The 5 Best Travel Hair Dryers in 2019

If you’re a woman (or man) who takes pride in her hair and likes to style it every morning, chances are you own a great hair dryer.  And chances are that hair dryer is rather large, and not the best for travel as it takes up too much space (and weight) in your carry-on bag or checked luggage.

However, you don’t want to not bring a hair dryer on your travels, because you don’t know what you’ll find once you reach your destination. There’s nothing worse than checking into a hotel or Airbnb and realizing there’s no hairdryer, or it’s too weak to do the job. Especially if you’re in a remote location and there’s not a Target around to easily purchase a new one!

Thus, if you don’t have a travel hair dryer it’s time to purchase one. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few of our favorites, as well as key factors to consider.

Editor’s Choice: JINRI Dual Voltage Travel Blow Dryer

Our number one pick for a travel hair dryer is JINRI’s Dual Voltage Travel Blow Dryer. It’s small, powerful, and has a foldable handle that makes it super easy to pack in both carry-on luggage and checked luggage. Once folded, it measures just 9.45” x 5.5” x 4.72”!

It’s a ceramic hair dryer, which is safer for your hair and helps prevent heat damage, and is dual voltage. Dual voltage means you can use it in New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo without worry or having to lug around a converter as it had a voltage between 125-250.

Pros

• Dual voltage: 125-250V means you can use this both in the U.S. as well as abroad
• Small: A foldable handle makes this travel hair dryer compact and easy to pack
• 2 Heat/Speed Settings (for the 125V): A hot and cool setting helps set your style

Cons

• Handle: While the handle is foldable, which is a major pro, it does become hot if the hair dryer is on for a prolonged amount of time.

Best Budget: Conair 1875 Watt Compact Hair Dryer

If you’re looking for a high quality, affordable, lightweight hair dryer, check out the Conair 1875 Watt Compact Hair Dryer. This hair dryer features a foldable handle (perfect for travel), two heat/speed settings, and weighs just one pound! Plus, it’s dual voltage meaning you can use it both in and outside of the U.S. without worrying about damaging it. The main differentiator with this travel hair dryer, however, is the price. You really can’t beat it.

Pros

• Cost: This is one of the most affordable travel hair dryers we’ve come across
• Dual Voltage: Don’t worry about blowing a fuse if you plug this hair dryer into an outlet outside of the U.S.; dual voltage means it will work pretty much anywhere on any frequency
• Multiple heat settings: Hair dryer features two heat and speed settings

Cons

• No filter: The back of the hair dryer does not have a filter, meaning hair can easily get sucked into the fan and burn.

Best Quiet: JINRI 1000 Watt Professional Hair Dryer

JINRI makes great products, and the 1000 Watt Professional Hair Dryer is just one example. It’s small, sleek, lightweight, and most importantly, quiet. Traveling with a group? You won’t have to worry about waking them up with this blow dryer.

Pros

• Quiet: This hair dryer is powerful yet quiet, making it perfect for travel
• Lightweight: Weighs just 11 ounces
• Different heat settings: Hair dryer features a high-low-off heat/speed setting, as well as a cool shot

Cons

• Not dual voltage: If you tend to stay within the U.S. for your travels, this hair dryer will suit your needs perfectly. However, if you tend to travel to Europe or elsewhere abroad, you’ll need a converter.

Best Small Size: Babybliss Nano Titanium Travel Dryer

If you’re looking for a super-small, sleek, powerful hair dryer, check out the Babybliss Nano Titanium Travel Dryer. It’s dual voltage, meaning you can use it both in and outside the U.S., but the key differentiator is size: this tiny travel hair dryer measures just 6.2” at its longest. It’s perfect for carry-on luggage and can even fit into your toiletry bag!

Pros

• Size: This is the smallest hair dryer on our list; perfect for carry-on bags and weekend trips
• Dual voltage (from 110V to 250V): Feel free to use this travel hair dryer worry-free whether you’re in the U.S. or abroad
•  Light-weight: Weights just 9.6 ounces

Cons

• Hot: Customers say this hair dryer gets very hot, so make sure you use a heat-protecting styling spray

Best Dual Voltage: Gamma Piu ETC Travel Hair Dryer

If you’re looking for a great dual voltage travel hair dryer and budget isn’t a concern, check out the Gamma Piu ETC Travel Hair Dryer. It’s sleek looking, functions at 1,000 and 1,200 watts, and is super quiet. Thanks to its Evolution Turbo Compressor technology, it claims to reduce drying time by 25 percent!

Pros

• Small: Measures just 5.07” in length
• Dual voltage: 110/120 V 1000-1200 W 50/60 HZ European Hair Dryer – 220/240V
• Aesthetics: Check out the trendy turquoise color; it’s not your basic black!

Cons

• Price: This hair dryer is more expensive than others on our list

Travel Hair Dryer Buyers Guide

Investing in a travel hair dryer isn’t the same as buying a normal hair dryer. Yes, you’ll need to look the strength, speed, and heat, but you’ll also need to look at the size, weight, and wattage.

Hair dryers aren’t universal: what works in the U.S. won’t work in Europe unless you find one with dual wattage. When looking at travel hair dryers, the first step is to figure out where you’ll use it: domestically, abroad, or both. Will you mainly back it in a carry-on bag, or in checked luggage instead? These questions will help determine what size, strength, and wattage you need.

Keep reading for everything you need to consider when looking at a travel hair dryer.

Size and Weight

If you’re looking for a new travel hair dryer, your number one priority should be size, no matter if your key travels are domestic or abroad. You’ll want to find a hair dryer that is lightweight, compact, and won’t take up too much space in your bag. Especially if you often travel with a carry-on bag! Just because something is small doesn’t mean it’s not powerful, and travel hair dryers are a prime example.

When looking at travel hair dryers, look for features like a foldable handle and a retractable cord. These features will help minimize space so you can pack even more goods (and purchase more as well!)

Wattage

If most of your travel is within the U.S., wattage shouldn’t be your main priority. However, if you also plan on visiting Europe or other countries outside of the U.S. and Central America, you’ll want to look at dual voltage hair dryers.

So, what exactly is a dual voltage travel hair dryer? It’s just what it sounds like: a hair dryer with two voltage options: one is 110-120V and the other is 220-240V. With dual wattage hair dryers, you can use your hair dryer worry-free without having to worry about it catching on fire or breaking.

Concentrator vs. Diffuser

If you’re looking for a basic travel hair dryer, there are a lot of great ones on the market. And if you’re looking for a little something more? There are plenty of great add-ons you can look at as well!

The most common add-ons are concentrators and diffusers. Concentrators are little attachments that you can add to the tip of your hair dryer that help concentrate the direction of the airflow. These concentrators can result in smoother, sleeker hair and are best for people that want a straight-hair look.

Diffusers, on the other hand, are best for people with curly hair; they help eliminate frizz and can also boost curls. They can also be used by people with straight hair who are looking to add a bit of volume to their hair.

If a concentrator or a diffuser is important to you, then make sure to find a travel hair dryer that comes with one. However, if you don’t think you’ll use the attachment, then either leave it at home or find a travel hair dryer without. It will just take up extra space in your bag, which is counterintuitive to the idea of finding a compact hair dryer!

If you’re in the market for a travel hair dryer, we hope this helped inform you what to look for, and maybe even inspired a purchase.