7 Best Travel Hair Dryers, According to Beauty Lab Tests

Our most budget-friendly pick, Ella Bella’s dryer packs a big (but gentle) punch with both plasma technology to help reduce frizz and improve shine, and infrared heat technology, which is designed to reduce excessive heat stress on the hair compared to traditional high-heat styling methods. The settings go to a max temperature of 250 degrees which is shown on its digital screen.

This foldable dryer from Bio Ionic uses the brand’s signature ion mineral technology to hep reduce frizz and static as you style. It has a unique on/off feature located at the end of the handle that is designed as a dial, which the Lab found convenient during drying because it is less likely to be pressed accidentally while styling—although it was more difficult to turn the dryer on and off when pausing or resuming, since it requires both hands.

The tool excelled when tested it in the Lab, with the fastest speed and volume of air coming out of the nozzle and one of the highest temperatures, all of which made it a top dryer overall.

Boasting 12 heat and speed combinations, this dryer from Gamma+ truly has a setting for every hair type and texture. Our testers found it very easy to use and ranked it high for overall performance, noting that it dries hair quickly, adds volume, and has a strong airflow. They especially liked the easy-to-attach accessories and long cord, along with its comfortable grip and an effective cool shot. Their one complaint: the weight. A few testers felt the dryer was heavy.

Tester notes: “The buttons and controls were easy to use, and you could lock in your selections, which was an innovative and helpful feature for styling,” one shared. “I loved everything about this hair dryer,” another raved. “It was surprisingly quiet and incredibly easy to use, and I had amazing hair days every time I used it.”

Think Dyson’s superstar (quiet and powerful) dryer but in a lightweight, compact version. With this dual voltage travel model, the traditional in-line power supply box on the cord has been eliminated, making the cord lighter and easier to travel with and store. “It has a shorter handle which is still comfortable to hold, and we found the tool much easier to maneuver,” says Wizemann.

The Lab was surprised that it doesn’t include a travel bag and doesn’t fold, but found that it dries and styles hair quickly, leaving it soft and “healthy” looking. Our testers gave it top marks for drying speed, creating their desired looks, reducing frizz, and providing strong, consistent airflow.

An updated version of the OG Drybar Buttercup, this one has a few new features that separate it from the rest: the Drybar mode, a heat setting that automatically alternates between warm and cool temperatures to prevent hair from getting dried out, and the Smart Attachment Memory mode which automatically recognizes the connected attachment and its last used heat, airflow, and ion setting.

In the Lab, the brightly-colored dryer had one of the highest temperatures measured at the nozzle of the dryer and was above average for airflow. In addition to getting a perfect score for not being loud, testers found it very easy and comfortable to use and loved the results, especially for enhancing natural waves and curls. One did find it difficult to hold without touching the controls.

Tester notes: “I loved having the two different attachments for when I wanted different things for my hair,” said one. “The hair dryer knew what attachments I was using and adjusted the temperatures for me.” Another noted the quiet volume: “I liked that it was quieter than other hair dryers,” she said. “It had better settings, and I really liked the feature that provided a cool blast every so often.”

Ideal for thick or coarse strands, Conair's baby blue dryer is pretty and powerful. In Lab tests, it had the strongest airflow and ranked high for drying speed. Plus, 100% of testers said it made hair look smooth and many felt it left hair frizz-free.

Tester notes: "I really love how compact yet powerful this hair dryer is," one said. "The diffuser attachment worked extremely well with my long and thick 3C hair texture." While the overall consensus was that it left a smooth and sleek look, some testers found it to be loud.