The 7 Best Hair Tools for Travel

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Hotel hair dryers, even in the nicest resorts, are universally terrible. They’re loud and simultaneously manage to fry your hair while still taking forever to dry it. Packing your own hair tools is worth sacrificing a bit of suitcase space if it saves both time and your hair.

Whether you’re headed on a road trip or flying internationally, these are the seven best hair tools for travel.

Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer

Don’t want to wake up everyone in the vacation rental when you dry your hair? Pack Dyson’s Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer, which is quieter than most versions. The Supersonic Origin is also a serious timesaver—the powerful 1,600w motor can dry your hair in half the time. 

Despite the power, this hair dryer is less damaging than normal hair dryers, featuring an intelligent sensor that measures airflow temperature over 40 times to prevent extreme heat damage, leaving hair shinier, smoother, and less frizzy. 

The compact Supersonic Origin has a magnetic styling concentrator attachment, making it great for travel. This one is best for domestic trips, as it is not dual voltage. 

Heatless Curling Rod Headband

Do your hair while you sleep with a Heatless Curling Rod Headband. Simply wrap your hair around the headband, which will effortlessly create beautiful curls (no heat required).

You can even use it on the plane so you arrive looking stylish. 

Mini Collapsible Hair Curler

This tiny hair curler is perfectly portable and folds to half the size of a regular curling iron (it also weighs half as much). The dual voltage curler can be used internationally without needing a power adapter (or worrying about blowing a fuse). 

The handle locks into place, so it won’t collapse while you’re doing your hair. 

Dyson Airstrait

Why pack a hair straightener and a hair dryer when you can have both in one with Dyson’s Airstrait? This unique tool uses air (rather than hot plates) to create a sleek style without heat damage. 

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The Airstrait can be used on wet hair to simultaneously dry and straighten, saving time in your routine and letting you spend more time exploring (and less time on your hair). Use it on dry hair for easy touchups—the high-definition LCD screen makes it easy to change the temperature and airflow settings. 

A velvet heat-resistant mat is included with the Airstrait, so you can wrap it up and pack it in your suitcase immediately after using it. 

Drybar The Baby Brush Crush Mini

The multitasking Baby Brush Crush Mini from Drybar can be used as a straightening iron and a paddle brush. Go as hot or cool as you need to—the digital display lets you change the temperature with just a button. 

With automatic dual voltage conversion and a 60-minute automatic safety shut-off, you won’t have to worry about using this abroad (or trying to remember if you turned it off before leaving the hotel room).

Universal Collapsible Hair Dryer Diffuser

Light packers who don’t want to deal with bringing a hair dryer will love this universal collapsible hair dryer diffuser. The lightweight silicone diffuser can be used on any hotel hair dryer to distribute heat and air evenly, reducing frizz and protecting your hair from damage. 

When you’re not using it, it packs down nearly flat for easy transport.

Dyson Airwrap

When you’re traveling for a big event and you need to look good, pack the Dyson Airwrap. This multi-styler will give you a straight-out-of-the-salon style with minimal effort. The Airwrap comes with attachments that can quickly create different styles, from curly to straight.

The Airwrap automatically measures airflow temperature over 40 times a second to keep the temperature under 302 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce heat damage. 

The included carrying case makes it easy to keep the attachments organized while traveling, and the top even doubles as a nonslip mat for your tool. The Airwrap is best for road trips, as it’s not dual voltage.

All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

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