8 Blow Dryers for 4c Hair That I’m Obsessed With for My Natural Curls
Defined, stretched, smooth curls right this way.
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If you, like me, have 4c hair, then you know the struggle of finding a blow dryer that won’t turn your great curl day into a tangled mess all too well. As someone who has worked with my natural, type-4 hair for the past 27 years, I can attest that incorporating curl products that work with your curl type to define, moisturize, and prevent shrinkage changes the game. That’s why adding any hot tool to the mix can feel scary—that is, until I discovered top-tier blow dryers for 4c hair that minimize heat damage for the smoothest, healthiest curls ever.
When I say hair dryers for curly hair, I don’t just mean that it has a great diffuser. In fact, a quality blow dryer made specifically for curls and coils will have ionic technology and several heat and airflow settings to reduce breakage, tangles, and, ofc, frizz and flyaways. So whether you’re prepping for a new protective style, rocking your natural curls, or going for a full blowout look, these hair dryers mitigate damage for a truly excellent hair day.
Our top picks for the best blow dryer for 4c hair in 2024:
This Cosmo Holy Grail Award-Winning Blow Dryer for 4c Hair
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Blow Dryer
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Because there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to curls—and let’s be real, anything in life—keep scrolling to learn the full rundown of these top 4c blow dryers on the internet. From affordable dryers to Cosmo award winners, your next favorite blow dryer is waiting for you below.
Pros
- Can switch to manual control ion activation
- Powerful airflow without extreme heat
Cons
- Some testers note that the attachment teeth sometimes has trouble detangling super thick hair
We at Cosmo loved this hair dryer so much that we gave it a 2023 Holy Grail Beauty Award. The high-performing dryer is designed specifically for coily, curly, and tight-textured hair. It’s become a cult favorite among the natural hair community and for good reason.
The curl-conscious hot tool has a powerful motor so you can spend less time emitting heat onto your hair and an ion generator that helps smooth the cuticle for minimal frizz. It comes with multiple attachment options, including a wide-tooth comb, which is ideal for detangling and stretching 4c hair.
- Features: Diffuser attachment, brush attachment, wide-tooth comb attachment, concentrator nozzle attachment
- Settings: 3 speeds, 2 heat settings, 1 cool shot
- Wattage: 1,875
Glowing Editor Review: “I didn’t think it was possible to design a dryer specifically for textured hair, but Tracee Ellis Ross totally did it,” says Cosmo beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson, who has type-4 curls. “The unique attachments are a curly girl’s dream.”
Pros
- Helps cut down drying time
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Ionic conditioning reduces frizz and adds more shine
Cons
- Not as effective on larger sections of hair
If there’s one thing I’ll always be a fan of, it’s this blow dryer and paddle brush hybrid. It seamlessly combines drying and styling in one step (hence the name). Thanks to the dryer’s bristles, you can detangle and stretch your curls as you dry. This cuts my drying routine in half and is impressively lightweight, so my shoulders don’t start burning less than 5 minutes into the drying process (IYKYK).
But what really sets this blow dryer apart is its affordable price tag combined with impressive ionic technology that helps condition, smooth, add shine, and reduce frizz. Just make sure to use a good heat protectant (I love the Kérastase Elixir Oil), and be cautious of how long you hold the brush in one area.
- Settings: 2 heat settings, 1 cool shot
- Wattage: 1,100
Glowing Customer Review: “This blow dry brush has been amazing with my thick 4c hair! Cuts blow dry time down significantly and leaves hair silky straight. It is quite hot, so be sure to use with a quality heat protectant.”
Pros
- Dries, stretches, and smoothes in one movement
- Works on extensions, twists, locs, braids, and wigs
Cons
- Testers don’t love how bulky the hair dryer is as it makes it difficult to travel
This device has been all over my TikTok recently, and it’s been getting a ton of attention within the natural hair community. Unlike your traditional hair dryer, this one, designed specifically for types 3 and 4, uses gentle vacuum suction to carefully dry your hair. Instead of just blowing hot air, it helps smooth, stretch, and dry all in one easy step.
Ideal for those dealing with tender scalps or wanting to reduce hair breakage, this dryer requires no extra attachments. According to reviews, it dries hair in a fraction of the time it usually takes with a traditional blow dryer. Plus, you can adjust the tension and heat settings to tailor airflow for your hair type.
- Features: Detachable wand rest, stainless mesh filter basket, hose, wand
- Settings: 7 tension settings, 2 adjustable heat settings, 1 cool shot option
- Wattage: 800
Glowing Customer Review: “I’m a blow-dry natural. I blow out my hair weekly and do a braid out using a high-quality twisting cream or butter. The RevAir has far less manipulation and heat compared to a traditional blow dryer with a vent brush/comb attachment. For me, this means less breakage and more length retention for half the time and effort. The investment just made sense for my hair routine. I’m truly satisfied and should have purchased years ago.”
Pros
- Intelligent heat control helps protect hair's shine and prevent heat damage
- Negative ions to help reduce static in hair
Cons
- Most expensive option on this list
If you’ve been wondering if the oh-so-popular Dyson dryer (that won a Cosmo’s Readers’ Choice Beauty Award, btw) is actually worth the $$$, let me put it for you simply: Y-E-S! One thing that I’m sure all my 4c hair folks can relate to is heat damage. If you’re just as tired of frying your curls as I am, this dryer may be for you because it’s literally made to protect hair from heat damage, with fast drying, increased shine, and less frizz.
The hair dryer comes with five attachments—each attachment perfect for achieving different hairstyles on different hair types—including a wide-tooth comb option great for detangling your hair as it dries.
- Features: Flyaway attachment, diffuser, styling concentrator, gentle air attachment, wide-tooth comb
- Settings: 4 heat settings, 3 speeds
- Wattage: 1,600
Glowing Editor Review: “I’m a Dyson girl,” says Cosmo beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson. “Been in love with their blow dryer since the day it launched. It’s super efficient. The comb-attached teeth are not too close, so it works well on textured hair. And the heat and strength settings are amazing!”
Pros
- Gives a bouncy blowout look
- Great for reaching your roots
Cons
- Not as effective if you don’t use it properly as a round brush
- Bristles can be rough for those with tender scalps
Revlon is so good, it’s listed twice! This round brush is what I use to blow dry my 4c hair, and I don't see myself going back to a traditional blow dryer any time soon. It has three heat settings, is super easy to use, and doesn’t come with any extra attachments that may take up space. I especially love the large barrel size and bristles that allow you to really focus on detangling and stretching from root to tip.
Since the hot tool is built with an ion generator, the time that it takes to blow dry my hair has been minimized, while the ceramic coating helps protect my hair thanks to even heat distribution. While I think this is a great option for beginners, it’s really important to note that using this dryer requires you to master the round brush technique and motion. If you prefer to blow dry from root to tip in a simple downward motion, I’d try a different option.
- Settings: 3 heat and speed settings
- Wattage: 1,100
Glowing Customer Review: “I recently tried the Revlon Volumizer, and I’m really impressed! It was super easy to use and incredibly efficient. The noise level is comparable to a regular blow dryer, which didn’t bother me at all. Most importantly, it gets the job done! My hair feels incredibly soft and looks fantastic.”
Pros
- Includes a straightening comb attachment to stretch hair beyond just a blow dry
- Ionic and tourmaline ceramic technology helps protect hair from heat
Cons
- Bristles feel stiff and sharp if not used carefully
For those who are sick of using a detangling tool and hair dryer at the same time, you’ve gotta try this three-in-one device. While you can definitely use the dryer to style your hair, those with coily and curly hair will love the three attachments it comes with.
Trust me, the bristle brush attachment is great and all, but the device truly shines when it comes to using the dual row straightening comb and thermal wide tooth detangling comb on 4c hair. Both provide maximum control for straight, sleek styles.
- Features: Bristle brush attachment, comb attachment, wide-tooth thermal comb attachment
- Settings: 3 heat settings, 2 speed settings, 1 cool shot
- Wattage: 1,875
Glowing Customer Review: “This blow dryer will make 4c hair so manageable! The attachments are sturdy and durable. I also like that one of the attachments is metal and holds the temperature helping to add to the straightening process!! I’m a stylist and this tool helps tremendously! This is a win!!”
Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher and High-Velocity Dryer
Pros
- Automatically detects and adjusts temp and airflow based on attachment
- Boar bristle is great for distributing moisture and shine from your roots to your ends
- Compact design
Cons
- Cord is bulky and makes dryer heavier
Take a super-powerful hair dryer that uses negative ions to mitigate heat damage, pair it with a slew of attachments designed for curly or coily hair, and you get this compact dryer. As one of the lightest digital hair dryers out there, there’s a reason this hot tool won a Cosmo Holy Grail Beauty Award this year.
The QuickSmooth brush is made with boar bristles to help dry, add volume, and smooth your hair for a bouncy blowout look. The DefrizzFast Diffuser has retractable and extendable prongs that not only reach your roots but also help define your curls if you want to show off your natural pattern. Last, but certainly not least, is the RapidGloss finisher that delivers a silky shine with high-speed airflow to smooth flyaways.
- Features: QuickSmooth brush attachment, DefrizzFast diffuser attachment, RapidGloss finisher attachment
- Settings: 4 heat settings, 3 airflow settings, 1 cool shot
- Wattage: 1,700
Glowing Customer Review: “I’ll preface this with the fact that I’m an absolute novice when it comes to my hair. It’s thick and takes forever to style so I normally just don’t. Ten minutes with this thing and I have people asking me if I just came from the salon a whole day later. I was wary at first of having to keep track of the different settings for each of the attachments, but to my (welcome) surprise the dryer recognizes each attachment and changes the settings itself. Love this. My hair has never been smoother or softer with such minimal effort.”
Pros
- Wide airflow helps to dry hair faster
- Automated heat customization
Cons
- Controls aren’t that intuitive on first use
This sleek dryer auto-adjusts heat and speed to your hair texture, which is a major win for all types of natural hair. Whether you’ve got wavy, curly, or coily hair, it’s super lightweight for a more comfortable experience. Plus, it has a wider airstream to gently dry hair faster while locking in body and shine.
The dryer comes with four different attachments for every hair type, including drying and styling concentrators that allow you to concentrate airflow as well as a diffuser to help define your curl pattern. It also features a smoothing comb to help reach those roots while stretching and detangling.
- Features: Drying concentrator, styling concentrator, diffuser attachment, comb attachment
- Settings: 5 heat settings, 3 speed settings, 1 cool shot
- Wattage: 1,875
Glowing Customer Review: “Normally when I dry my hair, it ends up really big and frizzy, but this T3 dryer produces great results...smooth hair! Also, the sound is low...another benefit!”
What to look for in a blow dryer for 4c hair:
Heat and speed settings
To prevent unwanted heat exposure or damage, look for a blow dryer with adjustable heat and speed settings. As hairstylist Amy Abramite previously told Cosmo, “Hair that’s finely textured, compromised by chemicals, or already damaged may not be able to handle hot temperatures.” Adjustable settings will allow you to customize the dryer to work with your hair.
Attachments
Frizz is normal, especially if you have 4c hair, but sometimes it may not be your jam. If you’re looking to smooth out your hair, make sure you get a dryer with a concentrator nozzle, which “can control the direction of airflow, pointing downward, so you are encouraging the cuticle to lay down flat,” cofounder of IGK Hair Aaron Grenia previously told Cosmo.
While diffusers are great for defining or drying curls, the most effective tool for stretching and straightening is a comb attachment. Similarly effective attachments include a blow dryer brush like the one included with the Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher and High-Velocity Dryer.
Wattage
When choosing a blow dryer for your 4c hair, opt for one that can handle a higher wattage. A higher-wattage dryer will be more powerful and dry your hair faster. Above, I’ve included options between 800 and 1,875 watts, so there's a range of power. Just note: If you’re going higher in power, ensure the temperature is adjusted slightly lower to avoid extra damage.
Ionic technology
Not all blow dryers use ionic technology, but it’s a great feature to have if you can. Here’s the TL;DR: Ions, aka the invisible particles around us, can be positive or negative. Positive ions aren’t kind to our hair and often lead to static, frizz, or flyaways. Blow dryers with ionic technology release negative ions that neutralize the positive ones. The result? Faster drying, as negative ions break down water molecules, and smoother hair with reduced frizz and fewer flyaways.
How to prep your 4c hair before blow drying:
Having the correct styling products and heat protectants is so important when it comes to using heat tools. The goal is to avoid as much heat damage and breakage as possible. So before you put a blow dryer on your hair, take these steps to achieve the best results:
- Wash and condition using a gentle, curl-friendly shampoo and conditioner or a co-wash (I like the Shea Moisture Co-Wash) to maximize moisture.
- Gently detangle your hair with a wide-tooth comb or gentle brush (it’s also great to do this while conditioning).
- Apply a leave-in conditioner (I like the Amika Intense Moisture Leave-In Conditioner) to add hydration and shine.
- Apply a smoothing heat protectant (I like Briogeo’s Heat Protectant Cream) to shield hair from excessive heat damage.
- Section damp hair into sections to make the drying process not only more manageable but also create even drying and avoid concentrating heat too much on certain sections.
Why trust Cosmo?
Chaise Sanders is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan with experience writing about beauty, lifestyle, and style content. She’s an expert at researching and writing beauty-related stories, like the best boar bristle brushes and the best DIY hair mask recipes. As someone with 4c hair, she regularly tests and analyzes products for natural hair.
Chaise Sanders is a NYC-based writer with a knack for all things lifestyle, beauty, entertainment, and style. Her work has graced the pages of Cosmopolitan, Country Living, InStyle, and more. When she's not busy crafting words, you can find her on Instagram roaming the streets of New York City, hunting down the best food spots, hidden gems, and deals.
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