The best travel hair dryers for your next adventure, according to hairstylists

Whether you’re finally taking the leap on that international vacation you’ve been dreaming of or headed to yet another work conference, the last thing you want to be worried about is your hair. We’ve covered the best hair dryers, products for keeping your hair healthy and even the best heat protectant sprays, but when it comes to a powerful yet compact tool that’s not a pain to travel with, a lot can go into finding the right travel hair dryer for you and your hair type.

That’s why we turned to expert hairstylists, colorists and salon owners for the travel hair dryers they actually use and recommend. We’ve got options for all types of travel and hair, regardless of if you need a dual-voltage blow-dryer for international travel or a compact option you can stow in a weekender. From the highly anticipated Dyson Supersonic travel hair dryer to budget-friendly powerhouses to multitools that can dry your hair and make styling a breeze, these expert-approved picks are just what you’ll need for your next adventure.

Best dual-voltage travel hair dryers

If you’re planning to pack a hair dryer for an international trip, dual voltage is a must. The US uses 110 volts to 120 volts, and most international outlets are 220 volts to 240 volts. A dual-voltage hair dryer can work with both plugs. However, you will likely still need a power adapter, since the shape of the plug can vary by country. You do not need (and should not use) a voltage converter with a dual-voltage hair dryer.

BabylissPro Nano Titanium Travel Hair Dryer

“This has been a reliable favorite of mine for years because it’s compact, durable and produces strong airflow for its size,” said celebrity hairstylist Chris Russell, who loves the folding-handle design for easy packing. Celebrity hairstylist Mel Dominguez is a fan of the 1000W motor, which provides reliable power for salon-quality results. Louise O'Connor, a hairstylist and the owner of Louise O'Connor Salon, also called out the lightweight design, dual voltage and nano titanium technology, which helps distribute heat evenly while drying your hair.

ghd Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer

Another expert-favorite option from a trusted brand is this ghd option. Louise O’Connor recommends it for its compact and foldable design, for its ionic technology and for the fact that it comes with a travel case, “striking a great middle ground between budget and premium,” she said. Celebrity colorist and Pravana expert Meri Kate O’Connor as well as hairstylist and colorist Laura Sommerfelt like the impressive power and dual voltage, although they noted that the dual voltage isn’t an automatic feature, meaning that you’ll have to flip a switch to change the voltage when traveling. Sommerfelt also appreciates the built-in concentrator and three heat settings.

T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Dual-Voltage Air Styler Blowout Kit

If you’re interested in a versatile, easy-to-use hair tool that also functions as a hair dryer, both Meri Kate O’Connor and Dominguez recommend this multi-styler. “It’s skinny, compact and comes with four attachments — two curlers, a brush and a dryer concentrator — which means you don’t need to pack a round brush or curling iron,” Meri Kate O’Connor said. According to Dominguez, it’s also lightweight and dual voltage, making it a breeze to create any hair look no matter where you are or what other tools you might have access to.

Dyson Supersonic Travel Hair Dryer

“This dryer is definitely a splurge, but it’s worth it,” Garren, a celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of R+Co, said. “I’ve played with it, traveled with it, and I love how light it is.” Both he and Jay Bulluck, a hairstylist and founder of Local Honey, are fans of its under-1-pound weight and space-saving size. “It’s super small and skinny even with all the attachments, so it easily fits in your luggage,” Garren said. CNN Underscored fashion and beauty editor Sophie Shaw found that it performs just as efficiently as the full-size Supersonic, and she appreciates the automatic dual-voltage, so you never have to worry about blowing a fuse.

Read our review

SRI Labs DryQ Hair Dryer

“This is the perfect travel dryer in my opinion,” Sommerfelt said. With automatic dual voltage, ionic and infrared drying technology ,and multiple heat and airflow settings, it checks all her boxes. It also comes with two different concentrator nozzles and a diffuser. “This dryer is light — and I mean really light,” she said. “It weighs less than 1 pound and has a foldable handle, which makes it perfect for traveling abroad or for a weekend getaway.”

Beurer HC25 Ionic Hair Dryer

“If you’re looking for something with real drying power in a small package, this hair dryer was a pleasant surprise,” Louise O’Connor said. She called out its 1,600 watts of power as well as its foldable design and ionic technology. While it has dual voltage, the hairstylist noted that you have to set the voltage switch yourself.

Bio Ionic AeroGravity Featherlight Hair Dryer

Dominguez recommends this sleek and lightweight hair dryer, which comes with two attachments including a diffuser. In addition to utilizing ionic technology to minimize frizz and maximize shine, the unique ergonomic design is comfortable and practical for when you’re on the go. “With a travel flex handle and dual voltage, this makes it so that you can bring pro-level performance anywhere," she said.

Other travel-friendly hair dryers experts recommend

While the following products aren’t specifically intended for travel, the experts we consulted consider them travel-friendly options, especially for domestic trips where you won’t need a dual-voltage tool.

Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer

Both Bulluck and Garren recommend this popular, splurge-worthy hair dryer that we also love. “This is going to be one of your best choices on the market in terms of size, weight, cost and number of accessories that you get with it,” Bulluck said. Each purchase includes a standard hair concentrator as well as four other attachments, including diffusers and a hair smoother. The dryer’s intelligent Nural technology detects which of the attachments are in use as well as how close you’re holding the dryer to your scalp and then adjusts its airflow and heat setting. “As a stylist, performance always comes first, and this delivers consistently without sacrificing portability,” said Bulluck, who brings it on his own weekend trips and Fashion Week assignments. “In my opinion, it’s the best hair dryer available and nothing else comes close.”

Read our review

Sutra Ultra Violet Blow-Dryer

“This is one of my favorite options because it doesn’t feel like you’re compromising simply because you’re traveling,” Russell said, recommending it for domestic travelers who want that luxury styling experience. “The ion technology helps distribute heat more evenly, so you can achieve a smooth finish while minimizing heat stress on the hair." And while it's lightweight enough to pack in a suitcase, the airflow is comparable to what he’d expect from a professional-level tool.

Shark FlexStyle Air Styling and Drying System

If you’re looking for maximum versatility in a compact design, this is Garren’s recommended alternative to the far pricier Dyson Airwrap. “The slim and lightweight wand makes it travel-friendly,” he said, and you have the ability to select the attachments that make sense for your hair and styling preferences. Its powerful airflow was also a standout feature to Shaw, who actually considers its drying performance to trump that of Dyson’s multi-styler.

Read our review

Olivia Garden Jet HP Hair Dryer

Shaw said this small but mighty tool is first and foremost a hair dryer, but it comes with a suite of magnetic styling attachments, including two curling barrels, that makes it more akin to a multi-styler. While it doesn’t have dual voltage, its versatility and compact size make it a good option for domestic travel, according to Shaw. The luxury price also comes with upgrades like a brushless motor and advanced memory function, allowing it to recall the last-used settings.

Turbo Power Twin Turbo 3900 Advanced Hair Dryer

“This hair dryer is on the larger side, but it’s super lightweight if you’re traveling with a large suitcase that has some extra room,” Garren said. At 2,200 watts, it’s a powerful option that “really polishes the hair off and dries it quickly,” he said.

What to look for in a travel hair dryer

Size, weight and a compact design

“When people ask me what to look for in a travel hair dryer, I tell them to start with size and weight,” Louise O’Connor said. “You want something lightweight with a handle that folds down and actually fits in a bag.” A folding design can save space without sacrificing performance, Russell said. Some may even come with their own case, Garren added, which can make packing it up (and keeping all the components organized) super simple.

Dual voltage for international travel

“If you’re traveling internationally, dual voltage is one of the most important features because it allows the dryer to work safely in different countries without damaging the motor,” Russell said. Opt for a model that can accommodate both US outlets (110 volts to 120 volts) and most international outlets (220 volts to 240 volts). “You’ll still need an adapter,” Dominguez said, but the dual voltage makes it so that “you won’t run the risk of frying the dryer and, most importantly, your hair,” she said. Sommerfelt recommends a dryer that can automatically toggle between the two voltage types so there’s no chance of forgetting to make the switch yourself.

Wattage that works for your hair needs

“Most salon dryers are between 1,800 and 3,500 watts,” Sommerfelt said. This range provides more powerful airflow and quicker drying, and reduces prolonged heat exposure. “A lot of travel dryers have [lower] wattage, making it difficult for those with thick hair or us extension girlies,” she said. Typically, wattage between 1,200 and 1,875 is strong enough for most hair types, Louise O’Connor said, but it’s worth taking into consideration how much power you require.

Strong airflow

When it comes to travel hair dryers, “the biggest mistake people make is assuming smaller means weaker,” Russell said. “A great travel dryer should still have enough airflow to dry the hair without putting too much heat on the hair. I always tell my clients to prioritize airflow over simply looking at temperature.”

A few heat and speed settings

“I’d make sure that the hair dryer has at least a couple of heat and speed settings so you’re not stuck with just one option,” Louise O’Connor said. Both Russell and Sommerfelt recommend a cool-shot button in particular, which can help to lock in your styling and give you more control.

Attachments for safe, easy styling

Nearly all our experts recommend opting for a travel hair dryer that comes with a few attachments. “On a lot of dryers, the heating element sits very close to the lip of the barrel and that part can get hot enough to actually burn hair,” Louise O’Connor said. “That’s why I always recommend using the [concentrator] nozzle attachment, not just for styling precision but to keep hair away from that heat source.” Russell recommends a diffuser for enhancing curls without frizz, while Dominguez suggests a brush attachment for an effortless blowout on the go.

Cord length and noise level

“Cord length and noise level are easy to overlook, but they make a real difference when you’re drying your hair in a hotel bathroom early in the morning,” Louise O’Connor said.

FAQs

What is the most powerful travel hair dryer?

“When it comes to the ‘most powerful’ travel hair dryer, more power isn’t necessarily better,” Bulluck said. “There’s a point where increasing heat and airflow no longer improves drying performance and instead raises the risk of heat damage and scalp irritation.”

While wattage is typically associated with power in a hair dryer, our experts recommend looking beyond just that number when making your purchase. “A dryer can advertise high wattage, but if the motor isn’t producing efficient airflow, it may still take longer to dry the hair and expose it to unnecessary heat,” Russell said. He recommends looking for digital motors, which generate faster, stronger airflow, allowing you to dry your hair more efficiently, often while using less heat. “That’s what creates the biggest difference in dry time and heat damage,” he said.

Can I get salon-level power in a travel-size hair dryer?

“Yes, to a point,” Dominguez said. “Many premium travel dryers now use high-speed digital brushless motors that spin much faster than traditional AC or DC motors,” she said. This allows the hair dryer to produce salon-like airflow, despite being smaller and sometimes having lower wattage. Her recommendation while you’re shopping? “Look for a high-speed digital motor, strong airflow, ionic technology, multiple heat settings and a concentrator nozzle for styling,” she said. “A well-designed travel dryer with a digital motor can outperform a larger, higher-wattage traditional dryer.”

How much wattage do I need in a travel hair dryer?

“I usually tell people to look for something between 1,200 and 1,875 watts, as that range covers most hair types without sacrificing portability,” Louis O’Connor said. “For finer or shorter hair, you can look at lower wattage, and for thicker, coarser, or longer hair, you can increase the wattage,” Dominguez added. “Just remember, higher wattage typically means a bigger tool.”

But our experts emphasize that wattage is only one part of the equation. “Performance for hair dryers really depends on the overall engineering, including the motor, airflow, heating elements and how all those components work together,” Bulluck said. “Many brands use similar private-label designs with different branding, so specs alone don’t tell the full story,” he said. “Instead of focusing on wattage, look for a dryer with proven performance, intelligent heat control and thoughtful engineering.”

Is it worth buying a travel hair dryer?

“Absolutely, especially if you travel more than once or twice a year,” Louise O’Connor said. Both she and Russell said that hotel dryers are often weak, loud, overly hot or just difficult to use because they’re too bulky or shaped in an outdated, uncomfortable way. “I find that my clients spend less time styling their hair when they’re using tools they already know,” Russell said. “When we’re on vacation or traveling, we’re not trying to spend more time in the bathroom.” In short, a good travel dryer is a small investment that protects your hair and gives you a consistent, reliable result no matter where you are, Louise O’Connor said.

Meet our experts

For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights:

• Jay Bulluck, a hairstylist and founder of Local Honey, an award-winning salon and barbershop
• Mel Dominguez, a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles
• Garren, a celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of R+Co
• Louise O’Connor, a hairstylist and owner of Louise O’Connor Salon in New York City
• Meri Kate O’Connor, a celebrity colorist and Pravana expert
• Chris Russell, a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles
• Laura Sommerfelt, a Los Angeles- and West Hollywood-based hairstylist and colorist at Gendarme Atelier Salon

Why trust CNN Underscored

CNN Underscored editors and writers ensure every product included in an article is thoroughly vetted and something we ourselves would feel comfortable buying and using. Our team has many decades of collective experience researching, testing and recommending products across every category — from fashion and food, to home goods and health, to electronics and everything in between — and we’re committed to using that expertise to help you make the most of your money and live a better life.

For this article, contributing writer and former CNN Underscored editorial coordinator Noelle Ike consulted expert hairstylists on their favorite travel hair dryers. She’s previously covered the best hair dyes for gray hair, hair growth products that’ll actually work and hair oils for healthy, soft and shiny strands.

Some information for this report was gathered via edition.cnn.com.