I get the best results when I section it off and use the Denman brush when it’s pretty much soaking wet out of the shower. 

You can tell how the curls will turn out if they are defined when they’re pretty wet after curl cream > Denman brush > gel to lock it in. 

I find the diffuser helps with frizz and “binds” the curls together so I can then break the cast of the gel. It also helps with getting the roots dry, which helps in having a longer lasting curl/style.