When it comes to beauty routines, there's often one tool or product that a person just can't live without. For some, it's a favorite concealer [1], and for others, it's a body wash [2] they've been using for years. For many people, that product just so happens to be a hair dryer. If you're someone who always likes having their hair looking on point, finding the perfect dryer that can give you everything from a straight style to a bouncy blowout is key. But what happens when you're on the go? If you're traveling and staying at a hotel, they might provide one in the bathroom, but typically it's too hard to say whether or not it will work on your specific hair type [3]. This is where travel hair dryers come into play.
Of course, you'll want something that has a sleek and chic design, but there are plenty of other factors to consider before making a purchase. For example, you'll want to consider where you're traveling to and what type of voltage you need (including whether you want a dual voltage hair dryer), as well as what tool will work best for your hair — whether it's fine, thick, curly, or somewhere in between.
Ahead, we're breaking down all the pertinent information, including rounding up the best travel hair dryers out there.
What Is a Dual Voltage Hair Dryer?
If you've never heard of a dual voltage hair dryer, don't worry — we're here to explain. If you're traveling out of the United States, you'll want to pay attention to what kind of hair tool you're bringing with you. The US, Japan, and Canada all use electrical outlets with 110-120V. However, other countries like Europe, Australia, and the UK have outlets that supply 220-240V.
If you try using a single voltage tool without a converter, you could end up damaging the tool or even the electrical outlet. Dual voltage hair dryers will work on both low voltage and high voltage, which makes them a great option if you're planing on traveling a lot and bringing the tool with you.
Best Overall Travel Blowdryer
T3 Compact Dryer [4] ($150)
Help reduce frizz and increase shine with this T3 Compact Dryer. Made with an easy-to-use dual voltage switch with both 125V and 250V, this can easily be taken abroad.
Best Travel Blowdryer For Thin Hair
Bio Ionic Power Diva Pro Style Dryer [5] ($159)
This Bio Ionic Power Diva Pro Style Dryer will give you a healthy and voluminous shine. Although the dryer comes in miniature form, it has the mighty force of a full-size professional dryer.
Best Travel Blowdryer For Thick Hair
Ghd Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer [6] ($89)
A great choice for thick hair, this Ghd Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer can help tame your curls and give you amazing volume at the same time.
Best Travel Dryer For Curly Hair
Shark Speedstyle Rapid Gloss [7] ($199)
If you have curly or oily hair, the Shark Speedstyle Rapid Gloss is the perfect pick for your hair type. It will help your hair keep its volume, but won't make it frizzy or flat. Plus, it has numerous attachments so you can style your hair in any way your heart desires.
Best Affordable Travel Blowdryer
BaByliss TT Travel Hair Dryer [8] ($30)
This far-infrared BaByliss TT Tourmaline Titanium Travel Hair Dryer helps dry your hair quickly while protecting it from heat damage. This a great go-to hair dryer to pick up without spending a fortune.
Best Lightweight Travel Blowdryer
Drybar Baby Buttercup [9] ($139)
This incredible 1250W DC motor Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Hair Dryer has dual voltage and weighs only 13 ounces. Both practical and powerful, this is the ultimate travel dryer.
Best Travel Blow Dryer Brush
Plavogue Dual Voltage Blow Dryer Brush [10] ($48)
If you can't live without your blow dryer brush but you plan on doing a lot of travel, we'd suggest snagging the Plavogue Dual Voltage Blow Dryer Brush ASAP. Not only does it have a ceramic coating so it will help cut down on frizz, but it's also going to add tons of shine to your hair. Plus, in our opinion, it's the best dual voltage blow dryer brush out there.
— Additional reporting by Krista Jones [11]
Jessica Harrington [12] is the senior beauty editor at PS, where she writes about hair, makeup, skin care, piercings, tattoos, and more. As a New York City-based writer and editor with a degree in journalism and over eight years of industry experience, she loves to interview industry experts, keep up with the latest trends, and test new products.
Krista Jones [13] is a former editor of commerce at PS.