The 6 best travel hair dryers that are compact but powerful, no matter where you're drying
From Babyliss to ghd, our beauty experts have tested almost every travel hair dryers on the market – these are the 6 we recommend
A hair dryer is rightfully classed as a styling essential; most of us use one every week, some of us every day. And yet, because they are relatively bulky and unusually shaped, they're the first item to be yanked out when we need to make room in our suitcase while packing. Unless you've invested in one of the best travel hair dryers, that is, which prioritise portability without sacrificing on power.
So although you probably already have one of the best hair dryers or best hair dryers for curly hair on hand, to smooth, style and diffuse your hair, even the top, most-loved tools are too large or heavy to justify taking on holiday with you – no matter how much you might want to. More importantly, as recommended voltages vary around the world, most hair dryers have been designed to use in the country you bought them in, and so may not be compatible with the power supply in your chosen destination, even with a travel adaptor.
Thankfully, the tech that can be fitted into a travel blow-dryer is constantly advancing. As well as a lightweight feel and dual-voltage, we still get powerful airflow and various heat and speed options. As for which one to invest in, our team has tested pretty much every travel model on the market, sharing detailed reviews of the best-performing buys here – complete with intel on how easy they are to use and store. But first, our shopping experts have shared the best deals on travel dryers to shop now...
Best travel hair dryer deals
The 6 best travel hair dryers, reviewed by our beauty team
From big names like ghd and Drybar to cheaper, under-£30 devices, our beauty team tested an array of portable, travel-friendly hair dryers. Ahead are their detailed reviews of the top six, complete with breakdowns of specs and key selling points – from foldable handles to mult-voltage settings.
Best travel hair dryer overall
The ghd Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer
Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar and Lucy Abbersteen
If you have any degree of knowledge about hair styling tools, you probably won't be surprised to see an entry from ghd, makers of some of the best hair dryers for fine hair, thick hair and everything in between. At a glance, the Flight+ Travel Dryer (which has had a very slight makeover since it first launched), has a similar design to the brand's Air model, just packed into a smaller size with a foldable handle. The travel case has also been redesigned and now takes the form of a zip-around shape with a stylish shoulder strap – updates that I am a big fan of.
The ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer and its case
As for the user experience, there are three settings here, putting out decent power and a smooth stream of air. However, I'd say the cool shot – used for "setting" your style – could be slightly cooler for my liking, but it's still a great little dryer. The voltage is also really easy to adjust by twisting a dial on the handle with a screwdriver (or, perhaps more accessible when on a holiday, a coin). Another small quibble is that the concentrated nozzle, pictured, is a bit light and plastic-y and doesn't feel as premium as the rest of the dryer. But overall, the Flight is a solid example of why ghd is a you can trust without any real risk of disappointment.
The best travel hair dryer for size and attachments
The Amika Mighty Mini Dryer
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
The first thing to note about this psychedelic-designed is its size; dryers that have been designed specifically for travel are almost all smaller than standard, but Amika's Mighty Mini Dryer is barely bigger than my hand. With this in mind I was genuinely impressed by its power when I first switched it on – mighty and mini indeed. Not only that, I was also pleased with how well it dried my hair; it didn't take an age to do so.
The Amika Mighty Dryer with its case and attachments
Another plus point is that, along with the concentrator nozzle, this dryer also comes with a teeny tiny diffuser, which isn't that standard for travel dryers. This will be very welcome news to those who usually use a diffuser on their curls when drying. Granted, you can't fit very much hair at all into this tiny diffuser, but it's better than no diffuser whatsoever, making it a beneficial inclusion in my book. So for those who want or need to travel as light as possible, this will take up barely any space without significantly compromising the results.
Best budget travel hair dryer
The BaByliss Travel Dryer
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
The first thing that caught my attention before trying this BaByliss dryer was the extremely accessible price point from such a trustworthy, big-name brand. Sure, it doesn't feel as premium as some of the other tools we've featured in this guide, but it's also significantly cheaper – almost a quarter of the price of some of the higher-end buys. I therefore think it's extremely good value in line with its performance.
The BaByliss Travel Dryer
This dryer comes with just the one attachment, a narrow nozzle, which is useful for more precise and focused styling. When I used it on the higher of the two heat-speed settings, I found it to be surprisingly powerful; it dried my hair pretty quickly, though I think the lower setting is better for hair that's prone to frizzing. In an ideal world, I would have liked to see a cool shot function, too, but overall this dryer does the job pretty well – and certainly better than a rogue hotel room dryer.
Best luxury travel hair dryer
The Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer
Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen
Drybar's Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer was one of the closest options to a full-size dryer that I tested for this guide. It's extremely powerful, serving up a 1,200-watt motor and two heat settings for decent customisation and, much like the ghd Flight+, it features a folding handle for yet more space-saving capabilities. This dryer was able to dry my hair in record time, all without generating the excess frizz that many other hot tools leave in their wake.
The Drybar Baby Buttercup Blow-Dryer
All this is thanks to the negative ion generator, which seals the cuticle and keeps flyaways at bay while drying. This is a big plus if you want to keep your destination's weather – be it humidity or wind – from impacting your hair. This model also comes with a concentrator nozzle for more precise styling, which is also very beneficial when you're relying on a travel dryer. I'm also a fan of Drybar's signature canary yellow-hued products and, though a sturdier case like ghd's would have been nice, I appreciate that the brand also includes a dust bag in this bundle to keep this dryer protected.
Best dual-voltage Travel hair dryer
The T3 Afar Travel Hair Dryer
Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar
If you're willing and able to invest in a reliable, high-quality model, I recommend trying this one from T3. Lauded for its frizz-reducing and volume-inducing properties, this dryer incorporates the brand's IonAir Technology, which dries hair quickly and keeps it retain a smooth finish for days afterwards. It also boasts three heat and two speed settings, meaning there's excellent customisation on offer for a variety of hair textures and styling preferences.
What really sets this model apart from others, though, is its auto-dual voltage; this automatically shifts depending on your location. This meant I could enjoy worry-free styling, as I had no concerns that I'd forget to adjust it to the correct setting in whichever country. I also appreciated being able to pop on a concentrator nozzle for smoother looks. All in all, this is a stellar dryer that'll give you great results with every use.
Best hair dryer for travel and home use
Reviewed by: Fiona McKim
There aren't many travel hair dryers that I could hand on heart recommend you also use as your everyday hair dryer, but Panasonic's new EH-NA7M nanoe fits the bill. As well as boasting 1600W of power and a slick, foldable design, it's made with the brand's proprietary nanoe technology, which imparts tiny moisture particles into the hair, so it's left smooth and shiny.
This dryer also boasts a clever quick dry nozzle, which splits the airflow into three - two mild and one powerful in the middle, this detangles the hair as it dries and allows it to dry faster. When testing, I noticed this gave an impressively fast blow dry without frazzling my hair, and combined with that high power, it is one of the fastest dryers on this list. You can also add the attached concentrator nozzle back on for smoothing if desired. The three heat settings (including one cooling temperature to set styles in place) are more than enough for most people's regular styling needs. Although this is not the most compact dryer on this list, it has a nice, sleek design and foldable handle that makes it eminently more packable than most hair dryers, and I'm a fan of the attractive icy grey and pink colourways, which make a nice change from the usual black.
How we tested the best travel hair dryers
To provide a truly comprehensive guide to the best tools on the market, we tested dozens of dryers from various price points in different scenarios, both at home and on the go. We also assessed how easy it was to pack each one into a carry-on or suitcase, as well as how their performance compared with our usual full-size hair dryer. During the testing process, we took each of the below factors into account when making our assessments.
- Design: A sleek design is a must for a travel hair dryer, so we assessed each one on how compact it was as well as whether or not it folds into an easy-to-pack shape.
- Size and weight: A heavy, bulky dryer will simply be left at home - we noted the weight of each dryer, and how they felt in our hands when testing.
- Any added extras: Travel dryers can be light on attachments, so we gave extra points to models that include options for specific styling, such as concentrated nozzles or diffusers. We also checked how well they attached and how easily they could be removed, and if the dryer came with a case or dust bag
- How well and how quickly it dried our hair: This is an absolutely crucial factor, and we only included models with a satisfying and non-laborious drying experience.
- How the results looked: We looked for smoothness, shine and each dryer's ability to make specific styles.
- Price: As with any technical purchase, cost is important. We included models across the price spectrum so everyone has an option available to them, regardless of budget.
Our experts on the best travel hair dryers
Lucy is a UK-based beauty journalist who has written for titles including Marie Claire, Glamour, OK!, Popsugar and Refinery29, and regularly contributes to woman&home. Her work covers everything from expert skin and haircare advice to in-depth reviews of the latest products. For this guide, Lucy extensively tested and reviewed travel hair dryer options from big brands including ghd and Drybar.
Aleesha is Beauty eComm Editor at woman&home, where she shares her expertise in everything from the best beauty techniques and hair tools to the latest product launches. Here, she has put her knowledge and experience with the industry's leading hair tech to good use by testing and sharing her thoughts on the best travel hair dryers.
Jasmine Rilington is a hairstylist and founder of The Glam Room - a haircare brand that is focused on creating effective products for all hair concerns - who has shared expertise in what specifications to look out for when choosing your new travel hair dryer.
How to choose the best travel hair dryer for you
Whether you're travelling internationally, domestically or locally, there are a few different important factors to take into account before you purchase a travel hair dryer, which we've expanded on below with the help of some experts.
- Size and weight: The first thing to consider is where you're travelling and what mode of transport you'll use, as this will determine how big and heavy a hair dryer you can get away with. If you're jetting off on a plane, for instance, a compact model that can fit in your carry-on or suitcase is preferable. If you're travelling by train or car, you may be able to get away with something more heavy-duty. Some travel dryers are also small enough to fit into a small duffel bag or purse, which can be helpful for quick on-the-go touchups.
- Dual voltage: Many travel models come with dual voltage functionalities, and it's definitely an option to seek out if you make frequent international trips. According to Jasmine Rilington, hairstylist and founder of The Glam Room, "using a non-dual-voltage hair dryer overseas could cause a fuse to be blown at best and damage to your hair at worst."
- Design and materials: Much like with the best hair straighteners, a tool's materials matter. "Ceramic is a great option as it puts out non-damaging infrared heat, which is good for frizzy hair and protects the hair from heat damage," Rilington explains. "Tourmaline emits infrared heat, too, but also negative ions, which can make the styling process easier and provide a glossy finish." This material is a great option for those wondering how to get shiny hair.
Why is the voltage so important in a hair dryer?
Electrical appliances are designed to work with the voltage supplied to buildings, like homes or hotels, in a given country. In the UK (and elsewhere in Europe), the supply voltage is 230v, while in the USA it's much lower at 110v. Hair dryers with UK plugs usually have a voltage of 230–240v, while their US counterparts have 110–120v.
Using a hair dryer designed for a different supply voltage can be extremely dangerous and is not simply case of the tool not performing as well as it would at home. You risk damaging the tool and even causing a fire.
This is where most travel dryers are particularly innovative, as they feature dual voltage – in other words, they are equipped with the ability to set the voltage so that you can use them in countries that supply either.
Always check the voltage of the hair tool you plan to take on holiday against your destination and, if they don't match, leave it at home.
What is dual voltage and why do I need it for international travel?
Dual voltage dryers are designed to be used for travel, as power supply can vary across territories, and dryers can become damaged if you plug them into the wrong power supply. This is particularly true of travelling between the UK (usually 240V and US (110V). If you are unable to buy a dryer with dual voltage, it is possible to buy a voltage converter to plug into the power supply in your chosen destination and adapt the local power accordingly.