6 Travel Hair Dryers Worth a Spot in Your Suitcase

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Hotel hair dryers are a gamble. Most of them are underpowered, and they can take forever to finish the job.

That is why it never hurts to bring your own. A travel hair dryer is compact and light enough to carry in your luggage, yet it still has the power to dry and style your hair quickly.

Why Not Just Pack Your Everyday Dryer?

You could bring your regular hair dryer or blow-dryer brush. The trouble is size and weight.

Travel dryers are smaller and lighter than standard ones. That makes it easier to squeeze one into the limited space inside a hardside suitcase.

Some models fold or collapse as well. A folding design lets them pack down even smaller, which is very convenient.

What to Look for Before You Buy

A good travel dryer should offer a few basic settings, at the bare minimum. Plenty of models give you three temperature choices (hot, warm or cool) along with two fan speeds (high or low).

Some offer more. Settings matter because they let you match the dryer to exactly what your hair needs, while keeping damage to a minimum.

Attachments are the next thing to check. Ideally, a dryer ships with two of them: a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser. A bigger set of attachments gives you more ways to style.

Dual voltage is another big plus for travel. A dual-voltage dryer will work in more destinations, which matters a great deal if you often fly abroad.

Then there is power. We always want a dryer rated at 1800 watts or higher, but that is not always possible, especially in more compact and portable sizes.

With that in mind, here are six travel hair dryers that dry and style quickly while you are on the move.

Conair Worldwide Travel Hair Dryer: Low Price, Automatic Voltage

Highlights

• Gets hair dry efficiently
• Senses the voltage and adjusts by itself
• Easy on the wallet

Trade-offs

• The cord runs short
• The body is on the bulky side

Even at a low price, this dryer offers features that outshine pricier competitors. It is fast, too. Thinner hair that reaches the shoulders is dry in about five minutes, a strong time for something built for travel.

Three heat settings and two speed settings let you tune the temperature and airflow to your hair.

The dual-voltage system is automatic. It handles both 110v and 220v, and a light on the side shows which voltage is active.

On 220v it still runs at full power. Many cheap travel dryers lose strength there, so this is a real advantage.

The body is bulkier than that of some other dryers on the list, but a folding handle collapses it into a more compact shape. It is also quieter than most hair dryers, so it is more pleasant on trips. The one real complaint is a cord that is a lot shorter than we would like.

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium: Tiny Body, Serious Heat

Highlights

• Small and light
• Delivers plenty of heat
• Supports dual voltage

Trade-offs

• Can feel too hot for certain users

This dryer has far less power than a typical travel model, with a rating of just 1,000 watts. Size explains why. It is also among the smallest hair dryers around, which suits packing very well.

The low wattage does not hold it back. It warms up nicely, and it runs a little hotter than some people would choose.

That intensity is how it matches the drying speed of larger, higher-wattage models.

The catch is that the heat cannot be lowered. The only choices are hot and cool, so you are stuck with a strong temperature. Thicker hair copes fine, while thinner strands may find it too much.

There is plenty to like beyond that. You get a folding handle, a concentrator nozzle and dual voltage. Just remember to set the correct voltage by hand before you plug it in.

StyleCraft Peewee 1200: The Featherweight With a Diffuser

Highlights

• Incredibly light
• Puts out strong heat
• A diffuser is included

Trade-offs

• Can run too hot for certain users
• No heat settings to choose from

The lightest dryer on this list weighs a mere half a pound. It adds almost no heft to your luggage.

It sits comfortably in the hand, runs relatively quiet and is very easy to operate.

Heat control is missing entirely. The dryer stays at one temperature, and it has no cool air option either.

That temperature is high, close to what the equally small BaBylissPRO delivers. Keeping it over one spot for a while can get uncomfortable.

It dries hair effectively, but keep it moving. If it lingers in one place too long, it feels like it could fry your hair.

A concentrator and a diffuser come with it. That gives it more versatility than the other budget models here. It supports dual voltage too, although you have to set that manually.

Panasonic Nanoe Salon: A Gentle Dryer With an Oscillating Nozzle

Highlights

• An unusual nozzle that swings from side to side
• Drying feels soft and mild
• A pleasure to use

Trade-offs

• Works on one voltage only

Panasonic says the dryer draws moisture out of the air and works it into the hair shaft during drying. We cannot verify how the technology works.

Whatever the mechanism, the result is softer than blasting hot air straight at your scalp. It is a much more pleasant experience.

The oscillating nozzle is the unusual part. It swings left and right on its own, pushing air in several directions so it spreads more easily.

One warning: using that nozzle can feel as if a big fan is aimed at your ear, and some people find that odd.

The mild action makes drying a bit slower than with a traditional design. Even so, it finishes at a decent speed, and there is no risk of damaging your hair.

This model is a little larger than the most compact travel options. Its folding handle brings the size down for packing.

Drybar Baby Buttercup: Strong Airflow in a Folding Frame

Highlights

• Dries well
• Simple controls
• Powerful airflow

Trade-offs

• May fall short for people who want lots of heat

The travel edition of the Drybar dryer has a long nozzle and a long handle, so it resembles a full-size model. The handle folds, which makes it compact enough to pack.

Standouts are the simple controls, the powerful airflow and the fast drying time. Heat is distributed evenly, so drying stays comfortable throughout. Hair feels especially soft afterward, which is always welcome.

It does not run as hot as some other dryers here. Some people will like that, and others will not.

If you want very high temperatures, look elsewhere. If you prefer drying that is gentle yet effective, this is among the most dependable picks around.

It is dual voltage as well. A slider on the side lets you choose the voltage manually.

T3 Afar: The Premium Pick That Switches Voltage by Itself

Highlights

• Switches voltage without any input
• Offers three heat levels
• Comfortable during use

Trade-offs

• Pricey

The brand T3 has a reputation for excellent hair tools. It is no surprise that its travel dryer ranks among the best on this list.

It folds down to a very compact size, like several others here. Its low weight means it adds little heft to your luggage.

The heat is pleasant and never uncomfortable, even on the top setting. Hair dries at a fast pace, frizz disappears and the finish is shiny.

That safe, effective drying justifies the premium price. A few people we know even rely on it as their everyday dryer at home.

Voltage switching is automatic, which makes it easy to take abroad without any trouble.

Marcus Sterling

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Looking past the surface to find the real, useful story is where I do my best work. I dedicate my days to vetting facts and clearing up confusion, making sure every piece leaves you with a clear idea and a bit of inspiration.

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