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I’ll admit it: I’m a neurotic packer. While creating my packing list for a vacation, I meticulously scan through my itinerary, making sure I have an outfit for every occasion—while still streamlining my selections to fit in a carry-on suitcase. Still, even if I’m feeling great about my ‘fit, nothing quite throws off the look more than a bad hair day. And, let’s be honest, sometimes the hair dryers available in hotels (even at luxury properties) leave a lot to be desired. They either take forever to actually do the job, or they render my hair sad and frizzy—no thank you to either scenario.
That’s why, unless I know for a fact the hotel is stocking Dyson, I’m going to make space in my bag for a decent dryer. As for the perfect travel hair dryer, it needs to be compact, lightweight, and actually effective at, you know, drying hair. Ahead, I tapped Vogue editors for their recommendations and curated my personal favorites, to create a definitive list of the best travel hair dryers.
Vogue’s Favorite Travel Hair Dryers:
- Best for International Travel: T3 Afar Travel Dryer and Case, $180
- Best for Stateside Travel: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $430
- Best Foldable: Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer, $139
- Best Temperature Control: Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer, $200
- Best Lightweight: BabylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Dryer, $35
- Best Travel Case: GHD Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer, $119
In This Article:
T3 Afar Travel Dryer and Case
- Why we love it: Female-founded T3 makes some of the best, and most accessibly-priced, hair tools around. I’ve been a longtime fan of their straighteners, curlers, and more recently the Aire 360 air styler—so I knew I needed to test their travel dryer. I personally appreciated that this dryer folds, which makes it even more packable—plus it comes with a cute pebbled leather travel case that fits seamlessly into a carry-on. Despite its compact size, this dryer packed a punch—it dried my hair (which is medium thickness) very quickly, and left my strands feeling soft rather than frizzy.
- Foldable: Y
- Specs: 1500 watts, auto dual-voltage (international friendly), 3 heat settings, 2 speed settings, negative ion technology
- Weight: 12.02 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Cute travel case | Buttons feel a tad flimsy |
| Super compact | |
| Dries hair quickly | |
| International travel friendly |
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
- Why we love it: Dyson is a favorite among hair stylists and Vogue editors, alike. The Supersonic is the brand’s original hair dryer, and while it’s not technically a “travel hair dryer” this model is still lightweight and compact enough to fit the bill. One of the standouts of Dyson is efficiency, which is key when you’re on vacation (after all, we want to maximize time enjoying our destination). Every time I’ve used the Dyson Supersonic, I’ve been so impressed by how quickly and beautifully my hair dries. It also comes with a number of attachments, including a diffuser and concentrator (but I’d recommend only bringing your favorites on vacay to save space).
- Foldable: N
- Specs: 1600 watts, 5 attachments, 4 heat settings, 3 speed settings
- Weight: 28.8 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Dries hair quickly | Heavier than other travel dryers |
| Protects hair from heat damage | Not compatible for international travel |
| Great assortment of attachments |
Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer
- Why we love it: From the brand that’s known for top-tier blowouts, Drybar also makes a travel-friendly blow dryer. It packs the same level of performance as its full-sized counterpart (which made the list of Vogue’s best hair dryers), but in an easy-to-pack, compact design. It also comes with a lightweight travel bag, which makes it even breezier to pack in your luggage.
- Foldable: Y
- Specs: 1200 watts, 2 heat settings, negative ion generator, 120/220-240 volts (suitable for international travel)
- Weight: 13 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| International travel-friendly | Lower power than some travel dryers |
| Negative ion for less frizz | |
| Includes travel carrying case |
L’ange Le Styliste Luxury Hair Dryer
- Why we love it: Not only does this hair dryer look incredibly chic, it’s also super lightweight and compact. After using this dryer for myself, I was immediately impressed: It had ample power, dried my hair so quickly, and left my strands looking sleek and shiny. I also love that it comes with multiple attachments, including a diffuser. The only thing I’ll note is this one doesn’t come with a carrying case, but otherwise its size and streamlined design make it ideal for travel.
- Foldable: N
- Specs: 1500 watts, 4 heat, 3 speed settings, memory function, overheat protection, LCD digital display
- Weight: 14.4 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| High-tech features | No carrying case |
| Automatic self-cleaning | Not suitable for international travel |
| Professional length power cord |
Shark Speedstyle Hair Dryer
- Why we love it: The Shark Speedstyle gets high praise from Vogue editors and trusted stylists. In fact, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, previously told Vogue it’s one of his go-to styling tools for clients. “The product never reaches heat-damaging temperatures, so you get the beautiful end result without the damage. The RapidGloss finisher attachment is also a real game-changer to get rid of frizz and flyaways for an effortless sleek finish,” Appleton said. While the Speedstyle isn’t technically a travel hair dryer, since it’s so lightweight and compact, it’s perfect for taking on a trip.
- Foldable: Y
- Specs: 1700 watts, 3 heat settings, 6 attachments
- Weight: 26.72 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Regulated temperature for scalp protection | Not suitable for international travel |
| minimizes frizz |
BabylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Dryer
- Why we love it: This hair dryer’s highlight feature is the fact it uses nano technology to help minimize frizz and promote smooth, sleek hair (which I personally appreciate). Since it’s dual-voltage, this dryer is a great choice if you’re headed on an international trip. It’s easy to hold, lightweight, and folds up to a compact, travel-ready dryer.
- Foldable: Y
- Specs: 1000 watts, 2 heat settings, 2 speed settings, easy-to-clean filter, dual-voltage (for worldwide use)
- Weight: 9.6 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Ultra-lightweight | Lower power than other travel dryers |
| International travel friendly |
GHD Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer
- Why we love it: GHD is another Vogue-loved hair tool brand—the Helios made the list of best hair dryers, and the Flight+ travel hair dryer deserves to be up there, too. This small but mighty tool device packs 78% of the power of a full-sized hair dryer, but it’s 47% lighter and 25% smaller, according to the brand. To put those numbers into perspective, celebrity hairstylist Charlotte Mensah once told Vogue that she loves GHD hair dryers because they fight frizz, and “achieve a salon finish that’s two times faster than your regular hair dryers.” What’s more, this travel dryer folds up and fits neatly into a luxe travel case.
- Foldable: Y
- Specs: Dual-voltage (for international travel), 1300 watts, 3 heat settings, 1 speed setting
- Weight: 15.84 oz.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Works for international travel | Slightly less powerful than some other dryers on this list |
| Minimizes frizz | |
| Comes with a carrying case |
Everything You Need to Know
What To Consider When Buying a Travel Hair Dryer
In order for a hair dryer to be well-suited for travel, it first and foremost needs to be compact—after all, you don’t want it taking up too much precious space in your luggage. In the same vein, it’s helpful if your hair dryer is lightweight (again, you don’t want to deal with a hair tool that’s excessively heavy or bulky.) Other features, like a foldable handle or carrying case, can also make it especially poised for travel.
Other than those features, a travel hair dryer should have comparable benefits to a full-sized counterpart, and meet similar standards. For instance, “A good hair dryer will have at least three heat settings (hot, warm, and cool) and a high/low setting to control the airflow,” hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons previously told Vogue. What’s more, adjustable heat settings can help minimize damage to your hair.
It’s important to think about your hair’s texture. “Thick or curly hair may require higher heat levels and stronger airflow for effective styling, whereas fine or damaged hair may need lower heat and gentler airflow to prevent further damage,” hairstylist Angelo David told Vogue, adding that it’s important to consider if certain attachments would best suit your hair and help achieve your desired result.
Fitzsimons also suggests choosing a dryer with at least 1500 watts for everyday use, and 1800 to 2000 watts for thicker hair (that said, it’s worth noting this isn’t always feasible for a smaller, travel-friendly dryer). And, for travel dryers specifically, it can be helpful to make sure they’re compatible with international plugs.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional insight on the industry’s standout products; ones specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to travel hair dryers, we selected the best based on the following characteristics after testing by me personally, or by Vogue editors. They’ve been tested on varying hair textures and thickness, with the following criteria in mind:
- Size/packability: Does it fit into a carry-on suitcase or weekender bag? (Bonus points if it includes a carrying case)
- Efficiency: Can it dry an entire head of hair as quickly and efficiently as a full-sized dryer?
- Weight: Is it lightweight enough to minimize excess bulk in luggage? Is it easy to hold, without fatigue?
- Heat settings: Does it feature at least 3 heat settings (hot, warm, and cold)?
- Power: Does it have at least 1500 watts of power?
