls and coils. We'll also go through the actual technique, because the dryer is only half the equation.

For our full hair dryer roundup covering all hair types, see our best hair dryer UK guide.

How to dry curly hair properly

Before we get into the dryers, here's the technique. Get this wrong and it won't matter what dryer you own.

Step 1: Start with soaking wet hair. Apply your styling product (gel, mousse, curl cream, whatever you use) while your hair is dripping wet, not towel-dried. Water helps distribute the product evenly and sets the curl pattern before heat gets involved.

Step 2: Attach the diffuser. Don't skip this. A concentrator nozzle focuses airflow into a narrow jet, which is the opposite of what curls need. The diffuser spreads air over a wide area so curls dry in place rather than being blown apart.

Step 3: Low speed, medium heat. This is the bit most people get wrong. High speed disrupts curl formation. High heat causes damage and frizz. Low speed and medium heat is the combination. Yes, it takes longer. The trade-off is curls that actually hold.

Step 4: Scrunch upwards, don't touch. Flip your head upside down or tilt to one side. Cup a section of curls into the diffuser bowl, bring it up towards your scalp, and hold for 20-30 seconds. Don't move the diffuser around — just hold it still and let the warm air do its work. Move to the next section. Repeat.

Step 5: Cool shot to finish. Once your hair feels about 80% dry, switch to cool air. This sets the curl shape and closes the hair cuticle, which reduces frizz for the rest of the day. Don't touch your curls until they're fully cool and dry. Seriously. Hands off.

The whole process takes about 15-25 minutes depending on hair length and thickness. It's slower than blasting on high heat, but the difference in curl definition is night and day.

1. Remington D3198 — Best Budget Hair Dryer for Curly Hair

The Remington D3198 is the pick for anyone who wants a curly-hair-friendly dryer without spending much. At around £25 on Amazon UK, it comes with a diffuser in the box. That matters more than you'd think — a lot of dryers at this price either skip the diffuser entirely or include one that barely fits.

The D3198's diffuser is a standard size with decent finger prongs that help cup and hold curls while drying. It's not the deepest bowl you'll find, but it works for Type 2 (wavy) through Type 3 (curly) hair without issues. The ionic conditioning is the real bonus here. Negative ions reduce the static charge that causes curly hair to frizz out, and at this price point that's a feature worth having.

With 2200W, three heat settings, two speed settings and a cool shot button, you've got enough control to follow the low-speed-medium-heat approach properly. The lowest heat setting paired with speed 1 is where you want to be for most curl types. Bump the heat to medium for thicker hair.

The downsides are the ones that affect all uses of this dryer, not just curly hair. The 1.7m cord is short. The build is budget plastic. At roughly 580g it's not the lightest. But for £25 with a diffuser included, ionic conditioning, and proper heat/speed control, there's nothing else at this price that ticks all the boxes for curly hair.

Read our full review: Remington D3198 Review | Check current price

2. Dyson Supersonic Nural Curly+Coily — Best Premium Hair Dryer for Curly Hair

The Dyson Supersonic Nural comes in two versions: Straight+Wavy and Curly+Coily. For this guide, we're talking about the Curly+Coily edition, which ships with attachments specifically designed for textured hair — including a diffuser that's been redesigned around how curls actually dry.

At £399.99 it costs sixteen times more than the Remington. That's a fact you have to sit with. But what you get is genuinely different, not just more expensive.

The sensor-driven heat control measures air temperature 40 times per second. When the dryer detects it's too close to your hair, it adjusts automatically. For curly hair, which is structurally weaker than straight hair and more prone to heat damage, this is a real benefit rather than a marketing line. You can't accidentally overheat a section because you held the dryer too long. The dryer won't let you.

At 684g with the motor in the handle, the balance is completely different from a traditional dryer. It doesn't feel top-heavy. That matters when you're spending 20 minutes with your head upside down and one arm above your head.

The airflow approach is different too. At 1600W it uses less raw heat and more motor speed (110,000 rpm) to create fast-moving air that dries without relying on extreme temperature. For curls, that's a better formula — you want airflow, not a furnace.

Is it worth £400 for curly hair specifically? If you dry your hair with a diffuser three or more times a week and you've spent years dealing with heat damage and frizz, the sensor technology and curl-specific attachments make a noticeable difference. If you diffuse once a week and your curls are doing fine with a budget dryer, save your money.

Check current Dyson Nural price

3. ghd Air — Mid-Range Option (Diffuser Sold Separately)

The ghd Air is a solid mid-range dryer that works well for curly hair with one catch: it doesn't come with a diffuser. You need to buy ghd's diffuser attachment separately for around £29. So the real cost for curly hair is roughly £130-150 rather than the £100-120 for the dryer alone.

That's annoying, and it's the main reason the ghd Air sits third on this list rather than second. A dryer marketed as professional should include the attachment that half its users need.

With that said, once you've got the diffuser attached, the ghd Air performs well. The 2100W professional AC motor produces strong, consistent airflow. The ionic output is noticeably stronger than the Remington's, which translates to less frizz on thick or coarse curly hair. The variable heat and speed controls (rather than fixed settings) let you dial in exactly the temperature and airflow you want, which gives you more precision during diffusing.

The 3m power cable is a genuine advantage. Diffusing curly hair often means flipping your head in various directions, and having three metres of cable means you're not constantly pulling against the socket.

The weight is the real problem. At 1,540g, the ghd Air is heavy. Noticeably heavy. When you're holding a dryer with a diffuser attachment overhead for 20 minutes while scrunching sections of curl, that weight adds up fast. If you have long or thick curly hair and drying takes a while, your arm and shoulder will feel it.

For someone who values build quality, wants that longer cord, and doesn't mind buying the diffuser separately, the ghd Air is a decent option. But the Remington gives you the diffuser for free at a quarter of the price, and the Dyson gives you better technology at a lighter weight. The ghd Air is caught in the middle.

Check current ghd Air price

Do you need a diffuser for curly hair?

Yes. Full stop.

A diffuser is a wide, bowl-shaped attachment that fits over the end of your dryer. Instead of concentrating airflow into a tight stream, it spreads it over a much larger area. The prongs (or fingers) on the diffuser cradle your curls and hold them in shape while warm air circulates around them.

Without a diffuser, direct airflow hits your curls from one direction. That pushes individual strands out of their natural curl pattern, separates curl clumps, and creates frizz. It's the same reason you don't rub curly hair with a towel — you're disrupting the pattern.

With a diffuser, air reaches your curls from multiple angles at lower intensity. The curl clumps stay together. The shape holds. Frizz drops. It's the single most important attachment for anyone with Type 2 (wavy) through Type 4 (coily) hair.

A few things to know about diffusers:

• Universal diffusers exist but the fit varies. If your dryer doesn't include one, check the nozzle diameter before buying a third-party option. Most are made for 4.5-5cm nozzles.
• Deeper bowls work better for longer curls. They hold more hair and let it sit naturally while drying.
• The prongs matter. Shorter prongs work for waves and loose curls. Longer prongs work better for tighter curls and coils because they can get closer to the root without disturbing the mid-lengths.

The Remington D3198 includes a perfectly good diffuser for £25. The Dyson Nural Curly+Coily edition includes a diffuser designed specifically for textured hair. The ghd Air makes you buy one separately for £29. If the diffuser is the most important attachment for your hair type, factor that into the price.

Best hair dryer for curly hair: comparison table

Our pick: The Remington D3198 for most people. It includes the diffuser, it has ionic conditioning, and it costs £25. Unless you have specific reasons to spend more — sensor heat control (Dyson) or professional build quality and a longer cord (ghd) — the Remington does everything a curly-haired person needs a dryer to do.

Browse all hair dryers we track on blowmycash.com

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a hair dryer on curly hair?

Yes, but you need a diffuser attachment and the right technique. A standard concentrator nozzle on full blast will break up your curl pattern and cause frizz. With a diffuser on low speed and medium heat, you can dry curly hair while keeping definition intact. Scrunch upwards, don't move the diffuser around, and don't touch your curls while they're setting. Once you've got the method down, it takes about 15-25 minutes and produces better-defined curls than air drying alone.

What speed setting should I use for curly hair?

Low speed. Always. High-speed airflow pushes curls apart and creates frizz, no matter how good your diffuser is. Low speed lets the warm air surround your curls without disrupting their shape. If your dryer only has two speed settings, use the lower one. It takes longer, but the difference in curl definition and frizz reduction is worth the extra few minutes. You can use medium speed briefly at the roots if they're taking forever to dry, but keep it low everywhere else.

How do you use a diffuser on curly hair?

Flip your head upside down or tilt to the side. Cup a section of curls in the diffuser bowl, bring it up towards your scalp, and hold it still for 20-30 seconds. Don't wave it around. Let the warm air set the curls in place, then move to the next section. Use medium heat and low speed throughout. Once your hair feels roughly 80% dry, switch to cool air and repeat the same process to lock the shape in. Don't touch your curls with your fingers until they're completely dry and cool.

Do I need a diffuser for wavy hair?

If you want to keep your wave pattern, yes. Wavy hair (Type 2a through 2c) is more easily disrupted by direct airflow than people realise. A concentrator nozzle or bare dryer will straighten out waves and leave you with a puffy, undefined result. A diffuser distributes air gently enough to let waves dry in their natural shape. Even loose waves benefit from it. The Remington D3198 includes one for £25, so there's no cost barrier.

Is ionic technology good for curly hair?

It's one of the most useful features for curly hair specifically. Ionic dryers emit negative ions that neutralise the positive static charge on hair, which is the charge that causes frizz and flyaways. Curly hair is naturally more prone to frizz because of its structure — the bends and twists in each strand create more surface area for static to build up. Ionic conditioning makes a bigger visible difference on curls than on straight hair. All three dryers in this guide have it, including the £25 Remington.