We need to talk about hotel hair dryers. You know the ones. Bolted to the bathroom wall, barely warm, with all the airflow of someone breathing on your head from across the room. You stand there for twenty minutes, arm aching, wondering if your hair is actually getting drier or if you're just getting older.
If you travel regularly — holidays, work trips, weekend city breaks — a proper travel hair dryer is one of those small purchases that makes a disproportionate difference. Not a full-size dryer crammed into your suitcase. An actual travel dryer: compact, foldable, dual voltage, and light enough that you won't notice it in your bag.
Here's what to look for, what we'd buy, and whether you even need a dedicated travel dryer at all.
What Makes a Good Travel Hair Dryer
Not all compact dryers are travel dryers. There are four things that actually matter:
Dual voltage is the big one. The UK runs on 220-240V. The US, Canada, and Japan run on 110-120V. A dual voltage dryer works on both — you just need a cheap plug adapter, not a heavy voltage converter. If a dryer doesn't have dual voltage, it's not a travel dryer. It's just a small dryer.
Weight matters more than you'd think. Your full-size dryer probably weighs 600-800g. A good travel dryer comes in under 500g. That might not sound like much of a saving, but when you're dodging Ryanair's baggage scales, every gram counts.
Foldable handle is practically non-negotiable. A dryer that folds in half takes up roughly the space of a large paperback. One that doesn't will sit awkwardly in your case and annoy you every time you pack.
Wattage determines how long you'll actually stand there drying. Most travel dryers run between 1200W and 1600W. Below 1200W, you're basically recreating the hotel dryer experience you're trying to escape. Aim for 1400W minimum — 1600W is the sweet spot.
ghd Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer: Our Top Pick
If you want one travel dryer and you want to stop thinking about it, the ghd Flight+ is the answer.
It's not cheap — expect to pay between £70 and £99 depending on sales — but it does everything right and nothing wrong. ghd designed it specifically for travel rather than shrinking down a home dryer and hoping for the best.
Key Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Weight | 453g |
| Voltage | Dual voltage (120V / 240V) |
| Wattage | 1600W at 240V |
| Performance | 78% of full-size ghd power |
| Handle | Folds flat |
| Safety | Auto-shutoff after 60 minutes |
| Extras | Protective travel case included |
| Concentrator nozzle | Yes |
| Price | ~£70-99 |
What We Like
The 453g weight is genuinely impressive. Pick it up and it feels like a toy, but switch it on and there's real power behind it. At 1600W on UK voltage, it delivers about 78% of what a full-size ghd puts out. That's a meaningful number — it means you're looking at maybe an extra two or three minutes of drying time versus your home dryer, not ten.
The dual voltage switch is on the handle. Flip it before you plug in, and you're sorted — US, Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, wherever. You'll still need the right plug adapter for the country you're visiting, but you won't fry the motor.
It folds completely in half and comes with a hard-shell travel case. Fits neatly in the corner of a carry-on or in a packing cube. The case also stops the nozzle getting snapped off by whatever else is in your bag.
The auto-shutoff is a small thing, but if you've ever left a hotel room wondering whether you switched off the dryer, you'll appreciate it.
What We Don't
No diffuser attachment. If you've got curly hair and rely on a diffuser, that's a problem. You can buy universal diffuser attachments separately, but they don't pack as neatly and it's an extra cost.
The price is high for what's ultimately a secondary dryer. Seventy quid is reasonable. Ninety-nine feels steep when budget travel dryers exist for a quarter of the price.
It's also only 1600W. That's solid for travel, but if you've got very thick or very long hair, you'll notice the difference from your 2200W home dryer. It's a compromise — a good one, but still a compromise.
Who It's For
Anyone who travels more than three or four times a year and cares about their hair. Business travellers. Regular holidaymakers. People who've tried the hotel dryer, hated it, and don't want to pack their full-size ghd Helios every time they go somewhere.
Budget Travel Alternatives
Not everyone needs to spend £70+ on a travel dryer. If you fly a few times a year and just want something that works, there are cheaper options.
Foldable travel dryers from Remington and TRESemme sit in the £15-25 range. They're lighter on features — expect 1200-1400W, basic heat settings, no fancy case — but they fold down, they're dual voltage (check the specific model — not all are), and they'll get you through a week's holiday without relying on the hotel wall dryer.
The trade-offs are obvious. Lower wattage means slower drying. Build quality won't match the ghd Flight+. They'll feel cheaper because they are cheaper. But for occasional travel, they do the job. If you're flying twice a year and spending £20 instead of £90, that's a perfectly rational choice.
Just double-check for dual voltage before you buy. Some budget "travel" dryers are really just small dryers without voltage switching. That's fine for UK and European travel, but plug one into a 120V American socket without a converter and you'll get barely enough airflow to dry a hamster.
Can You Just Bring Your Regular Dryer?
Honestly? Sometimes. It depends on where you're going and how you're getting there.
If you're flying within the UK or to Europe, your regular dryer will work on the local voltage — you just need a plug adapter. The question is whether you want to lug it. A dryer like the Remington D3198 weighs around 600g and doesn't fold, so it takes up more room than a dedicated travel model. But it's a perfectly good dryer, and if you're checking a bag anyway, the extra weight and space might not bother you.
Flying to the US, Canada, or Japan? That's where it gets tricky. Your regular UK dryer almost certainly runs on 220-240V only. Plug it into a 120V socket and it'll run at half power — barely warm, barely any airflow. Use a voltage converter and you're adding another 200-300g of kit to your bag, plus the converter itself can be unreliable with high-wattage appliances like dryers.
For short trips or domestic travel, bringing your regular dryer is fine. For anything further afield — or if you travel light — a dedicated travel dryer earns its place.
If you're looking for a proper home dryer that could double up for occasional domestic trips, have a look at our full hair dryer guide for tested picks across every budget.
Comparison Table
| Feature | ghd Flight+ | Budget Travel Dryers (£15-25) | Regular Home Dryer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 453g | 350-500g | 550-800g |
| Wattage | 1600W | 1200-1400W | 2000-2200W |
| Dual Voltage | Yes (120/240V) | Varies — check model | No (240V only) |
| Foldable | Yes | Usually | No |
| Travel Case | Included | Rarely | No |
| Drying Speed | Good | Adequate | Fast |
| Price | £70-99 | £15-25 | £25-300+ |
| Best For | Regular travellers | Occasional trips | Home use |
The Verdict
The ghd Flight+ is the best travel hair dryer you can buy in the UK right now. It's light, it folds, it's dual voltage, and it puts out enough power to actually dry your hair in a reasonable time. The price stings a bit, but if you travel regularly, you'll use it enough to justify the cost.
If you travel once or twice a year, a budget foldable from Remington or TRESemme will do. And if you're only going within the UK or Europe, there's nothing wrong with just throwing your regular dryer in the suitcase.
Whatever you do, stop relying on the hotel hair dryer. Life's too short.
FAQ
What does dual voltage mean on a hair dryer?
Dual voltage means the dryer can work on both 110-120V (US, Canada, Japan) and 220-240V (UK, Europe, Australia, most of Asia). There's usually a small switch on the handle. With dual voltage, you only need a plug adapter to use the dryer abroad — no heavy voltage converter required. Without it, you're stuck on UK voltage or risking damage to the motor.
Can I take a hair dryer in hand luggage?
Yes. Hair dryers are allowed in both hand luggage and checked bags on all major UK airlines — British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, the lot. They don't contain lithium batteries or pressurised components, so there's no restriction. Just keep an eye on your overall hand luggage weight limit, especially with budget airlines where they weigh bags at the gate.
Do hotels provide hair dryers?
Most 3-star hotels and above will have one, either in the room or available from reception. The catch is quality. Hotel dryers are almost always low-wattage wall-mounted units — we're talking 1000-1200W — that take ages and leave your hair half-done. Budget hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs may not provide one at all. If decent hair matters to you on holiday, bring your own.
What wattage should a travel hair dryer be?
Aim for 1400-1600W. That's enough to dry most hair types within a reasonable time without the dryer being too heavy or drawing too much current. The ghd Flight+ hits 1600W on 240V, which is the sweet spot. Anything under 1200W will feel painfully slow, particularly on thick or long hair. For context, your home dryer is probably 2000-2200W, so you're always giving up some power for portability.