5 Things to Know Before Buying a New Hair Dryer
Before buying a new hair dryer, it pays to have hair dryer attachments explained, because the nozzle, diffuser or comb on the end changes your results more than a few hundred extra watts. This guide takes each attachment in turn: the hair type it serves, the technique that makes it work, and the mistake that makes it useless.
Key Takeaways
- A concentrator smooths, a diffuser protects curls, and comb and pick attachments stretch and lift.
- Having hair dryer attachments explained saves you buying a dryer that can't do the job.
- Curly hair? Make sure a diffuser comes in the box before you buy.
- Multi-stylers swap brushes and barrels onto one handle, which suits fine to medium hair best.
- Hair dryer attachments explained in one line: pick the one that matches the finish you want.
Hair Dryer Attachments Explained at a Glance
Here are the common hair dryer attachments explained in one table.
| Attachment | What it looks like | Best for | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concentrator nozzle | Flat, narrow slot | Straight, wavy and most hair types | Smoothing and blowouts with a brush |
| Diffuser | Wide bowl with prongs | Curly, wavy, fine or permed hair | Drying curls without frizz |
| Comb attachment | Nozzle with wide, even teeth | Thick, textured or coily hair | Stretching and smoothing while drying |
| Pick attachment | Long, widely spaced prongs | Curly and textured hair | Lifting roots for volume |
| Brush and barrel heads | Round brush, paddle or curling barrel | Fine to medium hair | Drying and styling in one step |
The Concentrator Nozzle
The flat, narrow slot that comes with almost every dryer. It squeezes the airflow into a focused stream so you can work on one section at a time. Of all hair dryer attachments explained here, it's the one most people own and underuse.
Who the concentrator suits
Straight and wavy hair, or curly hair you want to blow straight.
How to use a concentrator nozzle
- Rough-dry first. Dry your hair to about 75 to 80 percent without the nozzle, then click it on.
- Work in sections. Clip the rest of your hair away and take one section at a time.
- Point it down the hair. Aim the airflow from root to tip along the brush, never up against the hair.
- Keep your distance. Hold the nozzle a few inches from the brush and keep it moving.
- Finish cool. Hit each finished section with the cool shot to set it.
The concentrator mistake that causes frizz
Pointing the nozzle upward or holding it right against the hair. Air blown against the direction the hair grows roughs up the cuticle and causes frizz, and too little distance concentrates the heat on one spot. It's also the easiest error to fix of all the hair dryer attachments explained here.
The Diffuser
The wide bowl with finger-like prongs spreads airflow over a large area so it barely moves the hair, which is exactly what curls need.
Who the diffuser suits
Curly and wavy hair above all, plus fine, coloured or permed hair that needs gentle drying. If you have curls, this is the most important of all the hair dryer attachments explained in this guide.
How to use a diffuser
- Apply your curl products first while hair is still wet.
- Set low speed and low to medium heat. High speed defeats the purpose.
- Cup and lift. Let a section of curls fall into the bowl, lift it gently toward your scalp, and hold for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Lower and move on. Work around your head section by section.
- Leave it alone. Let curls dry fully before touching them.
The diffuser mistake that ruins curls
Running it on high speed or constantly moving it around your head. Both blow the curls apart before they set. A diffuser is deliberately slower than bare airflow; that's the point, not a flaw.
The Comb Attachment
A nozzle with wide, evenly spaced teeth that dries and combs at once, so you don't need a brush.
Who the comb attachment suits
Thick, textured and coily hair that you want to stretch or smooth. For tightly coiled hair, it's often the most useful of all the hair dryer attachments explained here.
How to use a comb attachment
Detangle first. Then glide the comb from root to tip in small sections, with gentle tension, while the air dries the hair straight.
The comb mistake that causes breakage
Dragging it through wet, tangled hair. The teeth catch knots and pull, which causes breakage. Hair dryer attachments explained this way sound simple, but this one needs detangled hair to work.
The Pick Attachment
Next in our hair dryer attachments explained guide: the pick, with longer, more widely spaced prongs than the comb.
Who the pick suits
Curly and textured hair that needs volume at the roots, and anyone who wants lift without a round brush.
How to use a pick attachment
Once the lengths are mostly dry, slide the pick in at the roots and lift gently up and out, working around the crown.
The pick mistake to avoid
High heat at the scalp. The prongs sit at the roots, so keep the heat moderate and keep moving.
Brush and Curling Heads on Multi-Stylers
Multi-stylers put a round brush, paddle brush, straightening brush or curling barrel onto one handle. They're the last of the hair dryer attachments explained here, and the most versatile.
Who multi-stylers suit
Fine to medium hair and busy mornings. They're slower on very thick hair because they run at lower power.
How to use brush and barrel heads
Start on damp, not dripping, hair. Work in sections no wider than the brush and roll slowly.
The multi-styler mistake to avoid
Using them on soaking-wet hair, which doubles the time under heat.
Diffuser vs Concentrator: Which Do You Need?
It's the question most people ask once they've had hair dryer attachments explained. A concentrator focuses air to smooth hair; a diffuser spreads air to protect curls. If you switch styles, buy a dryer that ships with both.
What to Check Before You Buy
This is where having hair dryer attachments explained pays off at the checkout.
- Is the attachment you need in the box? Diffusers and comb attachments are often left out of cheaper dryers.
- How does it attach? Heads should sit firmly and not slide off mid-use.
- Does the dryer suit your power supply? In the US, look for 110 to 120V or dual voltage.
Multi-Attachment Stylers from Global Swanky
Each of these puts several of the hair dryer attachments explained above onto one tool, and all three list US-compatible 110V support. For more on choosing the dryer itself, see our guides to choosing a hair dryer for your hair type and ionic vs ceramic dryer technology.
1. 5-in-1 Hair Dryer Styler with Negative Ions
The 5-in-1 Hair Dryer Styler with Negative Ions is $34.03 in a US standard 110V version. It comes with a rotating air nozzle and a concentrator nozzle, plus curling wand, straightening brush, volumizing brush and comb heads.
2. Three-in-One Hot Air Comb Hair Dryer
The Three-in-One Cold Air Hot Air Comb Hair Dryer is $31.59, rated at 110V or 220V, with two replaceable heads for large and small curls and a rotating mode on its second speed.
3. 5-in-1 Hair Dryer Curler Styling Tool
The 5-in-1 Hair Dryer Curler Automatic Styling Tool is $38.43, rated 1,000 watts at 110V or 220V with a US plug option, and it dries, curls and straightens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the types of hair dryer attachments?
With hair dryer attachments explained simply, the main types are the concentrator nozzle, the diffuser, the comb attachment and the pick attachment. Multi-stylers add brush and curling barrel heads. Each changes how air reaches your hair, so the right one depends on whether you want smooth, curly, stretched or voluminous results.
What is the difference between a diffuser vs concentrator?
A concentrator narrows the airflow into a focused stream so you can smooth one section at a time. A diffuser spreads the same air over a wide bowl so it barely moves the hair. Concentrators are for sleek styles; diffusers protect curls.
How do you use a diffuser?
Set the dryer to low speed and low to medium heat. Cup a section of curls in the bowl, lift it gently toward your scalp, hold for 30 to 60 seconds, then lower and move on. Avoid moving it around constantly, which causes frizz.
What is a hair dryer nozzle for?
A hair dryer nozzle, or concentrator, focuses airflow onto one section. Used with a round or paddle brush, it smooths the cuticle and gives a polished blowout. It's also useful for directing air at the roots to add lift.
What is a diffuser for?
Among the hair dryer attachments explained here, a diffuser is for drying curly, wavy, fine or permed hair gently. It spreads airflow over a wide area so curls dry in their natural shape instead of being blown apart, which reduces frizz and keeps definition.