Diffusion
My first hairdryer, gifted to me in the mid-90s, was pillarbox red and had a long white cord. It was a freebie (or a heavily discounted item) my Dad got while working at a factory. Or a distribution centre. Or maybe a repair centre. It’s all a bit fuzzy, now.
And I loved it. It was designed for professionals, and the cord stretched the length of our living room, enabling maximum freedom to move while drying (as well as a potential tripping hazard).
I didn’t know this at the time, but this gorgeous red hairdryer, impressive and powerful as it was, didn’t have a diffuser attachment. Not that I knew what a diffuser was. I grew up with hot combs on hobs, Dark & Lovely hair relaxers, and dreams of looking like Aaliyah. My natural hair texture was a mystery to me.
I’m sure you know what a diffuser is. It’s the bit of a hairdryer that makes it look like a megaphone. If you have curly hair (I have a blend of Afro and European textures and a type 3 curl), it’s an essential. It’s designed to gently diffuse or spread the warm air from the dryer around a larger area of hair. This way, your curls don’t get blasted every which way, and your natural curl pattern retains its definition.
But I didn’t have a diffuser. So when I blasted what was left of curls after all the relaxing, straightening, and hot combing, I looked more Bob Ross, than Diana Ross.
Fast-forward a few decades, and my daughter….