Everyone is different and it may take some trial and error to determine the right diffuser routine. Maybe you want to dry your hair completely, or maybe you want to take it to 80 percent dry. Maybe you want a leave-in product, a curl gel, and a hair oil, or maybe you just need a little heat protectant. Here are some products we like to use during our own hair styling routines that may be helpful for yours.
Turbie Twist Microfiber Towel ($17): I like let my hair fall after showering for a few minutes to absorb some water before diffusing. These microfiber towels are designed to stay put and absorb plenty of moisture without over-drying your hair. Others prefer to flop down in a t-shirt, but this is what works best for me.—Louryn Strampe
Leave-in Conditioner ($28) and Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Cream and Gel ($17) I put a drop of leave-in conditioner in my hair after letting it fall, followed by a little bit of curl cream, and finally a generous amount of gel. This is what prepares my natural curl strands to look their best after diffusing. It may be too heavy for some curl textures, but this is my favorite method. —Louryn Strampe
Kristin Ess Style Assist Blow Dry Mist ($15): This is one of the most effective heat protectants I have tried that really reduces drying time; halfway through blow drying, I can tell where I sprayed it and where I didn’t. I wish it was as easy to apply as the Milk_Shake Foaming Primer, shown below, but the bottle still has a decent spray and the product is light enough to not leave a residue. —Kate Merck
Milk_Shake Lifestyling Blow-Dry Primer ($26): This lightly scented heat protectant is designed to prevent fading and reduce drying time. It doesn’t do the latter as effectively as Kristin Ess, above, but it will go down in a couple of minutes and gets high marks for coming out of the bottle as an easy-to-apply foam, so it’s very easy to make sure of. you’re getting even coverage. —Kate Merck
Davines This is a Curl Gel Oil ($32): This gentle oil-in-curl gel has been fantastic for my fine hair, helping my curls form and keeping them hydrated without weighing them down or making them crunchy. It starts off feeling like a gel in your hand and then turns into an oil in your hair. It is best used with a diffuser, although I have occasionally used it on air dry days with equally good results. —Nena Farrell