The hair diffuseryou know, that bowl-looking thing gathering dust at the bottom of theblow-dryer boxis making a comeback.
You might remember the tool from the 80s.
It was an essential part of getting that super teased halo of curls.
Now its more about boosting the natural texture you were born with.
Youve probably seen her work on the Kardashians and Hadids.
Its so much faster, Atkin tells SELF.
She says the trick works for all kinds of hair that has at least some natural texture.
The diffuser also helps dry Afro hair fast, to eliminate shrinkage.
Atkin gave us her best diffuser tips, and then we tested her advice step by step.
Before you even pick up the diffuser, there are a few keys to maintaining your curl pattern.
Dont do too much brushing and combing.
If you have bad knots, use a wide-tooth comb to detangle.
Do your makeup first, so your hair isnt soaking wet at the start.
Use a mousse to tame frizz, or a wave spray to add volume.
Cup the hair into the diffuser to lock in your natural waves.
Put the diffuser on the end of the dryer and tilt it upward.
Take a 2-inch section of hair and place it in the bowl.
Set the dryer on low or medium.
Too much heat can be a wave killer.
You only want to get the hair about 75 percent dry, says Atkin.
Add volume at the crown using the diffuser nubs.
If you want to create more volume, use the diffuser right at the crown.
Most have nubs that you might use to massage the scalp and add height.
Fine-tune the ends with a round brush.
The key to effortless-looking waves is straight ends.
So Atkin recommends swapping out the diffuser attachment for the concentrator nozzle to get the ends sleek.
Use a comb or round brush to give the ends extra attention.