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

Our beauty team reviews the best travel hair dryers that are lightweight and portable – but, crucially, still powerful

Collage of three of the best travel hair dryers featured in this guide by Drybar, ghd, and Amika
(Image credit: Drybar / ghd / Amika)

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

Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer

(Image credit: ghd)

1. ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer

Best travel hair dryer with a carry case

Specifications

RRP : $99 / £99
Key features: Dual voltage, travel case, concentrated nozzle, folding handle
Best for : All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Voltage is clearly indicated and easy to change on the main handle
+
Carry case is minimal and sleek, complete with a shoulder strap

Reasons to avoid

-
Concentrator nozzle doesn't feel very premium

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. 

Original image showing hand-held close-up of the ghd Flight Travel Dryer and its case

(Image credit: Lucy Abbersteen)

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.

Amika Mighty Mini Dryer

(Image credit: Amika)

2. Amika Mighty Mini Dryer

Best travel dryer for attachments and small size

Specifications

RRP : £50 (UK only)
Key features: Travel case, dual voltage, diffuser and concentrated nozzle
Best for : All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Barely larger than our hands, great for space-saving
+
Comes with a compatible diffuser for styling curly hair—not always standard with travel dryers
+
We loved the cheerful design

Reasons to avoid

-
Some might prefer something larger and a bit more powerful

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. 

Original image showing hand-held close-up of the Amika Mighty Mini Dryer, its attachments and case

(Image credit: Lucy Abbersteen)

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. 

BaByliss Travel Dryer

(Image credit: BaByliss)

3. BaByliss Travel Dryer

Best cheap travel dryer

Specifications

RRP: £25 (UK only)
Key features: Dual voltage, folding handle, two speed/heat settings, concentrator nozzle
Best for : All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Surprisingly powerful
+
Foldable design is nice and lightweight

Reasons to avoid

-
More settings would be useful

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.

Original image showing hand-held view of BaByliss Travel Dryer

(Image credit: Lucy Abbersteen)

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.

Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer

(Image credit: Drybar)

4. Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer

Best luxury travel hair dryer

Specifications

RRP: $139 / £85
Key features: Concentrated nozzle, dust bag, folding handle
Best for: All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely powerful
+
Provides bounce and volume
+
Lightweight design
+
Includes travel dust bag

Reasons to avoid

-
A little pricey compared with others

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. 

Original image showing hand-held close-up of Drybar's Baby Buttercup Travel Dryer

(Image credit: Lucy Abbersteen)

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.

mdlondon BLOW Hair Dryer

(Image credit: mdlondon)

5. Mdlondon BLOW Hair Dryer

Best travel dryer for staycations

Specifications

RRP : $234 / £195
Key features: Quiet, brushless motor
Best for: All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Temperature changes very quickly 
+
Very lightweight at just 660g with its cable
+
Useful self-cleaning feature

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't have dual voltage; best suited to travel within home country

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. 

Mdlondon Blow Dryer

(Image credit: Lucy Abbersteen)

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.

T3 Afar

(Image credit: T3)

6. T3 Afar

Best dual-voltage travel hair dryer

Specifications

RRP: $180 / £150
Key features: Auto-dual voltage, foldable handle
Best for: All hair types, frizzy hair

Reasons to buy

+
Reduces frizz
+
Multiple heat and speed settings to choose from
+
Compact design is particularly convenient to pack

Reasons to avoid

-
Not for those on tight budgets

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.

Conair Compact Hair Dryer with Folding Handle

(Image credit: Conair)

7. Conair Compact Hair Dryer with Folding Handle

Best budget travel hair dryer

Specifications

RRP: $19.99 (US only)
Key features: Dual-voltage, folding handle, 2 speed settings
Best for: Short to medium length hair

Reasons to buy

+
Very compact design
+
Not too noisy
+
Affordable

Reasons to avoid

-
Not as powerful as others

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.

Eva NYC Mini Healthy Heat Pro-Power Dryer + Bag

(Image credit: Eva NYC)

8. Eva NYC Mini Healthy Heat Pro-Power Dryer + Bag

Best travel hair dryer for small bags

Specifications

RRP: $40 (US only)
Key features: Travel case, concentrated nozzle and diffuser, dual voltage
Best for: Frizzy hair, damaged hair

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely lightweight and compact
+
Gives hair a shiny finish

Reasons to avoid

-
None!

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.

Skanwen Professional Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Skanwen)

9. Skanwen Professional Hair Dryer

Best folding travel hair dryer

Specifications

RRP: $202 (US only)
Key features: Cool shot button, quick dry button, 3 concentrator nozzles
Best for: All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Slim design
+
Various heat and speed settings
+
Quiet

Reasons to avoid

-
Very pricey

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.

It's a 10 Miracle Mini Travel Kit

(Image credit: It's a 10)

10. It's a 10 Miracle Mini Travel Kit

Best travel hair dryer set

Specifications

RRP: $39.99 (US only)
Key features: Removable filter, concentrator nozzle, dual-voltage
Best for: Dry hair

Reasons to buy

+
Shampoo and conditioner are hydrating
+
Smoothes out the hair
+
Dries very quickly

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't fold

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.

Hot Tools Pro Signature Ionic Travel Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Hot Tools)

11. Hot Tools Pro Signature Ionic Travel Hair Dryer

Best travel hair dryer for frizzy hair

Specifications

RRP: $39.99 (US only)
Key features: 2 heat settings, cool shot button, concentrator and diffuser attachments, foldable handle
Best for: Damaged hair

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely powerful
+
Dries hair quickly
+
Swivel cord makes it easy to maneuver

Reasons to avoid

-
None, we love this!

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.

Mayraki Straightening/Volumizing/Wavy 3-in-1 Styler Comb

(Image credit: Mayraki)

12. Mayraki Straightening/Volumizing/Wavy 3-in-1 Styler

Best multi-use travel hair dryer

Specifications

RRP: $89 / £69.96
Key features: Adjustable temperature control, 5 heat settings
Best for: All hair types

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to use
+
Auto shut-off
+
Shapes the hair

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't fold

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.

https://calistatools.com/collections/hair-dryers/products/style-dryer-pro?variant=31485951803452

(Image credit: Calista)

13. Calista StyleDryer Pro Hair Drying Brush

Best travel hair dryer brush

Specifications

RRP: $69 (US only)
Key features: 2 styling attachments
Best for: Frizzy, lackluster hair

Reasons to buy

+
Good price
+
Gives significant volume
+
Dries hair quickly and evenly

Reasons to avoid

-
No dual-voltage capabilities

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.
Michelle Rostamian
Beauty & Shopping Writer

Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based beauty writer with 10 years of experience in the beauty industry. She began her career as a publicist, content writer, and social media manager, representing beauty brands and industry professionals. Currently, she is an editor and writer on all things makeup, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle. Michelle graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in Communications. She has bylines at Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, Allure, The Zoe Report, HelloGiggles, Yahoo, Byrdie, Well+Good, Reviewed, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, The Girlfriend, and more.

With contributions from