3 Easy Ways to Curl Hair with a Blow Dryer

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Use your blow dryer to create bouncy curls or style natural hair

Co-authored by Noël Reid-Killings

Last Updated: November 28, 2024 References

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Diffusing Naturally Curly Hair

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Curling Hair with a Round Brush

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Braiding and Drying Straight Hair

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Expert Q&A

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Things You'll Need

If you're hoping to curl your hair but don't have a curling iron, there are several ways you can get beautiful curls using a blow dryer. If you have naturally curly hair, enhance your curls using a diffuser attachment for your blow dryer. Braiding damp hair before drying it with a blow dryer is a great way to achieve curls on straighter hair, and using a round brush and a blow dryer to curl your hair works well too. Once you've curled your hair, consider setting it with a hairspray to keep it looking styled all day if you have naturally straight hair.

Curling Hair with a Blow Dryer: Quick Steps

Divide your hair into two sections and clip the top one up.
Brush damp hair. Apply mousse or gel if desired.
Place a round brush behind a 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) section of hair.
Twirl the brush away from your face 2-3 times to wrap your hair around.
Blow dry the hair around the brush on medium heat while twisting to curl.
Work your way around your head until you’ve finished the bottom layer.
Unclip and repeat with the top layer of hair.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Diffusing Naturally Curly Hair

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1
Apply a curl cream or leave-in conditioner to damp hair. This will enhance your curls and make them smoother. Look for products that say they hydrate and enhance curls on the label. Squirt a dollop of product into your palm and massage it into your hair, starting at the roots. While your hair shouldn't be dripping wet, it should be damp as if you just towel dried it. ^{[1]
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- If you need to brush your hair, do so before you put the product in your hair.
- Use a mousse that’s designed for curly hair or a regular leave-in conditioner.
- Consider using a heat protectant on your hair instead of mousse so the hair dryer won't cause damage.
2
Use a diffuser attachment to dry your curls without causing frizz. If you just use the regular blow dryer nozzle to dry your naturally curly hair, it will likely create frizz. Place the diffuser on the end of your blow dryer nozzle so that it distributes the air more evenly. ^{[2]
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- If you don’t already have a diffuser attachment for your blow dryer, purchase one at a big box store or online.
- It’s best to use the diffuser on a medium to low setting.
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Start the diffuser at your roots to begin drying your hair. Place the diffuser near your roots, flipping your head over to make it easier and to give your hair more volume, if desired. Move the diffuser around your head, placing strands of hair at the nozzle to help enhance the curls. ^{[3]
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4
Dry your hair with the blow dryer until it’s 80% dry. If you use the diffuser on your hair until it’s completely dry, it could end up drying out your hair too much and causing frizz. Instead, use the diffuser to dry your hair until it’s mostly dry, and then let your hair finish drying naturally to preserve the curls you’ve created. ^{[4]
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- To see if your hair is mostly dry, do a touch test. If your hair feels just slightly damp in several places, it’s time to let it finish air drying.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Curling Hair with a Round Brush

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1
Clip up the top layer of your hair. Create 2 sections of hair, the top layer and the bottom layer, dividing the sections at the top of your ears. Use a hair tie or a large clip to gather the top layer of your hair and section it off on top of your head. This will make it easier to curl the bottom layer of your hair first. ^{[5]
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- If you have super thick hair, consider separating your hair into more than just 2 sections to make it easier to manage, such as 1 top layer and a bottom layer that's divided into 2 sections.
John Frieda, Hairstylist

When curling hair with a blow dryer, sectioning is key for uniform curls. Work in 1-2 inch sections, using clips to separate the hair. Wrap each section around a round brush and blast it with hot air, holding the tension for 5-10 seconds before releasing the curl.
2
Brush out your damp hair and apply a mousse or gel, if desired. Use a brush or comb to detangle your hair and remove any knots to ensure you have smooth curls. If you normally use a product like mousse in your hair when you style it, squeeze out a tiny palmful of the product and distribute it through your hair evenly using your hands. ^{[6]
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- Towel dry your hair beforehand to ensure it's not dripping wet.
- A wide-tooth comb is best on damp hair to prevent breakage.
- As an alternative to using mousse or gel, spray a heat protectant on your hair to protect it from the blow dryer’s heat. It's not necessary to use both a heat protectant and mousse.
3
Place a round brush in the middle of a 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) section of hair. Choose your round brush depending on the type of curls you’re going for: a small round brush will produce tighter curls, while a large round brush produces bigger curls. ^{[7]
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Expert Source

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 25 November 2020.} Choose a section of hair from the bottom layer and place the brush right in the center. ^{[8]
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- The brush is placed in the center so you can begin twisting your hair around the brush as you brush downwards.
- Use a metal round brush for the best curls.
4
Twirl the brush away from your face to wrap it around the length of hair. Start twisting the round brush so it gathers the section of hair around it. Continue pulling and twisting using the round brush until you get to the end of the strand. This is what creates the curls in your hair. ^{[9]
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- Use the brush to twist the section of hair 2-3 times, starting in the middle or at the top of the the strand each time.
5
Blow dry your hair while you twist it around the brush to create curls. As you’re using the round brush to twist your hair, aim the blow dryer on the brush to dry the hair and form the curls. Move the blow dryer as you move the brush down the length of hair, aiming the nozzle downwards to avoid frizz. ^{[10]
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- Use a medium heat setting as you dry your hair, and finish it off with a cold setting to set your curls.
- The blow dryer heats up the metal brush, helping to form the curls.
6
Continue twisting and drying 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) sections of hair to complete the look. Go around your head, selecting sections of hair to twist and dry using the round brush and blow dryer. Once you’ve finished the bottom layer of your hair, undo the top layer and continue curling until your hair is styled. ^{[11]
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- Consider setting the curls with a hairspray.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Braiding and Drying Straight Hair

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1
Dampen and detangle your hair. Your hair needs to be wet for the braids to create curls, so either plan to braid your hair after showering or dampen your hair beforehand. Use a brush or comb to get rid of any tangles or knots. ^{[12]
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- Towel dry your hair right after showering so it's damp but not dripping, or wet a brush with water and brush through your hair, dampening it this way.
- A wide-tooth comb works well on damp hair because it causes less breakage.
2
Section your hair into at least 2 sections. Use hair ties or clips to section your hair into as many sections as you’d like. Separate your hair into 2 sections on either side of your head, or create 3-4 sections for tighter curls. ^{[13]
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- If you want super loose curls, you might not section your hair and just create one large braid down the back.
3
Braid each section of hair and secure them with hair ties. Take one section of hair and braid it with a simple braid, tying it with a hair tie at the end when you’re finished. The tighter you braid your hair, the tighter your curls will be. ^{[14]
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- If you created several different sections and have thin hair, try using small elastic hair ties to make sure your braids are super secure.
4
Dry each braid using a blow dryer on medium heat. Once each section of your hair is braided, set a blow dryer to medium heat and begin drying your hair. Place the nozzle over each braid, moving the blow dryer slowly up and down the length of hair so it dries evenly. ^{[15]
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- Avoid holding the blow dryer on one spot without moving it so you don’t damage your hair.
- Touch the center of your braids using your fingers to make sure they’re completely dry.
5
Unravel the braids to reveal wavy hair. After your braids are dry, remove the hair ties from each one. Use your fingers to separate each braid and fluff your hair, creating a curly look. ^{[16]
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- Use mousse or hairspray on your hair to fix your curls just the way you’d like them, if desired.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I style my hair with a blow dryer?

Noël Reid-Killings
Celebrity Hair Stylist
Noël Reid-Killings is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Noël New York Salon & Boutique. With over a decade of experience, Noël specializes in curating and customizing hair solutions for all hair types and textures. She has worked with countless A-list celebrities including Alicia Keys, Ciara, Yara Shahidi, and Simone Missick. Her work has been featured on makeover shows and in magazines including Essence, Sophisticates Black Hair, Teen Vogue, Elle, 21Ninety, WWD, POPSUGAR, Allure, The Cut, The Huffington Post, and Swaay.

Noël Reid-Killings

Celebrity Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

For curls, use a round brush in your hair while you're drying to accentuate its shape.

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