The best travel hair dryers for space-saving styling away from home

Packing for a vacation can be overwhelming, and trying to squeeze in hair tools adds to that stress – which is precisely why the best travel hair dryers were invented. 

Just like packing miniature bottles of your favorite liquids, or organizing your clothing items into packing cubes, the best hair dryer for travel will save space in your suitcase and allow you to achieve your go-to styles wherever you are. Not to mention, you won't have to do battle with a hotel room hair dryer.)

Not only do travel dryers tend to come with features like a foldable handle, dual voltage functions, and an incredibly lightweight feel, the tech specs should still fit your specific hair type and length – be that a low-maintenance short hairstyle for women, or a long hairstyle that requires more power and attachments. 

We're serious about the hot tools we put on our hair, so we've curated this list of the best travel hair dryers that are easy to pack in your best suitcase, lightweight to hold, and foolproof to style with. 

The best travel hair dryers, chosen by our experts

If you have any level of knowledge about hair styling tools, you are probably not surprised to see an entry from ghd, makers of some of the best hair dryers for fine hair, thick hair, and everything in between. To look at, the Flight Travel Dryer, which has had a very slight makeover since it first launched, has a similar design to the Air dryer, packed into a smaller size with a foldable handle. The travel case has also had a bit of a zhush, now a zip-around shape with a stylish shoulder strap – updates that we are big fans of. 

As for what it's like to use? There are three settings on offer, providing decent power and a smooth stream of air – though the cool shot, used for "setting" your style, could perhaps be a little cooler for our liking. Nevertheless, it's a great little dryer; the voltage is also super easy to adjust by twisting a dial on the handle with a screwdriver (or perhaps more accessible on a holiday, a coin). Another minor quibble is that the concentrated nozzle, pictured, is a bit light and plasticky 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 brand you can put your trust – and money – in without no real risk of disappointment.

The first thing to note about this fun and funky dryer, as shown in our image below, 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 our hand. (Currently it is only available in the UK, so look to the Skanwen model for something smaller in the US.) Because of this, we were genuinely impressed by how much power it managed to rev up when we first switched it on – mighty and mini indeed! But not only that, we were pleased with how well it dried our hair and it didn't take an age to do so. 

Another plus is that, as well as the concentrator nozzle, this dryer also comes with a teeny tiny diffuser, which isn't that standard for travel dryers. This will, therefore, be very welcome to those who usually use one of the best hair dryers for curly hair who are wanting to define their natural curls while drying. Granted, you can't fit a lot of hair into this tiny diffuser at one time, but it's better than no diffuser, and was a welcome inclusion in our books. For those who are traveling as light as possible, this will take up an incredibly small amount of space without compromising too much on results. 

The first thing that caught our attention before trying this 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 our guide, but it's also significantly cheaper – almost a quarter of the price of some of the higher-end buys – so we think it's extremely good value for how it performs.

The dryer comes with just the one attachment, a narrow nozzle, which is useful for more precise styling. When used on the higher of the two heat-speed settings it's surprisingly powerful, and dried our hair pretty quickly, though the lower setting is better for hair that's susceptible to frizzing. In an ideal world, we would have also liked to see a cooler setting, but overall this dryer does the job pretty well – and certainly better than a rogue hotel room dryer! Although this specific hair dryer is only available in the UK, BaByliss is part of the Conair corporation, so look to the Conair model included in our guide for something of a similar price and specs.

We'd go as far as to liken Drybar's Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer to your hair stylist in a hot tool. The dryer is extremely powerful, serving up a 1200-watt motor and two heat settings for complete customization, and, much like the ghd Flight, has a folding handle for all even more space-saving. This dryer was able to dry our hair in record time – and without generating the excess frizz that many other hot tools leave in their wake. 

That's all thanks to the negative ion generator that seals the cuticle and keeps flyaways at bay while drying, which is helpful if you want to keep your destination's weather (be that humidity or wind) from ruining your hair. It also comes with a concentrator nozzle for more precise styling, which is a nice option to have when you're on the go. We're fans of Drybar's signature canary yellow-hued products, and – while a sturdier case like ghd's would have been nice – we appreciate that the brand includes a dryer dust bag to keep it protected while traveling.

One of the quietest hair dryers on the market, thanks to its brushless motor, the mdlondon BLOW Hair Dryer may not have a foldable handle but its small size does lend itself extremely well to travel. As it hasn't been designed for travel like some of the other models in our guide, it doesn't have the option to change its voltage, so if you are set on that function you may find that ghd, BaByliss or Drybar's tools are more up your street. But at just under 1.5lbs, it certainly won't add much weight to your holdall or weekend bag, and packs some serious power into its tiny frame. 

As for the actual use? This is one powerful little dryer that impressed us from the moment we first switched it on. It zips between the heat and speed settings impressively quickly – so there's no delay when you're ready to set your style with the cool shot – and comes with two handy magnetic narrow nozzle attachments that secure onto the dryer easily. In short, you can tell that the brains behind this dryer are those of a pro hairdresser.

If you're willing and able to invest in a high-quality model that will give you reliable results, we recommend trying this one from T3. Lauded for its frizz-controlling, volume-inducing properties, this dryer features the brand's IonAir Technology, which quickly dries hair and keeps it looking smooth for days. It also offers three heat and two speed settings for complete customization depending on your hair texture and how quickly you need it dry. 

What sets this model apart from the others, though, is its auto-dual voltage, which automatically shifts depending on where you are – which we found yielded worry-free styling, as there was no worry that we'd forget to adjust it to the correct setting for our location. We also appreciated being able to pop on the concentrated nozzle for smoother looks; all in all, this is a winning dryer that'll give you flawless results every time.

Jet setters, rejoice! Conair's compact hair dryer makes it easy to achieve salon-worthy hair on the go. During testing it performed consistently, drying and styling our hair in a variety of weather conditions. When comparing it to other models, we noticed that the nozzle isn't as long as the others and that the handle is shorter when folded, meaning it takes up less space in your suitcase. 

While the heat flow was even and it dries quickly, one thing we noticed was that the dryer wasn't as powerful as the other ones we tested, so keep this in mind if you have long, dense hair or want to create an ultra-controlled bouncy blow dry. This one is only available in the US, but look to the BaByliss travel dryer for something similarly affordable—they are comparable as both brands are part of the Conair group.

The compliments will come pouring in after whipping out this mini dryer from Eva NYC – not just for the gorgeous hair it yields, but for the eye-catching carrying case that makes it so easy to throw in your duffel, carry-on, and even your best gym bag. Like the Amika model, despite its little size it doesn't lack power or strength. It features tourmaline-infused ceramic components and a 1200-watt motor, giving you the same speed and intensity as your standard-sized dryer but in compact form. 

We appreciated the concentrator and diffuser attachments that came with the dryer, which allowed for more customized styling. But most importantly, this dryer never left hair looking frizzy, making it a solid option if you're traveling to a humid destination.

Though it's the priciest model on our list by some way, even outranking T3 in that respect, this highly-rated option is also the slimmest when folded, making it ideal to fit into tight spaces for those really packing in their luggage. It has several heat and speed functions to choose from, which makes it great for all hair types, whether you have a fine, medium, or thick and curly hairstyle. 

We found the 360° rotatable nozzle a particularly useful feature here – it made it easy to smooth out hard-to-reach areas like the nape of the neck. We also enjoyed how quiet the model was compared to the others that we tested, giving the quietest hair dryers a run for their money. And finally, the fact that the concentrator nozzles were magnetic meant that we didn't need to fuss with putting them on and taking them off, which can add to styling time if you're in a rush.

Looking for a no-fuss option that'll have you covered during every step of your styling? This set from It's a 10 will be your newest travel companion, featuring the brand's best shampoo and conditioner in addition to the hair dryer. The haircare duo uses aloe vera and sunflower seed extract to hydrate the hair and seal the cuticle pre-styling. 

As for the dryer, it's small but mighty, featuring a removable filter that makes it easy to clean out and prevents lint buildup from impeding your style. One thing we docked a point off for is that the dryer isn't foldable, which can make it difficult to pack into smaller bags.

Traveling to a humid destination? We recommend this hair dryer from Hot Tools. At 1875 watts it's the most powerful model we tested – and the results showed for it. 

When testing on extremely coarse, flyaway-prone hair, we found this model was able to dry the hair efficiently and without frizz. The drying and styling process was also made easy thanks to the swivel cord, which allowed us to rotate the dryer without rotating our hands (no sore arms here!). We're fans of the sleek black and gold signature Hot Tools color, too.

We found that this do-it-all hot tool dries, straightens, and waves hair to perfection. Though it may look intimidating, we found it quite easy to use – the heated teeth provide even heat distribution while the variety of heat settings makes it easy to customize your look. 

It also features a 360-degree swivel power cord, so you won't get tangled up during styling. Plus, the automatic shut-off function is good for forgetful types. While it doesn't fold or have dual-voltage capabilities, the tool is extremely compact and won't take up too much space in your bag, making it a great travel-friendly option.

If you want to look like you just stepped out of the salon, the Calista StyleDryer Pro Hair Drying Brush is a hot tool you need in your arsenal. The brush comes with two attachments: an oval brush for giving your ends a polished flip seen in youthful hairstyles and a styling brush for detangling and giving major volume. It is only available in the US, but for a similar dryer brush with two attachments look to the T3 AireBrush Duo – though it isn't a smaller travel size.) Each tourmaline-infused brush offers even heat distribution and reduces frizz, static, and flyaways. 

We like that this is a two-in-one product and that you won't need another tool to finish off your style. During testing, we appreciated the brush's feather-light feel and slim, suitcase-friendly design. This tool doesn't have dual-voltage functions, so keep this in mind if you're traveling overseas.

How we tested the best travel hair dryers

To provide you with a 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 easily they packed away in a carry-on or suitcase, and how their performance compared with our usual hair dryer. During the testing process, we took each of the below factors into account. 

• Design 
• Weight
• Any included attachments, e.g. concentrated nozzles or diffuser
• If the dryer came with a case
• How well and how quickly it dried our hair
• Price

How to choose a travel hair dryer

Whether you're traveling internationally, domestically, or locally, there are a few different important factors to take into account before you purchase your travel hair dryer, which we've expanded on below. 

• Size and weight: The first thing to consider is where you're traveling and what mode of transport you'll use, which will determine how big and heavy the hair dryer should be. "If you are taking it on a plane, you'll want something that's lightweight and small enough to fit in your carry-on bag," says Asako Ito, beauty expert and founder of Divine Lashes. If you're traveling by train or car, you may be able to get away with something a bit heavier and bigger. Some travel dryers are small enough to fit into a small duffel bag or purse, which can be helpful for quick on-the-go touchups if you're running in between meetings or stopping by Happy Hour after work.
• Dual voltage: Many travel hair dryers 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." 
• Material: As with tools such as the best hair straighteners, 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," says Rilington. "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 anyone wondering how to get shiny hair.