How to blow dry hair with curls in 3 easy phases

A blow dry is not just a viable option for people with long, straight hair.

With a few tweaks, the right hair dryer, and top technique, you can blow dry your hair with curls.

But what are the secrets to curl your hair? And which products can help you achieve a salon-grade blow dry at home?

Join us as we reveal the steps and some expert tips that will help you blow-dry your hair with curls to perfection. 

Phase one: Preparing

Nourished, hydrated hair is essential if you want to achieve a blow dry without frizz and flyaways.

Hydrated hair is also much easier to style and it’s less likely to suffer damage or breakage when you apply heat.

Here are some of the important steps to follow before blow-drying curly hair: 

Use a nourishing combo

The shampoo and conditioner you use will make a big difference to the moisture level in your hair.

Avoid chemical-based shampoos and conditioners, as ingredients like sulfates can cause your hair to dry out and become brittle. 

Also, adjust how frequently you wash your curly hair and only use shampoo and conditioner once or twice each week.

This will help to regulate the natural oil levels of your hair and will ensure you don’t inadvertently remove some of its natural sebum.

A regular hair mask

One of the best ways to prepare for blow drying your hair with curls is to treat yourself to a regular hair mask.

Argan oil masks are particularly great for nourishing your hair and locking in moisture, and you can buy them online. 

Alternatively, you can go for a homemade hair mask to save some money.

A great homemade combination is a mask made of avocado oil, which can help with curl enhancement and definition. 

Remove excess moisture

Before attempting your blow dry, you must remove the excess water from your curls.

The easiest way to do this is by dabbing your hair with a microfiber towel.

If you don’t have one, you can wrap your hair in a t-shirt and dab it dry. 

It’s best not to use a cotton towel, as its rough surface can lead to breakage and damage if you rub your hair dry.

So, before you plug your dryer into the wall, make sure you remove the excess moisture to give your curls the best chance as you blow dry them. 

A heat protectant

If you have thin or fragile hair, applying a heat protectant is an important step.

As well as saving your hair from heat damage, a protectant also keeps your hair hydrated and prevents dry ends and frizz. 

Phase two: Blow drying

You’re now ready to blow dry your curls.

The first step is to ensure you have the best hair dryer, as we explain below: 

Invest in an ionic hair dryer

The Laifen Swift Special is an excellent option, as it’s an ionic hair dryer with adjustable heat settings.

You can dry your curls on low or medium heat to protect them from heat damage.

Though it takes slightly longer, drying your hair with low or medium heat is an expert way to keep your hair hydrated and prevent breakage and frizz. 

What are the benefits of an ionic blow dryer? The negative ion technology neutralizes the positive ions in the water molecules, drying your hair quickly and efficiently.

Moreover, it helps to prevent frizz and flyaways. 

Use the right brush

You need to consider how you want to style your hair before settling on the best brush for the job.

For curls, a round brush works best as it helps to define your curls. The smaller the brush is, the tighter your curls will be.

So, if you’re looking for big, bouncy curls, a large-barreled round brush is your best option. 

Dry your hair in sections

The easiest way to blow dry hair with curls is to use clips to section your hair. Depending on its thickness, you can split your hair into at least two sections and begin by brushing and drying one half.

Work the brush down towards the ends, and make sure you rotate the dryer, keeping it far enough away from your scalp to prevent heat damage. 

If you’re drying your curls with the Laifen Swift Special, we recommend using the diffuser attachment.

This attachment will enable you to dry your curls evenly and thoroughly without focusing on only one section.

Phase three: Styling your curls

After blow-drying your curls, it’s time to style them.

Of course, there are numerous ways to style your hair, and your choice will depend on the type of curls you have, such as loose waves or tight corkscrew curls.

Here are some handy styling tips to bear in mind: 

Give it a cool air blast

When your hair is about 80-90% dry, switch to your Laifen dryer’s coolest setting.

Then, spend a few minutes blasting your hair before styling it.

This is an excellent way to help your curls set, and it will also prevent frizz and flyaways. 

Sea salt spray is great for volume

One of the easiest ways to add texture and volume to your hair is to apply a sea salt spray immediately after blow-drying it.

It works brilliantly for people with loose, bouncy curls and naturally wavy hair.

Less is more with sea salt spray, too, and you only need to apply a small amount to your curls to see a big impact. 

Use some curl cream

If you have tighter or smaller curls, a curl cream or serum can help with definition.

Curl-enhancing products will add bounce and volume to your circles and are a much better option than using a styling wax or mousse.

You can apply curl cream to your ends, too, which will help to finish your blow dry with definition. 

The verdict: Blow dry hair with curls

Blow drying your hair doesn’t need to be complicated. If you use the best tools and products, you can achieve a salon-grade blow dry at home with minimal fuss.

In preparing to blow dry your hair, it’s so important to keep it as moist and nourished as possible, as dry hair is prone to damage and breakage.

It’s also more difficult to style dry curls, and you’re more susceptible to frizz and flyaways.

Then, using the Special and by splitting your hair into sections, you can blow dry your curls to perfection, before styling it in any way that you choose. 

FAQs

Q1: How to curl hair with a blow dry brush?

A blow dry brush, also known as a hot air brush, combines the airflow and heat of a hair dryer with the styling options of a round brush.

These tools can be handy for blow drying your hair with curls, but they’re not as versatile as a blow dryer.

Moreover, they don’t typically have adjustable heat settings, which means you have to dry your hair on high heat every time. 

Q2: How to blow dry hair with curls at the end?

You need to use a small round brush to blow dry your hair with curls at the end.

The tighter you wrap your hair, the smaller the curls will be.

You can also use a curl defining cream or spray at the ends of your hair, while applying a sea salt spray can also help with more voluminous curls. 

Q3: How to curl hair with a round brush without blow-drying?

There are numerous ways to curl hair with a round brush without blow drying it.

Braiding is a good option, while rollers can also work.

Non-heat-based styling methods are particularly popular among people with thinner hair, though it takes much longer than using a dryer.

Autumn Skye

Autumn is a beauty writer with a journalism background and a long-standing love for self-care. He writes about hair health in a way that feels easy to relate to. Rather than pushing quick fixes, Autumn focuses on slower routines, mindful habits, and nourishment that supports confidence from the roots up. Through a warm, approachable voice, he encourages a more balanced and human approach to beauty and self-care.