We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
They pack a powerful blow. Vent Fan Motor
Packing for a trip often means downsizing on your usual beauty staples, including your trusted hair tools. But leaving your go-to hair dryer at home no longer means you have to sacrifice a great style. Enter the trusty space saver known as a travel hair dryer. Don't let its miniature packaging deceive you: The best travel hair dryers on the market today are tinier but mightier than ever, with some of the same bells and whistles you'd find on a standard hair dryer.
Travel hair dryers "have the same fundamental purpose (drying and styling hair) but travel dryers are usually more compact, lightweight and are designed to work with a variety of voltage standards and adaptability to different outlets, while regular dryers typically are not," says Sabina Wizemann, Senior Chemist at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab. "Travel blow dryers usually have lower wattage to meet the voltage requirements of various countries," she says.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab regularly tests hair dryers, hair dryer brushes, curling wands and more, for qualities including performance, style and ease of use. In our most recent travel hair dryer test, our beauty experts evaluated 11 top-rated mini hair dyers and recorded over 2,000 data points to determine which delivered the most gorgeous, salon-like blowouts. Our final list includes the winning models, as well as editor favorites, tips from celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein and Matrix Director Nick Stenson, and top-reviewed best-sellers from brands our experts know and trust that you'll want to stow in your carry-on ASAP.
To all the Drybar lovers out there, the salon's best-selling hair dryer comes in this travel-sized version, so you don't have to sacrifice your blowout on the go. It’s dual-voltage, folds at the handle and offers two heat settings plus a cool shot button to lock in looks. The mini Baby Buttercup performed exceptionally in our Lab tests for its power, quick drying time and easy-to-use buttons. Though a bit pricier than other travel hair dryers we tried, Wizemann says it's powerful enough to do double-duty as a home and away option.
This Conair dryer is both a Beauty Lab travel hairdryer test winner and a GH Beauty Awards winner. It blew away the competition as it dried standardized human hair samples fastest of all the travel hairdryers, in just 60 seconds. It's a versatile — and budget-friendly — option with three heat and two speed settings. “It has strong airflow and high heat,” one tester says, while another likes that it “offers the most control options.” It does have a shorter cord length than others, so you will need to plug it in close to a mirror if you use one.
Although this has not yet gone through Lab testing, it's one of the most sought-after travel hair dryers on Amazon. User reviews promise you'll be particularly impressed by how powerful this model is, despite its small handheld size — bonus points for its dual voltage and its concentrator nozzle. One Amazon reviewer, who is an avid traveler, enthused about their 15-year relationship with this dryer. "I ALWAYS take this with me period," they said. "I just got back from a 10-day trip to the northern coast of Spain, and my hotel had a blowdryer that I didn't even touch." This may not be ideal for those with curly hair as there is no diffuser attachment.
Checking off all the boxes, this offers all of a travel hair dryer's must-haves: It's dual-voltage, offers two heat and speed settings, a cool shot button and a folding handle. Though sleek in design, our Lab testers found it a little difficult to switch between attachments. We give it points for being extremely powerful. In fact, it's the only dryer we tried that earned a perfect airflow score.
Small, but powerful (and according to reviewers, a little loud), this 1300-watt hair dryer folds at the handle, making it easy to squeeze inside a gym bag or the tiniest corner of your suitcase. Don't worry about making your suitcase overweight as it weighs in at less than a pound. The dryer offers two temperature settings and a concentrated nozzle for more styled looks, and it's dual voltage. Although we haven't tested this in the Lab, many Amazon reviewers praise its high quality, small size and lasting power.
While we haven't tested this updated compact dryer from T3, their now discontinued Featherweight model was a favorite here at GH which is why we had to include the newest version. Fold the handle and toss it into its travel tote for easy storage. Leave your adapter at home because this dryer offers dual voltage. Celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein loves T3 hair dryers for their speedy dry time and frizz-free results. This one's two speeds, three heat settings and cool shot button ensure you're locked and loaded. Sephora reviewers love the settings and folding feature, but did note that it was on the noisier side.
In our recent hairdryer testing, our Beauty Lab chemists found the Le Styliste Luxe to be a great option for travel. Though it is not technically a travel dryer and doesn't fold, its size and weight are on par with others we have tried. For being so slender and petite, this 1875-watt hairdryer produced a powerful airflow and dried hair quickly. It comes with two attachments and a diffuser and weighs 1.2 pounds with a cord. Plus, it was quieter than the other hair dryers we experimented with.
Impressively lightweight, this hair dryer is the quick fix you need for a weekend trip. The Lab found it the most consistent across the board: comfortable hold, quiet airflow and easy-to-use buttons. Its convenient stand allows for hands-free styling. According to our Lab experts, it can get hot, so it's best for quick dries that don't require a cool shot button. It also comes with a diffuser, which makes it a great choice for those with curly hair.
While it is definitely a splurge, Bio Ionic's Smart-X Dryer has a lot of unique and cool features that help justify a big spend. It lets you personalize your styling experience with an auto-memorization feature that learns your chosen settings, has a self-cleaning function, and uses more air pressure and less heat for an overall healthier dry, according to the brand. It isn't designed as a travel dryer, but the light weight and slim design make it a good option. In our instrumental testing, the Lab noted a good, strong air flow upon initial use. "The concentration of the airflow is [so] amazing that I rarely use the concentrator," says one Amazon reviewer. "The dryer is compact in size and perfect for traveling."
Another Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner, this sleek dryer had the strongest airflow and dried hair fast in instrumental testing despite its slim design and compact size, making it ideal for thick hair. It's technically a full-size hair dryer and wasn't created for travel, but our Lab pros found it lightweight and comfortable to hold. They also loved that its controls were easy to reach. One thing to watch for: the nozzle can pop off mid-blowdry when it gets hot.
While it's not technically a travel hair dryer, the Dyson Supersonic's easy-to-pack size and light weight make it a great travel companion. Its one-of-a-kind design dried hair fastest and was the overall standard in our regular blow dryer tests. How? Its motor is lighter, smaller and lives in the handle rather than the end of the typical dryer head. Although it carries a hefty price tag, Deputy Editor Jessica Teich attests that it's worth adding to your wishlist.
Lightweight and quiet, this dryer from CHI was another top contender in the Lab's instrumental testing due to its good air flow and high heat options. You can't help but notice its unique shape at first glance; it provides a straight shot of air, which reduces drying time using less electricity while producing a stronger air flow, according to the brand. Plus, it has four heat settings, three speed settings and a super quick (seven seconds!) auto-cleaning function. Since it isn't technically a travel dryer, it doesn't fold up. "I just started using this hair dryer and love it," shares one reviewer. "It dries my hair so fast and it's so lightweight!"
When it comes to testing hair dryers, our Beauty Lab pros measure everything from the surface temperature to the ease of use, including the comfort of hold, its weight and its cord length. In our most recent test, our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab evaluated 11 top-rated travel hair dryers by measuring drying speed on standardized human hair samples, as well as airflow and the temperature they reach. We also rated noise level and ease of use, including the comfort of hold, ease of putting on and removing attachments and location of controls and buttons.
Overall, our beauty analysts recorded over 2,000 data points to determine which delivered the most gorgeous, salon-level blowouts. In this list, we included the final seven that outperformed all the others.
If you are traveling internationally, take note that every travel dryer we tested in our Lab features dual voltage, meaning these mini blow dryers can function in the United States and abroad with a compatible travel adapter unless otherwise noted — so no worries about blowing a fuse here.
We called on the hair gods, a.k.a. celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein and Matrix Artistic Director Nick Stenson, for their best shopping advice on mini hair dryers:
✔️ Speed and efficiency: It's the top priority for a travel hair dryer, according to Rubenstein. "Look for features such as ceramic that result in frizz-free and shiny hair," she says. "There is no use in bringing one along if it doesn't make your hair look great." The hairstylist recommends the ion-charged T3, which dries hair super fast and leaves hair shiny. "It also cuts major frizz," she says. "I would use it even when not traveling."
✔️ Size: The lighter the better! "There are so many that come in compact, lightweight sizes that still pack a major punch," she says. "T3, Harry Josh and GHD make my favorite travel sizes." You’ll find varied weight and size options with travel dryers, but Stenson suggests keeping it under 1.5 pounds. Another bonus with purchasing a travel dryer is finding one that collapses or folds to allow for easier packing, he adds.
✔️ Wattage: Voltage and wattage should be more of a concern if you’re traveling internationally. Stenson recommends 1875 watts as the sweet spot for most hair dryers. For international travel, you’ll want to invest in a travel adapter as well, no matter the wattage.
✔️ Attachments: A great travel dryer should also come with a concentrator and diffuser attachments for versatility, says Stenson.
Absolutely! Especially if you use a blowdryer daily. "For the moderate to the avid traveler, travel dryers are a fabulous investment that saves space and unnecessary weight in your luggage and keeps you looking your best on the go," says Stenson. And they're likely better than what you'll find in your hotel. "Even though a hotel blowdryer will do its job, it almost never has the same features as higher quality brands," Rubenstein adds. "You won't regret it."
"Travel blow dryers work, but they may not have the same performance, so it's advisable not to have the same expectations as for full-sized hair dryers," Wizemann says. "They may be slower in drying hair and require more time for styling."
That said, the technology has certainly improved in recent years: while regular dryers used to "typically emphasize power and are known to have more advanced styling features for faster and more efficient drying," says Wizemann, many current travel hair dryers have multiple speed and heat setting options just like their bigger, bulkier counterparts.
Dori Price updated this article, adding new product picks according to Lab testing and more details about current picks. She has over 15 years of experience researching and writing haircare and hairstyling stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals such as hairstylists, hair colorists and trichologists. She is an expert in all hair product categories, from shampoos, conditioners, treatments, styling products and tools to hair color, professional services and more.
Sabina Wizemann contributed her expertise, providing information from Lab testing and about travel hair dryers generally. With a background in hair dye research and synthesis, Wizemann loves all things hair-related. Over her many years in the GH Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab, she has fashioned Lab and consumer studies on at-home hair coloring, shampoos for colored hair, hair serums, dry shampoos and more. She also tests hair styling tools like hair dryers while continuously checking for the latest innovations in hairstyling.
Jacqueline Saguin wrote the original article, compiling picks and interviewing experts for commentary. She is the Commerce Editor at Good Housekeeping and covers all things home, lifestyle, style, beauty and beyond. Before GH, she worked on Insider's style and beauty reviews vertical, where she evaluated skincare, makeup, travel accessories, social media trends and more.
Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
Dori Price is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor and beauty, style and wellness expert who was the Beauty & Fashion Director at Family Circle for 13 years before she joined Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day as a freelance beauty editor. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com and HealthCentral.com.
Peloton Guide Review: Is It Worth It?
10 Best Mattresses for Heavy People
8 Best Blue Light Glasses of 2023
10 Best Pillows for Side Sleepers of 2023
20 Best Bras for Small Busts 2023
Best Hard Shell Luggage in 2023
The Coop Pillow Is the Best Pillow We've Tested
17 Best Shampoos for Dry Hair
The 7 Best Earbuds for Working Out
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
In Capacitor Start Induction Run Single Phase Motor ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.