Hair Dryer Attachments Guide: How to Use Those Nozzles
Find out what the different hair dryer attachments do and how to use them!
When it comes to styling your hair, how it dries can make or break your style. You should always air dry the right way, and make sure you’re using your hair dryer correctly, which means using the proper hair dryer attachments. It’s what they’re there for! Using the right nozzle in the right way can maximise your style, just as going rogue can leave you with frizzy, poofy hair. It’s always a good idea to use your dryer attachments.
Read on to learn all about hair dryer attachments and how to use them.
Your Guide to Hair Dryer Attachments
1. Concentrator Nozzle
The first attachment that everyone needs to get familiar with is the concentrator nozzle. It’s the one, pictured above, with a flat vent. Basically, a concentrator nozzle changes the flow of the air coming out of the blowdryer. Instead of just coming out hot and fast all over, the concentrator, as the name suggests, focuses the airflow for more targeted drying.
The concentrator makes it possible to dry specific sections at a time. This makes it easier to blow-dry your bangs straight or add volume to the root of your hair. It’s also the type of hair dryer attachments that makes blowouts and straight hairstyles possible. Thank you for that, concentrator nozzle!
Using a Concentrator Nozzle
Most hair dryer attachments just clip onto your dryer, some slip over the end of the dryer and some fancy ones click on magnetically. Before drying your hair, remember to use a heat protectant so you don’t fry your hair. We like TRESemmé Heat Defence Spray for the job. Note: To best use a concentrator nozzle, it’s a good idea to have your hair already partially dried. Trying to dry all of your hair just with the concentrator can take much longer and can have you creating unintentional hot spots.
With hair that is about 75-80% dry, use the concentrator to direct air onto specific sections of hair. If you want to do an at-home blowout, you can use the nozzle to help direct the air at the hair on the brush. If you’re aiming for lift, the concentrator nozzle can help you dry your roots upwards to create more volume.
2. Diffuser Attachment
The hair dryer attachment perfect for curly girls is a diffuser. Shaped like a bowl with tines sticking out, it has holes in them to let the air from the dryer flow through. This makes for a quick and frizz-free drying experience, as curl shape is left intact during the drying process.
The diffuser head forces the air coming out of the dryer to spread out and up through the tines. So when you’re using it to dry your hair, less air is being directed in one area. Instead, the air is spread out, making this method of drying much gentler on hair.
Using the Diffuser Attachment
When blow-drying curly hair, it’s important to make sure you maintain its moisture levels. You want your hair dry but still hydrated. To make sure the hairdryer doesn’t dehydrate your hair, use a heat protecting serum before drying. We love the VO5 Heat Protect Serum because it has smoothing properties, and can be used to define curls and nourish dry hair.
It’s best to use the diffuser to get defined curls. Really all you need to do is lay your curls onto the diffuser and proceed to dry! If your dryer has heat and speed settings, try the lowest and slowest. Only work your way up to hotter temps and faster airflow if you need to. You can lean your hair over and dry upwards for the length of your hair, and place it near your head to dry your roots as needed.
3. The Picks
Much like a hair pick is used to create volume, the pick attachment does the same! Shorter picks are best suited for shorter strands while longer hair requires a longer variety. Often, picks are used to help blow dry natural hair.
4. The Styler
Think of this hair dryer attachment as a hairbrush and blow dryer in one! This tool has gained a lot of popularity over the last year as it’s the ideal choice for those of us who are less-than-coordinated. Instead of holding your round brush in one hand and the blow dryer in the other, this tool allows you to do both at once.
