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9 Compact Travel Hair Dryers That Won’t Monopolize Your Suitcase Space

All the drying power, half the size.

drybar travel hair dryer
Drybar

We’ve all been there: Standing at airport check-in, furiously emptying and swapping items out of our suitcases and into our carry-on to avoid overweight baggage fees. It’s an often unavoidable travel snag, overpacking and overcompensating what we’ll need, including our favorite hot tools. But when thinking about the less-than-stellar quality of most hotel hair dryers, it’s difficult to leave our dependable (and beloved) hair dryers at home. Luckily, there’s a space-saving alternative: lightweight, travel hair dryers that can deliver the same results as your favorite full-sized model.

Best Travel Hair Dryers

    Weighing less than just 2 pounds, most of our travel hair dryer picks are no bigger than the size of your hand and offer multiple speed, heat, and ionic- or nonionic-charged airflow settings. Some come with attachments, such as concentrators for focused air and controlled styling or diffusers for maintaining natural curl definition. Between their compact size, strong drying power, and convenient styling features, who knows — you might just find yourself working these tiny dryers into your hair routine post-trip.

    How We Chose

    We exhaustively searched the internet to find the top-ranking travel hair dryers on the market. We researched dozens of models, looking for various prices, functions, and features. Each of these dryers is rated at least 4 stars out of hundreds (or thousands!) of reviews on Amazon, Sephora, Dermstore, and more. Some are lauded in stalwart beauty publications such as Cosmopolitan and Byrdie.

    These are the best travel hair dryers that will hardly make a dent in your precious packing space and are sure to beat out any hotel hair dryer in your travels.

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    1
    Best Overall
    Afar Lightweight Travel Size Hair Dryer
    T3

    • Lightweight
    • T3 IonAir Technology
    • Folding Handle
    • Ion Generator

    • Expensive

    T3 makes the prettiest romantic pink and white hot tools on the market, and its latest innovation — a foldable hair dryer — doesn't skimp on form or function. Not only is Afar 25% lighter than its full-size T3 equivalent, but it boasts the same IonAir Technology to dry your hair quickly.

    “Afar also sports three heat settings and two speed switches, which I find useful for days when I want to use high heat on my natural hair or a lower temperature on my extensions,” says our beauty editor, Nicole Saunders.

    Easily toggle between the multiple heat and speed settings, then engage the cool shot button to seamlessly lock your look into place. The dryer also comes with a travel bag for worry-free storage.

    More: How to Buy a Flat Iron for Natural Hair

    2
    Best Budget
    miniPRO Tourmaline Ceramic Travel Hair Dryer
    Conair

    • Cheap for the quality
    • Two heat and speed settings
    • Includes a concentrator

    • No diffuser for curly hair

    For just under $23, the Conair miniPRO delivers 1,200 watts of power, two heat and speed settings, and dual-voltage for international travel. It’s super lightweight and features a collapsible handle, optimizing its already small size for easy storage.

    If that’s not enough bang for your buck, the miniPRO also boasts tourmaline-infused ceramic technology, which minimizes frizz and static caused by the positive ions in wet hair’s water molecules. Negative ions, released from the dryer during airflow, secure the hair’s cuticle layer, locking in moisture and elevating shine.

    3
    Healthy-Looking Hair
    Pro Signature Travel Hair Dryer
    HOT TOOLS

    • Chic matte-black design
    • Includes a concentrator and diffuser
    • Dries hair relatively quickly
    • Low price

    • Skip if you have non-frizzy hair

    A $40 hair dryer can't compete with the specs that pricier options offer — but the HOT TOOLS travel hair dryer's impressive tech and accessories make it a great starter model option.

    Notably, it boasts ionic technology that will finally tame your frizzy hair and speed up drying time. And it doesn't stop there: A concentrator and diffuser are included, so you won't have to track down compatible attachments, while a roomy travel pouch simplifies storage.

    It's also a must for overseas adventures, given its 1,875-motor and dual-voltage capabilities. Weighing under 1 pound and measuring 3.6 x 10.2 inches, it's one of the smallest dryers on this list that still packs a lot of punch.

    4
    Best Ceramic Model
    Compact Folding Handle Travel Hair Dryer
    Revlon

    • Affordable
    • Worldwide dual voltage
    • Ionic technology

    • No diffuser

    Revlon's biggest TikTok beauty hit is the One-Step Volumizer, but its travel hair dryer is also worth incorporating into your beauty routine.

    Beyond the impressive $17 price tag, this option utilizes ceramic material to heat up quickly and evenly. Plus, it's gentle enough for anyone with fine, dry, or damaged hair to use.

    Most of the affordable options on this list only give you two heat and speed settings and a cool shot button if you're lucky. Fortunately for you, Revlon's hair dryer features three preset heat settings, two speed levels, and a cool shot.

    Although it doesn't include a curl-enhancing diffuser attachment, you get a concentrator that will help smooth and straighten your hair on a budget.

    5
    Best for Dry Hair
    1875 Compact Hair Dryer
    CHI

    • Includes a concentrator and diffuser
    • Relatively long extension cord

    • Not foldable

    You can achieve shiny, hydrated, and frizz-free strands by using this travel hair dryer from CHI. It boasts a powerful combination of ceramic material and ionic technology that heats up evenly and minimizes drying time.

    It sports everything you could want in a travel hair dryer: a 1,875-watt motor, several heat and speed settings, and a cool shot button to set your hair. Plus, it features a foldable design and weighs one pound.

    6
    Best for Blowouts
    Baby Buttercup Blow Dryer
    Drybar

    • Foldable
    • Great for overseas travel
    • Lemon yellow design

    • Expensive

    Drybar’s full-sized Buttercup is one of the most sought-after blow dryers out there. So it’s to be expected that the mini version is just as popular. It packs 1,200 watts of power and operates at two different voltages for both stateside and overseas use.

    Ionic technology surges through two heat settings, while a cool shot button ensures a long-lasting blowout. It maintains Drybar’s iconic butter-yellow hue, but we’d argue that its 13-ounce (0.81-pound) weight is its most defining feature.

    7
    Best Value
    Mini Healthy Heat Pro-Power Dryer
    EVA·NYC

    • Far-infrared heat
    • Two speed and heat settings
    • Multiple color ways

    • No cold-shot button

    You might’ve noticed that tourmaline-infused ceramic components are a must in good-quality dryers, and this EVA NYC one does not skimp out on it. A powerful 1,200-watt motor emits frizz-eliminating negative ions and gentle far-infrared heat. It’s dual voltage and it features two speed settings — plus a removable air filter to clean out blockage and prolong product life.

    For under $50, you get a concentrator, diffuser, and portable pouch. Aesthetics reign supreme here, too — pick between trendy shades like Mint Leopard, Lavender, or Moon Dust.

    8
    Best Foldable
    Nano Titanium Travel Dryer
    BaBylissPRO

    • Palm-sized powerhouse
    • Inexpensive
    • Safe for international travel
    • Includes a concentrator

    • No diffuser

    Don’t let the tiny size of this dryer fool you. It can fit in the palm of your hand when folded, but the 1,000-watt motor is just as powerful as any full-sized alternative.

    It’s just 0.6 pounds and dual-voltage. There are two heat and speed settings, plus a removable filter. Not to mention, it’s an impressive price for a BaByliss product — most typically retail between $100 and $200.

    9
    Best Luxury
    Limited Gift Edition Supersonic Hair Dryer
    Dyson

    • Worth the hype
    • Made for all hair types
    • Five styling attachments
    • Intelligent heat control

    • Sells out quickly
    • Pricey

    It's not technically a travel hair dryer, but the Dyson Supersonic's quick-drying capabilities and easy-to-use magnetic styling attachments are worth the sacrifice of suitcase space. Even so, the device's dimensions are minimal — it measures a little over 11 inches tall and 3 inches wide and weighs just under 2 pounds (including the cable and plug).

    With the provided concentrator, smoothing nozzle, and diffuser attachments, it's unlikely you'll ever need to pack another styling tool. Plus, the Supersonic is designed to protect your strands from heat damage via regulatory sensors, which measure the temperature 20 times per second. This, coupled with negative-ion technology, reduces frizz and flyaways.

    In her recent review of the Dyson Supersonic, Saunders highlights its mighty motor, relatively quiet noise level, and compatibility with all hair types as reasons to buy this hair dryer.

    "Every human with hair can safely use this hair dryer. Your hair length, thickness, texture, and density won't hinder your ability to benefit from the Supersonic. Same with your skillset — seriously," she says.

    This gift set also includes a travel case, wide-tooth comb, and paddle brush that you can toss in your carry-on bag.

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