Blow drying my hair when I travel is better than towel drying, but not every hotel or Airbnb I stay at provides a hair dryer. I firmly believe that every ounce counts in my bags, so I've never traveled with a hair dryer. Who wants one more thing that we can do without taking up space in our bags? However, I recently became curious to see if there were hair blowers on the market that were super small and compact but still offered a powerful punch. I decided to do the research to see if there were travel hair dryers on the market that satisfied my needs as both a weight-conscious minimalist traveler and a handsome hair-conscious fellow. The article begins with my travel hair dryer criteria, but you can also jump ahead to my List of Best Travel Hair Dryers 2019.
Article Contents:
- What makes a good travel hair dryer?
- What's the best brand of travel hair dryers?
- 8 Best Travel Hair Dryers 2019 List
- #1 Smallest: Conair Vagabond Review
- #2 Lightest: BaByliss Pro BABNT053T Review
- #3 Most Powerful: Andis 1875-Watt Fold-N-Go Review
- #4 Sexiest: Conair MiniPRO Review
- #5 Ionic & Ceramic: Revlon 1875W Compact Review
- #6 Cheapest: Andis 1600-Watt MicroTurbo Review
- #7 Big & Powerful: JINRI Travel Hair Dryer 1875 Watt Review
- #8 Trusted Brand: Panasonic EH-NA27-K Review
- How to choose a travel hair dryer
- What's your favorite travel hair dryer?
What to look for in a travel hair dryer.
What makes one travel hair blower better than another? Size matters. Wattage matters. Compactness. Durability. Here's what I'm looking for in a hair dryer:
- Small as fuck! Excuse the vulgarity, but size is my number one factor here. I came across so many “travel” hair dryers that were so big, they looked like they needed a separate carry-on bag of their own to transport. I want super small, tiny, miniscule. I want a travel hair blower so small that I forget I packed it because I didn't see it in my bag under a sock.
- Dual voltage. This means that the hair dryer can operate in both high and low voltage ranges without an external adapter. In countries around the world, there are two types of voltage – 110-120 volts (mostly North America) and 220-240 volts (everywhere else). Dual voltage hair dryers either have switches or automatic functions to operate according to the voltage of the electric supply. If you operate at the wrong voltage, you'll either damage the motor from underperformance or burn it out. So we need dual voltage.
- High (enough) wattage. Hair dryers with high wattage motors equates to more wind power which means that you'll spend less time blow drying your hair and exposing your hair to excessive heat. Unfortunately there can be a trade off between wattage and size, so I'm looking for a happy medium. At minimum, I'd like a wattage of 1500-2000.
- Lightweight-ish. A small size (my #1 criteria) often comes alongside a small weight, but not always. Better quality hair dryers will use solid component motors and stronger materials than plastic (like ceramic or titanium), which adds to the weight. For this reason, I'm not stressing the weight of the hair dryer too hard. I'd rather have a heavier hair dryer made with better quality materials than a lighter hair dryer made of cheap plastic, as long as it's small.
- Concentrator Nozzle. Okay, this criteria is actually for you, or anyone reading this who needs a concentrator, because I have no idea if using one makes any difference. For all the years I've had this long hair, I've interchanging using hair dryers with and without concentrators and saw no difference. However, I know that a concentrator is important to some people so I'll indicate in my reviews if the hair dryer offers one.
- Ionic dryers. This is something I just learned about in my research. Water is positively charged and ionic dryers shoot negative ions. This means that ionic dryers are more effective at scattering water droplets, preventing them from soaking into your hair and causing frizz.
- Materials used. Hair dryers can be made from ceramic, porcelain, titanium, plastic, and so on. There are pros and cons to each, but I'm not too hung up on the material. If you're reading this, you're probably not a professional hairstylist either and are looking for function and portability over performance. We're just trying to dry our hair before a day of travel and adventure, not go to a winter ball.
- Adjustable heat. Two heat settings would be nice, but I can get by with one and just hold the hair dryer a little farther away from my hair if I want less direct heat.
- Cold button. Cool air seals your hair cuticles and locks in your style. It also boosts the shine of your hair. Let's not get crazy, but it'd be cool if a travel hair dryer offered this feature. If not, that's okay too.
- Price. I don't care. I'll spend anything. Money is no object where my hair is concerned. I'd donate a kidney to my hair if it needed it. I'd give up Netflix to afford the right hair dryer. Well, maybe Hulu. During my research, I was not price conscious, however, I'll showcase travel hair dryers in this article that fit any budget. So you'll definitely find one in your price range on this list.
What brand makes the best travel hair dryers?
If you're brand conscious, stick with one of the big names like Dyson or Panasonic. However, I'm not super brand conscious, especially in today's world where “off brand” companies regularly outperform their well known counterparts. In fact, did you that DJI who make the best consumer drones on the market, started out as an “off brand” drone maker? And similarly, the “off brand” Chinese smartphone maker Huawei actually sold more phones in 2018 than Apple? Times are changing and big name brand names aren't always the ones making the best products in any given space. So for that reason, I'm less brand conscious in this post and more focused on finding travel hair dryers that fit my criteria and have a healthy amount of positive reviews from verified buyers.
Best Travel Hair Dryers 2019
Several showers and many hours of blow drying went into the creation of this list. Below are my top picks for travel hair dryers along with a quick comparison using the selection criteria above.
#1 Smallest Travel Hair Dryer: Conair Vagabond
First up on my list is the Conair Vagabond weighing in at under 1 lb but still offering an impressive 1600 watts of fan power. It folds up to an impressively small 3 x 4.25 x 7.625 inches, but still offers 2 heat settings and dual voltage, making it a great option for space-conscious travelers at a price you can't beat. What this Conair model lacks is a concentrator, ionic drying, and a cold button.
- Compact Travel Hair Dryer: This lightweight travel blow dryer features a folding handle for compact...
- Travel In Style: Powered by 1600 watts for quick and easy styling of all hair types, this hair dryer...
- Stylish, Lightweight And Ergonomic: With plenty of power and dual voltage conversion folded into its...
- Leader in Hair Dryers: From traditional bonnets to hi tech dryers equipped with cutting edge...
- Conair Hair Care: Since 1959, we have made innovative small appliances, hair styling tools, and...
- Size: 3 x 4.25 x 7.625 inches
- Weight: 12.8 ounces
- Dual voltage: Yes
- Wattage: 1600 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: No
- Ionic dryers: No
- Materials: Plastic
- Speed / Heat Settings: 2 settings that increase heat and speed at once
- Cold Button: No
#2 Lightest Weight Travel Hair Dryer: BaByliss Pro BABNT053T Nano Titanium Travel Dryer
Next on my list is the BaByliss Pro BABNT053T Nano Titanium which wins the award for the lightest weight travel dryer being featured today weighing in at only 8 ounces. What you sacrifice for its small size and weight is power. The BaByliss Pro is only 1000 watts so it's not going to be as powerful as the Conair above it. However it's dual voltage, comes with a concentrator, and offers two heat settings but no cold option.
- The compact 1000 Watt BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel Dryer is a powerful, lightweight travel...
- This ultra-lightweight travel blow dryer has dual voltage & 2 heat/speed settings & a folding...
- Great for all hair types including thick & coarse hair, this blow dryer helps reveal shiny,...
- Dual votage for international travel
- Foldable handle
- Size: 5.5 x 2.5 x 6.2 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Dual voltage: Yes
- Wattage: 1000 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: Yes, included
- Ionic dryers: No
- Materials: Plastic
- Speed / Heat Settings: 2 settings that increase heat and speed at once
- Cold Button: No
#3 Most Powerful Travel Hair Dryer: Andis 1875-Watt Fold-N-Go Ionic Hair Dryer
In thirdsies place we've got the Andis 1875-Watt Fold-N-Go Ionic Hair Dryer which might have been a little higher up on the list if was dual voltage and a little smaller. What you gain for the extra weight is an ionic dryer (first one on the list so far), a cold shot button, a concentrator, and a retractable cord. Just be sure if you get this one that you'll be traveling in a country with low voltage settings, or you'll have to pick up a voltage convertor like that one.
- BUILT-IN ADVANCED IONIC GENERATOR: Our ground-breaking technology uses turbos to accelerate,...
- THE PERFECT HAIR STYLING TOOL: The new 1875-W DC motor provides strong airflow and quick drying....
- CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY: Far-infrared heat is emitted to assist seal the cuticle for over-styling...
- SUITABLE FOR ALL HAIR TYPES: Airflow of 1875 watts. 3 heat/speed settings enable style versatility...
- PRODUCT DETAILS: Andis 80020 Fold-n-go measures 3.63 x 7.50 x 5.25 inches and weighs 1.2 pounds,...
- Size: 4.1 x 8.1 x 6.1 inches
- Weight: 1.65 lbs
- Dual voltage: No
- Wattage: 1875 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: Yes, included
- Ionic dryers: Yes
- Materials: Nano-ceramic
- Speed / Heat Settings: Low, Medium, High + Cold Shot
- Cold Button: Yes
#4 Sexiest Travel Hair Dryer: Conair MiniPRO Folding Handle Tourmaline Ceramic Styler/Hair Dryer
Next on the list is the Conair MiniPRO Folding Handle Tourmaline Ceramic Styler/Hair Dryer which I called sexiest travel hair dryer because its looks like something Vivian Ward would've packed for an overnight trip. This Conair is a little bigger than the first Conair on my list, but weighs about the same, comes with a concentrator, and offers tourmaline ceramic technology to fight frizz, which the first model does not. It's dual voltage so you can take it anywhere in the world, offers two heat settings, but not a cold button.
- Mini Hair Dryer: This hair dryer offers 1200 watts of power in a compact size with a folding handle,...
- Frizz Fighting Design: This mini PRO dryer features tourmaline ceramic technology that helps protect...
- Special Features: This lightweight and compact blow dryer includes a concentrator for pinpoint...
- Leader in Hair Dryers: From traditional bonnets to hi tech dryers equipped with cutting edge...
- Conair Hair Care: Since 1959, we have made innovative small appliances, hair styling tools, and...
- Size: 3.8 x 6 x 9.9 inches
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
- Dual voltage: Yes
- Wattage: 1200 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: Yes, included
- Ionic dryers: Yes
- Materials: Tourmaline Ceramic Technology
- Speed / Heat Settings: Low, High
- Cold Button: No
#5 Ionic and Ceramic Travel Hair Dryer: Revlon 1875W Compact Travel Hair Dryer
Fifth on my list is a brand I'm sure you've heard of, the Revlon 1875W Compact Travel Hair Dryer which isn't the most compact dryer I feature today, but it's definitely a powerful option at 1875 watts. This Revlon model has a foldable handle, an included concentrator, and utilizes ionic and ceramic technology which helps reduce frizz. It's got two heat settings and a cool shot button. Lastly, it's dual voltage and even comes with a plug adaptor.
- COMPACT CONVENIENCE: Small Design great for travel, storage or gym bag
- VERSATILITY: Quickly dry and style your hair with 2 heat/speed settings to suit your personal needs
- REDUCE FRIZZ: Ionic Technology helps reduce the hair frizz and static, leaving hair conditioned and...
- LIGHTWEIGHT: Easy cleaning and maintenance, and compact and lightweight design
- TRAVEL READY: Universal worldwide dual voltage so u can use anywhere
- Size: 4 x 6 x 9 inches
- Weight: 1.28 lbs
- Dual voltage: Yes
- Wattage: 1875 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: Yes, included
- Ionic dryers: Yes
- Materials: Ionic Tech with Ceramic Coating
- Speed / Heat Settings: Low, High Heat with Cool Shot
- Cold Button: Yes
#6 Cheapest Travel Hair Dryer: Andis 1600-Watt MicroTurbo Dual Voltage Hair Dryer
We've seen a few bigger travel hair dryers, so let's get micro again in both size and price with the Andis 1600-Watt MicroTurbo Dual Voltage Hair Dryer. It's not going to wow you with features, but it'll get your hair dry with its 1600 Watt motor, and it won't take up too much space in your bag when you're in between showers. This model is most similar to the kind you'd see in hotels.
- 1600 Watts of turbo drying power
- Dual voltage for worldwide travel
- 2 heat/air settings
- Quiet fan and motor
- Lifeline shock protection
- Size: 3.1 x 4 x 9.2 inches
- Weight: 1 lb
- Dual voltage: Yes
- Wattage: 1600 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: No
- Ionic dryers: No
- Materials: Plastic
- Speed / Heat Settings: Low, High Heat/Fan
- Cold Button: No
#7 Big & Powerful: JINRI Travel Hair Dryer 1875 Watt Dual Voltage Blow Dryer
We're almost done, I promise, but I want to make sure you have enough options to make a decision that's right for you in regards to finding that happy balance of size, power, and features. Up next is the JINRI Travel Hair Dryer 1875 Watt Dual Voltage Blow Dryer which is a little bigger and heavier than other travel hair dryers I've featured today, but folds up pretty compact. What it lacks in compactness, however, it makes up for in features with its tourmaline ceramic technology, 1875 Watt fan that offers a low and high setting, and a cool shot button which not all models on this list offer.
- International Dual Voltage supports in both US 110/125V and European 220/250V with help of a proper...
- Folding Handle Design and light-weighted compact body takes less space and easy to fit in traveling...
- Ceramic IONIC outlet sends massive negative ions for reducing frizz and adding shine, providing...
- 1875 Watts hair blower with removable concentrator produces powerful airflow to fast dry your hair...
- 2 Heat/Speed settings for 110V/125V, one setting for 220V/250V, Cool Shot Button for setting...
- Size: 4.7 x 5.5 x 9.4 inches
- Weight: 1.6 lbs
- Dual voltage: Yes
- Wattage: 1875 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: Yes
- Ionic dryers: Yes
- Materials: Tourmaline Ceramic
- Speed / Heat Settings: Low, High Heat/Fan + Cool Shot Button
- Cold Button: Yes
#8 Brand You Can Trust: Panasonic EH-NA27-K Compact Hair Dryer
Last but definitely not least on my list is the Panasonic EH-NA27-K Compact Hair Dryer, a foldable nanotech ionic hair dryer that weighs only 13 ounces, comes with a built-in concentrator, and offers 3 heat settings (Low, High, and Cold). What's missing? Dual voltage. This travel dryer only offers 125V-60HZ so it's not going to work in your higher voltage countries.
- Perfectly Portable for Travel: The Panasonic nanoe travel hair dryer has a compact, lightweight...
- Healthy, Hydrated Hair: Unique nanoe technology draws moisture from the air, creating super-fine...
- Small Design, Powerful Drying: Don’t let the size fool you, the EH-NA27 mini blow dryer packs 1400...
- Designed for Faster Drying: The unique QuickDry Nozzle helps dry hair faster by alternating strong...
- The Panasonic Hairdryer features a 5.5-ft cord and easy-clean filter to help maintain peak...
- Size: 6.1 x 3.2 x 8.7 inches
- Weight: 13 ounces
- Dual voltage: No
- Wattage: 1400 Watt
- Concentrator Nozzle: Yes
- Ionic dryers: Yes
- Materials: Tourmaline Ceramic
- Speed / Heat Settings: Low, High, Cool
- Cold Button: No, but Cool heat setting
How do I choose the best travel hair dryer for me?
You've got eight great options on this list for compact travel hair dryers, but which one is best for you? For the best mix of value, size, and price, go with the Conair Vagabond with the understanding that it lacks a concentrator and a cold button. If you've got a little more space in your bag to spare, consider going with the Revlon 1875W Compact Travel Hair Dryer which will offer you more power, a concentrator, two heat settings and a cool shot button.
What's your favorite travel hair dryer?
What travel hair dryer do you love that I missed on this list? Drop a comment below this post and share your experience. Thanks for reading, good luck with purchasing a hair dryer, and happy travels wherever you are in the world!
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Best I have ever used is the Karmin.
Good to know, thanks Samantha!
I am looking for one with a diffuser, but I didn’t see a diffuser with any of these hair dryers. Concentrator – yes, diffuser – no. Am I missing something?
Nope – you’re not missing anything. I’m the one who was missing something. I totally goofed and referred to concentrator nozzles as diffusers throughout the article. You are correct that none of the travel hair dryers on my list come with a diffuser. (Partially I’d imagine because of the size of them.) Thanks for taking the time to comment. I updated the article accordingly. Much appreciated. If you happen to find a lightweight travel hair dryer that comes with a mini diffuser, please stop back by and let me know. I’ll add it to the list. Thanks again.