How to Use a Hair Dryer Diffuser in 9 Easy Steps (2025)

Dryness and frizz are really annoying to deal with day in and day out. While there are tons of products out there to tame your tresses, there are also ways you can use heat to smooth out your hair gently. One of our favorite ways is the hair dryer diffuser. The diffuser is a nozzle that attaches to your hair dryer, which protects your locks and seals your hair from the damaging effects of direct heat.

While it’s a pretty common hair product, many people might not know how to use it or aren’t even aware of what it does.

9 Easy Steps to Using a Hair Dryer Diffuser

Read on to discover more about the hairdryer diffuser and how you can incorporate the hair dryer diffuser into your routine:

Step 1: Start With Clean Hair

For the most part, working on dirty hair can be challenging since you deal with old product residue and your hair’s natural oils. Wash and condition your hair based on your hair type to prep for the diffuser.

Step 2: Make Sure Your Hair is Almost Dry

With any degree of heat styling, you want to make sure that your hair it at least 80% dry. Don’t worry though; we know that isn’t always the case when you have to dry your hair quickly. Start using a towel to dry your hair, working ever-so-gently as you squeeze out water in your strands. With a diffuser, you’re focusing direct heat, so you will need your hair to be basically dry in order to style and tame your strands safely.

Step 3: Use a Leave-in Conditioner

Dry and frizzy hair tends to need more moisture, especially when dealing with heat. Make sure to applysome leave-in conditioner like theSuave Professionals Keratin Infusion Heat Defense Leave-in Conditioner. This product is formulated to help protect your hair from heat and eliminate frizz. Plus, it moisturizes your strands to prep for any styling.

Step 4: Use a Heat Protectant

Another precaution to take when you use heat is to spritz your hair with a heat protectant. We love TRESemmé Thermal Creations Blow Dry Balm because it further conditions your hair as it protects it from the damaging effects of heat. The result? Smooth and shiny hair!

Step 5: Ready to Diffuse!

Place the diffuser nozzle on your trusty hair dryer before switching the hair dryer on, using a medium heat setting. Start on the top of your head and work in sections as you focus the diffuser around the area while creating a back-and-forth, massage-like motion on your hair. Work the diffuser down your hair shaft as it makes its way down to the tips. During this process, the hair is lifted up, and the shaft is penetrated with heat as it’s being styled and dried. For curly hair, work from the ground up and place the diffuser under your curls. To retain your curls and bounce, make sure you are pushing away at your curls as you work.

Step 6: Work in Sections

After your first section is done, move on to the next one, working slowly and efficiently to dry your hair. While this does take longer, you can rest assured that you are taking careful steps to get out the frizz while causing minimal damage to your hair.

Step 7: Diffusing for Style

If you want more of a style to your look, you can use a diffuser to create more volume and bounce in your hair. To do this, separate your hair into two sections to create two mini-buns. Place the diffuser on one of the buns and let it dry. Repeat this process on both sides.

Step 8: Be Careful with Your Hands

As you dry your hair with a diffuser, be very careful not to touch your locks. Doing so can mess with your shape and dry out your ends.

Step 9: Finish Up Your Style

After you’ve dried your hair, make sure to tame any flyaways with a lightweight serum. We love the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum because it helps to tame frizzy hair while adding an extra boost of shine! Plus, the formula doesn’t weigh down your hair or make it feel greasy. Next, hold your look in place by using light hairspray. TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Boost Hold Level 3 is an amazing option because it will add additional volume to your hair without making it feel stiff.