The 5 best travel hair dryers for elevated and effective styling, even on the go

A hairdryer is rightfully classed as a styling essential and yet, because of their size and bulkier shapes, they're often the first to be banished from your suitcase. This is where the best travel hair dryers rise up to take their place, but you shouldn't have to sacrifice power for a space-saving design.

Most of us likely already have a specifically chosen best hair dryer that meets our hair's needs - be it one of the best hair dryers for curly hair designed to smooth and diffuse, or a tool that adds volume to fine strands - but they're likely too large to justify taking away on holiday. Thankfully for those of us faced with the dilemma of prioritising frizz-free hair over outfit space, the tech in travel blow-dryers is constantly advancing. We're no longer stuck with a low-power, one-heat dryer that's not much better than the offering in the hotel bathroom.

In fact, several travel dryer options - like our top pick, the ghd Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer - are equipped with impressive power specs, convenient foldable handles and that all-important lightweight feel. Ahead, our beauty team outline the five best models on the market, with intel on how easy they are to work with and pack.

The 5 best travel hair dryers, reviewed by our beauty team

Best travel hair dryer overall

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.

As for what it's like to use? There are three settings on offer here, providing decent power and a smooth stream of air. However, I would say the cool shot, used for "setting" your style, could perhaps be a little cooler for my 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 any real risk of disappointment.

The best travel hair dryer for size and attachments

Reviewed by: Lucy Abbersteen

The first thing to note about this fun and funky dryer, as shown in my 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 my hand. Because of this, I was genuinely impressed by how much power it managed to rev up when I first switched it on – mighty and mini indeed! But not only that, I was pleased with how well it dried my hair, and it didn't take an age to do so.

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 to those who usually use one of the best hair dryers for curly hair to define their natural curls while drying. Granted, you can't fit much hair into this tiny diffuser, but it's better than no diffuser whatsoever, and was a very beneficial inclusion in my books. For those who want or need to travel as light as possible, this will take up an incredibly small amount of space without significantly compromising the results.

Best budget travel hair 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.

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

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.

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

Reviewed by: Aleesha Badkar and Lucy Abbersteen

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 looking smooth for days. It also boasts three heat and two speed settings, offering excellent customisation for various hair textures and styling preferences.

What sets this model apart from others, though, is its auto-dual voltage, which 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 winning dryer that'll give you great results with every use.

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
• Size and weight
• Any included attachments, e.g. concentrated nozzles or diffuser
• If the dryer came with a case or dust bag
• How well and how quickly it dried our hair
• How the results looked
• Price

Our experts on the best travel hair dryers

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Lucy Abbersteen

Lucy is a UK-based beauty journalist who has written for titles including Marie Claire, Glamour, OK!, Popsugar and Refinery29, as well as regularly contributing 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 has extensively tested and reviewed travel hair dryer options from the likes of ghd and T3.

Reviewed By

Reviewed By

Aleesha Badkar

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.

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.