This clever hand-shaped diffuser dries my curls quickly and evenly — the 'fingers' reach my roots and deliver air from every direction
- After styling my naturally curly hair, I don't always have time to let it air dry.
- The DevaCurl DevaFuser blow dryer and curly-hair diffuser set ($140) gives me the air-dried look I love in about 10 minutes.
I've always wanted a five-minute hair routine, but that's just not my reality. I have naturally curly hair, and on a good day, styling it into a no-fuss top knot or half-up, half-down style alone takes about 10 minutes.
But when it comes to drying my curls, I've always found myself in a pickle.
My go-to drying option is to air dry simply because I believe the less heat on my hair, the better, but there are times when I have plans to be somewhere and I cannot and will not leave the house with sopping wet hair. Trust me, it's not a good look for me.
I discovered the DevaCurl DevaFuser blow dryer and attachment, and now drying my hair when I'm in a rush is super fast and easy.
How the DevaFuser is different from other diffusers
Before you assume this is just any ordinary diffuser, let me explain why it's the Holy Grail of my hair routine.
What really makes this diffuser stand out from all the others is the hand-shaped attachment. It gives a 360-degree airflow so your curls dry evenly throughout. And I especially appreciate that the "fingers" of the attachment reach the roots of my hair (which take forever to dry) so I don't have to leave the house with hair that's shaped like a pyramid.
I also love how my curls feel after using the diffuser. They have so much bounce and definition — even I have a hard time keeping my fingers out of my hair when my curls are this featherlight.
You also don't need to buy the blow dryer set if all you want is the attachment. You can buy them separately, and the diffuser attachment should fit on the tips of most blow dryers.
How to use the DevaFuser
Another plus about the DevaFuser is that it's practically fool-proof to use. Though it may look intimidating at first glance, it's super simple. Below I'll walk you through a breakdown of how I use it, though there's always room to improvise and adjust based on your preferences.
- After shampooing and conditioning my hair, I apply my styling products — usually a cream and a gel.
- Next, I'll throw my hair up into a terrycloth towel (aka "plopping") so it's not soaking wet when I diffuse.
- After 10 minutes, I take the towel down, flip my hair forward and turn on the diffuser. Since I only use the diffuser when I'm in a time crunch, I dry on the highest speed and temperature, though you can choose from three temps and two airflow speeds.
- I allow my hair to fall into the hand attachment without using my fingers, lift the dryer to scrunch up and hold it for about 20-30 seconds, and alternate sections all over my head.
- I stop when my hair feels 85 to 90 percent dry and finish with the cool-shot button to eliminate frizz and add shine. From start to finish, it usually takes about ten minutes to dry.
The bottom line
Even though air drying is my primary method, the DevaFuser gives me similar results in just minutes. The innovative shape of the diffuser attachment helps keep my curls bouncy and defined without the crunchy finish other dryers give, and it helps to get to my roots and dry my hair evenly. If you have curly hair, it's definitely worth the $140 investment.