10 Best Travel Friendly Hair-dryer Recommended by Experts

Packing for a trip? Don’t forget your hair dryer! A compact travel model is essential for styling on-the-go. But finding one that’s truly tiny yet mighty can be a serious challenge. The wrong pick leaves you frustrated with lack of power and frizzy, underwhelming results. 

To make sure you get it right, we put the latest travel hair dryers to the test. After rigorous analysis by beauty experts, we’re sharing the top 10 standouts for 2024. From lightning-fast drying to must-have features like dual voltage, these miniature marvels have it all. Let’s dive in!

What to Look for in a Great Travel Hair Dryer?

Size definitely matters when it comes to travel hair dryers, but it’s not the only factor. Here are some key things to consider:

• Compact Size & Lightweight Design: For easy packing, look for one that’s nice and petite without sacrificing much-needed power. Many weigh under a pound.
• Foldable or Retractable Handle: This space-saving feature allows the dryer to collapse down even smaller to fit in your carry-on.
• Dual Voltage: A dual voltage model can readily adapt to different electrical outlets around the world with a simple travel adapter.  
• Wattage and Airflow: Don’t underestimate the importance of watts and strong airflow for fast, efficient drying. Look for 1,000+ watts.
• Cool Shot Button: This nifty feature provides a blast of cool air to lock in your style after drying and prevent frizz.
• Attachments: Concentrator nozzles, diffusers, and other add-ons allow for more versatile styling while traveling.
• Your Hair Type: Consider your hair’s thickness, texture, and length – you may need extra power or specialized attachments.

The 10 Best Travel Hair Dryers for 2024

1. Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow Dryer ($118, Amazon)

Watts: 1200 | Weight: 1.3 lbs | Speeds: 2 | Heat Settings: 2 | Rating: 5/5

The full-size Buttercup is beloved, and this travel version packs that same professional power. It scorched through our drying tests, earning perfect marks for its lightning speed, superb airflow, and easy-to-use controls. While an investment, it folds compactly yet feels substantial.

• Pros: Fast drying, ergonomic design, high heat, cool shot button 
• Cons: Pricey, some attachments don’t come off easily

2. Conair Worldwide Travel Hair Dryer ($35, Amazon)

Watts: 1875 | Weight: 1.32 lbs | Speeds: 2 | Heat Settings: 3 | Rating: 4.5/5

You can’t beat the value of this little powerhouse. It dried our test hair fastest of all in just 60 seconds! Affordable but mighty, it offers 3 heat and 2 speed settings for plenty of control. The airflow is impressively strong despite its tiny size. 

• Pros: Lightning-fast drying, affordable price, plentiful settings
• Cons: Cord could be longer, a bit bulky

3. Stylecraft Peewee Dual Voltage Travel Dryer ($40, Amazon)  

Watts: 1200 | Weight: 0.5 lbs | Speeds: 2 | Heat Settings: 2 | Rating: 4/5

Curly hair? This featherweight 0.5 lb dryer comes with a handy diffuser for frizz-free waves. Even with its tiny size, it dried hair consistently in our tests. Testers raved about the ergonomic shape, quiet operation, and convenient stand.

• Pros: Ultra-lightweight, diffuser included, very maneuverable
• Cons: Can get quite hot to the touch

4. L’ange Le Styliste Luxe Digital Salon Dryer ($240, Amazon)

Watts: 1875 | Weight: 1.2 lbs | Speeds: 3 | Heat Settings: 4 | Rating: 4.5/5  

Though not technically a travel model, we had to include this sleek, ultra-slim dryer. Its compact 1.2 lb size matched many travel options, while its powerful 1875 watts produced an impressively strong airflow. 

• Pros: Strong yet quiet, multiple attachments, lightweight
• Cons: Pricey, doesn’t fold up

5. BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel Dryer ($35, Amazon)

An Amazon favorite, this tiny dynamo measures just 6 inches yet packs impressive drying power. Its ionic technology helps fight frizz, while the dual voltage makes it ideal for international jetsetters.

Watts: 1000 | Weight: 0.6 lbs | Speeds: 2 | Heat Settings: 2 | Rating: 4.5/5

• Pros: Ultra-compact, frizz-fighting nano titanium, dual voltage  
• Cons: No diffuser included

6. Revlon Fast Dry Travel Styler ($15, Amazon)

Watts: 1875 | Weight: 1.18 lbs | Speeds: 2 | Heat Settings: 2 | Rating: 4/5

When you need a quick, affordable option, look no further than this compact Revlon number. Our tests showed it delivers forceful airflow and blistering heat – it scored a perfect 5 for both! Yet it’s super lightweight.

• Pros: Blazing fast drying, ultra-high heat, budget price
• Cons: Can feel a bit flimsy, quite loud  

7. T3 Afar Lightweight Travel Dryer ($180, Amazon) 

Watts: 1500 | Weight: 0.77 lbs | Speeds: 2 | Heat Settings: 3 | Rating: 4.5/5

The brand’s beloved Featherweight got an upgrade with this travel-friendly Afar dryer. It’s powerful yet whisper-quiet, with a foldable handle and cool shot button for sleek styles. Sephora reviewers rave about its lightweight feel.

• Pros: Foldable and compact, cool shot button, multiple settings
• Cons: On the louder side

8. Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer ($429, Amazon)

Watts: 1600 | Weight: 1.8 lbs | Speeds: 3 | Heat Settings: 4 | Rating: 5/5  

Splurge pick for sure, but worth it according to our testing. This cult-favorite dried strands in just 54 seconds! The unique design and airflow make it a dream for travel despite the higher price tag. Just grab a voltage adapter.

• Pros: Super speedy, prevents frizz and damage, easy to grip
• Cons: Pricey, not dual voltage

9. FHI Heat Innovator Dryer ($350, FHIHeat.com)

Watts: 1700 | Weight: 1.2 lbs | Speeds: 3 | Heat Settings: 3 | Rating: 4.5/5

With its sleek, ergonomic shape, this slimline dryer feels featherlight yet dries like a heavyweight champ. It delivered the strongest airflow of all our tests and excelled at smoothing hair. Just watch out for the nozzle popping off occasionally.

• Pros: Speedy drying, smoothing power, effortless grip  
• Cons: Louder than some, nozzle attachment issues

10. Bio Ionic SMART-X Dryer + Diffuser ($329, Amazon)

Watts: 1600 | Weight: 1.35 lbs | Speeds: 3 | Heat Settings: 3 | Rating: 4.5/5

This smart dryer memorizes your settings and even deep cleans itself while delivering high pressure, frizz-fighting airflow. The included diffuser makes it a must for curly girls on-the-go.

• Pros: Self-cleaning, memorized presets, reduces frizz
• Cons: Pricey

So Which Is The Best Travel Hair Dryer to Buy?

For fast, salon-quality results in a compact package, it’s hard to beat the Baby Buttercup from Drybar. But you’ve got options for every budget, hair type, and need.

Whether you prioritize powerful drying or fight-frizz technology, portability or customized presets, there’s a fantastic travel hairdryer pick for you. So pack it up and get ready for great hair days wherever your travels take you!