What's the hardest thing to wave goodbye to when you're heading off on holiday? Friends, family...maybe your trusty hair tools? While the latter might seem a little extreme, it might just be the one thing on your mind as you're getting ready each evening, fresh out the pool and ready to transition into Evening You.
Maybe you tried to cram your well-loved straighteners and hair dryer into your weekend bag, before accepting defeat and deciding you'll probably need a change of shoes more than you do a full-sized hair dryer.
Enter: the best travel hair dryers. Designed to be packed away in your bag without taking up too much space, these compact dryers promise to transform your hair no matter where in the world you find yourself.
There are a few things to keep in mind before investing in one of these portable tools. Sure, many travel hair dryers don't come with the same intense heat powers as their full sized counterparts. But you'll still find hair dryers with around 2000 watts of power, which promises a fast dry at a safe speed that won't damage your locks.
You'll also want to look out for hair dryers with a foldable style, which means they can cram into the smallest of side pockets and save you that much needed space in your bag.
And, if you're regularly travelling somewhere new and need a portable dryer on every occasion, you'll want to check the cord length. After all, there's nothing worse than smugly unpacking your travel hair dryer and then realising the cord doesn't stretch anywhere near the closest mirror.
We've rounded up all of the best travel hair dryers.
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ghd Flight® Travel Hair Dryer Gift Set
Wave goodbye (temporarily) to your beloved GHD straighteners as the GHD travel hairdryer promises to become your new BFF anytime you’re travelling. Designed specifically for those on the move, this travel hairdryer is cute and compact, perfect for packing along in your bag, safe in the knowledge that your hair will look just as good as it does at home.
Around 50 per cent lighter than the original GHD air but with 70 per cent of the power, this is the only tool you’ll ever need for fast drying across the globe. This hairdryer is one of the safest options for your hair and your surroundings, switching off automatically when it gets too hot and offering a few different temperature options for versatile results.
Buy now £65.00, GHD
Babyliss 5344BU Travel Hair Dryer
Not only is the Babyliss 5344BU Travel Hair Dryer small enough to throw in your hand luggage and forget about until you arrive at your destination, it’s also cheap enough that you won’t feel too concerned about any over-zealous luggage staff who may happen to throw your bag around more cheerfully than anticipated.
This budget friendly travel hairdryer brings together everything you need for salon-worthy locks no matter how much humidity is in the air. With 2000W of power and a dual-voltage feature, it’s one of the best options for quick drying power without taking up too much space.
Buy now £20.00, Boots
Phil Smith Lightweight Travel Hair Dryer
This lightweight travel hairdryer takes up virtually no space in your bag to the extent that, if you’re a famed over-packer, you might have a few worried moments when unpacking that you may have accidentally forgotten it. Once you’ve pulled it safely out from the bottom of your bag, a good hair day is only a few minutes away.
This 1200W hairdryer may not be the most powerful but, for its price, it’s definitely a lot more impressive than the one that may (or may not) be included in your hotel room. With its lightweight and compact design, it’s suitable for use around the world without any hesitation.
Buy now £12.00, Argos
Remington On The Go Compact Dryer
The foldable handle of Remington’s On The Go Compact Dryer ensures you can squeeze it into even the smallest of overnight bags without troubles. A budget friendly choice that still packs a powerful punch, this 2000W hairdryer is one you’ll bring along as an essential every time you travel. Add this to its two different heat and speed settings and you’ve got yourself a hairdryer that’s perfect for all hair types, in all situations.
Buy now £15.99, Boots
Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer
Cult favourite Drybar is a newer addition to the UK market, landing direct from the US. Bring the brand’s super powerful methods to your next holiday destination with the Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer.
With its bright yellow shade and perfectly curated pro-grade tools, it’s one of the best travel hair dryers if you’re taking no precautions with your hair while away. As well as its dual voltage for overseas travel, this hairdryer contains a wave heater to ensure uniform heat distribution while you’re styling. It also weighs in at just 0.36kg, making it one of the lightest options out there.
Buy now £85.00, Cult Beauty
Pritech Hair Dryer Brush
Pritech’s Hair Dryer Brush tackles all kinds of holiday hair struggles from multiple angles. This is a hair dryer brush rather than your typical travel hairdryer, which means it offers a few more curated options than simply transforming your hair from wet to dry.
This multi-tool package features not only a hair dryer brush for smooth locks but also a few other tools to style as you please. Their detachable nature means if you’re packing super light you can choose your favourite to bring along or, if you’ve got a little extra space in your case, you can bring the whole package for limitless hair styling options.
Buy now £22.98, Amazon
Lily England Travel Hair Dryer
Lily England’s travel hair dryer is small but mighty: one of the most compact options around with a powerful 1800W to give you freshly blow-dried locks in a matter of minutes.
Lightweight and portable, the compact design of this hair dryer means it’ll easily fit in your luggage, suitcase or gym bag: it’s perfect for on the move or easy storage at home. Use its detachable nozzle for a more tailored look and finish off with its cool-shot button for a final blast of cold air to seal your style before you leave the house.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
TRESemme Salon Pro Travel Hair Dryer
TRESemme’s Salon Pro Travel Hair Dryer is one of the most popular travel hair dryers around and brings together everything you need for easy styling no matter whether you’re at home or away.
With its folding handle and dual voltage, this is a hair dryer you’re free to bring with you around the world without any fears of accidentally causing a power cut. It also comes with a mini paddle brush that’s just as size-appropriate for travel for the perfect finishing touch.
Buy now £25.00, Argos
WAHL Travel Hairdryer
Wahl's Travel Hair dryer is maybe the smallest of the bunch but still comes with all of the essentials: two heat settings and a foldable design so you're safe to tuck it away in the corner of your weekend bag. It also comes with multiple styling options, like the concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachments, which allow a little extra versatility when you're deciding exactly how to wear your hair. With its worldwide voltage, it's safe to use anywhere in the world, too.
Buy now £15.99, Amazon
T3 Micro Compact Dryer, Lavender
You might not consider colour a priority when it comes to travel hair dryers but that's something you'll reconsider when you've admired T3's gorgeous lavender shade. This stylish travel hair dryer is a little more expensive than most but works differently to many other dryers.
Its specially-engineered fan generates a high volume of ion-enriched air that exits the dryer in a wide cone shape at a soft, gentle speed that dries large sections of your hair quickly. What that means is this dryer is your new holiday staple if you're often found struggling to get ready in time.
Buy now £92.79, Amazon
Verdict
A good hair day isn’t limited to just home turf when you choose the right travel hair dryer. You’ll find us carrying our GHD Flight Travel Hair Dryer at all times, for swish-worthy hair around the globe.
