When you’re on the go, the last thing you want is a bulky hairdryer in your luggage. An ultra-lightweight travel hair dryer is what most people will be looking at. While you will find quite a few compact Ulta travel hair dryers, many users don’t mind something slightly bigger if it’s efficient, given that hotel hair dryers can sometimes be quite tiresome. Many of the travel hair dryers on our list are among the best Ulta hair dryers as they are lightweight and powerful.
The great thing about these hair dryers is that many of them come with foldable handles for easy packing. They also feature small diffusers and other attachments that will enhance your hairstyle. For someone with straight hair, these will complement the best hair straighteners for travel. And if you plan to go overseas, a good idea would be to take one of the best international travel adapters along with you.
Bio Ionic 10X Pro Ultralight Speed Dryer
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For someone looking for a small hairdryer for your travels, the Bio Ionic 10X Pro Ultralight Speed Dryer will probably be the wrong choice. However, we rate it among the best Ulta travel hair dryers because of its weight. This ultra-lightweight travel hairdryer is extremely efficient, drying hair in under 10 minutes.
“The 10x ultralight speed dryer is awesome!! It is light weight blows the hair dry fast without buffering up the cuticle! It’s really light and not real loud. I would definitely recommend getting one! It has made my job a lot better!! Thanks Bio ionic!!“
By Vonda W
Your strands will be healthy and hydrated with the Bio Ionic Moisturizing Heat Technology. Not only that, your hair will be healthy and shinier within no time. It also has a more powerful motor than average and uses less energy.
Pros
- Lightweight and fast
- Keeps strands healthy and hydrated
- Powerful motor that uses 75% less energy
- Cool shot
Cons
- Bigger than the average travel hair dryer
Conair Hatchet Dual Switch Styler
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Take a step back in time with the Conair Hatchet Dual Switch Style. Although the dryer resembles the hairdryers from the yesteryears, don’t be fooled by the look. It does an excellent job of drying your hair and keeping it frizz-free.
The dryer comes with customized settings for multiple hair types with three heat and two-speed settings. In addition to this, the cool shot button locks your style in place. You’ll also find three styling attachments with the hairdryer. It’s not bulky or too big, making it a great option for travel.
Pros
- Fast drying
- Customized settings for multiple hair types
- Cool shot button
- Comes with three styling attachments
Cons
- Not as powerful as a normal hairdryer
Remington PROLUXE HydraCare Dryer
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Okay, we admit that the Remington PROLUXE HydraCare Dryer is a little heavy and may not be your ideal travel hairdryer. However, many users are so happy with the dryer they take it wherever they go. It’s definitely one of the best Ulta hair dryers out there.
“I’m very happy with the Proluxe HydraCare Dryer. The different temperatures and speeds are great. I love the attachments to get different styles depending on my destination or mood. I highly recommend.”
By KRJazz
Even though the dryer is a little heavy, it’s compact enough to pack in your bag. The attachments that come along with the dryer are also easy to set up. You can adjust the heat and settings for your hair type as it comes with three heat and two settings. Furthermore, the Moisture Lock Conditioning Technolgy releases micro-conditioners to help preserve moisture balance.
Pros
- t results with protection against heat damage
- HydraCare sensor regulates temperature
- Moisture Lock Conditioning Technology
- Cold shot setting
- Three heat and two speed settings
Cons
- A bit on the heavier side
EVA NYC Healthy Pro-Lite Dryer
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Nowadays, many of the best Ulta hair dryers have a diffuser attachment to make your hair feel even better. The EVA NYC Healthy Pro-Lite Dryer is one of those. Besides the additional shine from the diffuser, the dryer also reduces the drying time.
“This hair dryer is amazing!! It’s not a heavy weight dryer and it dries my hair great! It doesn’t make my hair staticky either. Overall, I’m super satisfied with this purchase and would highly recommend!“
By Rubyp97
This ultra-lightweight travel hair dryer looks quite nice and also comes in a cute little box for storage. Other features include two-speed settings and three heat settings as well as a cool shot feature. It also comes with concentrator and diffuser attachments.
Pros
- Lightweight and powerful
- Two speed settings and three heat settings
- Cool shot feature
- Removable air filter
- Eliminates frizz
- Concentrator and diffuser attachments
Cons
- Doesn’t get as hot as the other dryers which some users may not like
Hot Tools Professsional Turbo Ceramic + Ionic Lightweight Dryer
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Lightweight, super-fast, and powerful, the Hot Tools Professional Turbo Ceramic + Ionic Lightweight Dryer ranks among the best Ulta hair dryers for travel. It may not be as compact as the other Ulta travel hair dryers, but it is lightweight and easy to pack.
The IONIC Technology increases softness and shine. You won’t have to worry about frizzy hair too with this one. It also comes with six heat/speed settings.
Pros
- IONIC Technology increases softness and shine
- Six heat/speed settings
- Lightweight, superfast and powerful
Cons
- Not as compact as the regular Ulta travel hair dryers
Instyler TURBO MAX Ionic Dryer
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Not everyone who travels wants a very compact hairdryer, so for someone interested in an ultra-lightweight travel hair dryer that is slightly bigger, the TURBO MAX Ionic Dryer is great.
This powerful, lightweight dryer does an excellent job of drying your hair quickly. Additionally, the TURBO MAX also comes with a unique Infinity Dial that controls airflow to easily dial up for faster drying. If frizzy hair is your problem, the Turbo Ionic Switch allows you to boost ion generation for faster drying and smoothness.
Pros
- Custom Airflow options with Infinity Airflow Dial
- Incredibly lightweight
- Superior drying power
- Tangle free drying
Cons
- Not as compact as the other Ulta travel hair dryers
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
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The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer is not your average travel hairdryer, but what makes it one of the best Ulta travel hair dryers is its compact size and efficiency. Lightweight and easy to pack, this makes a great travel companion. That’s one reason why this hairdryer also features on our list of the best hair dryers for travel.
“Can’t say enough about this hair dryer. Best bday gift ever. My hair feels so soft and healthy. Worth the extra $.“
By Debinwv
Another reason why many rate this as one of the best Ulta hair dryers is that it cuts down the drying time by half. It’s also engineered for different hair types. The diffuser helps reduce frizz and creates defined curls and waves.
Pros
- Dries hair faster than normal
- Lightweight and balanced
- Diffusers helps reduce frizz
- Three speed settings and four heat settings
- Wide Tooth Comb
Cons
- This dryer come with a big price tag – not easy on the pocket
BaByliss PRO Leandro Limited
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Another Ulta travel hair dryer that comes with the dual voltage feature is the BaBylissPRO Leandro Limited. This feature makes it ideal for travel outside the country. What also makes this a good travel companion is its compactness as well as the travel size diffuser that comes along with it.
“Love how compact but powerful this dryer is. Happy is comes with a full size diffuser, as so many travel dryers don’t come with a diffuser, or come with a travel size diffuser that doesn’t really work with a lot of hair.It’s also dual voltage so I can take oversees when I start to travel again!! Very pleased with the performance and price point.“
By Gianna
A convenient feature is the low and high-speed settings as well as the removable rear filter for cleaning. With the carbon technology on this dryer, you can look forward to even heat distribution for less damage.
Pros
- Dual voltage
- Carbon technology for even heat distribution
- Removable rear filter
- Low and high speed settings
Cons
- Not as compact as the other travel hairdryers
Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer
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If you’re fed up with hotel hairdryers, the Drybar Baby Buttercup Travel Blow-Dryer is just the answer. This one stands out among the Ulta travel hair dryers not only for its cute name but bright color. Another reason why this stands out as one of the best Ulta hair dryers is that it lasts.
“Don’t buy the negative hype about this dryer. I’ve had mine for like 5 years and it’s never let me down. I bought it when my travel dryer died and I ended up using this as my everyday dryer. It would be nice if it had different temperature settings, but I still think it works well and dries my hair pretty quickly. I also use a blow dry accelerant by Bumble & Bumble so I think the drying time is ample. Most importantly, it travels well, is compact, and super light so drying is easy.“
By Jessica
The Ionic Technology helps reduce frizz and makes your hair even shinier. Although it doesn’t get too hot, the uniform heat distribution will dry your hair quickly. If you’re concerned about taking this dryer overseas, there are provisions on the dryer to operate at the prescribed voltage. This ultra-lightweight travel hair dryer will soon become your travel companion given all the excellent features. And yes, it does come with a 2-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Ultra lightweight travel hair dryer
- Includes a log travel bag
- Dries hair quickly
- Good for overseas travel
- Uniform heat distribution
Cons
- No temperature setting
T3 Compact Hair Dryer
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Don’t worry about finding ample space to store the T3 Compact Hair Dryer in your luggage, as it’s 30% smaller than the traditional hairdryer. This is one of the best Ulta travel hair dryers as it’s light, efficient, and easy to pack.
Most of the best Ulta hair dryers come with advanced technology to give you smooth, shiny hair. The advanced IonAir technology on this dryer will allow your hair to dry fast and remain frizz-free. Added to this, the lightweight and ergonomic design make it easy and comfortable to use.
Pros
- T3 IonAir Technology for easy drying
- Three heat and two speed settings
- Lock in Cool Shot
- Lightweight and Ergonomic
- 2-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty
Cons
- A comb attachment would make this the perfect product
Revlon Compact Folding Handle Travel Hair Dryer
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With Revlon’s Compact Folding Handle Travel Hair Dryer, you won’t have to worry about frizzy hair. The dryer offers frizz-fighting ions and conditioning minerals to help you look your best. With the dual voltage option on this ultra-lightweight travel hair dryer you can take it anywhere you go. That’s one reason why this hairdryer is among the best Ulta travel hair dryers.
“We love this little hair dryer, it’s used every day. We travel a lot, it always goes with us. This is the third one we have purchased. It typically last about four years, with daily use. Folds up neatly, could use a storage bag.“
By Mary
The hairdryer folds up neatly when it needs to be packed for travel. Given its compact size, it does a pretty good job of drying your hair quickly and silently. It also comes with two heat/speed settings. The best part – it’s quite affordable.
Pros
- Folds neatly
- Dual voltage suitable for travel
- Dries hair quickly
- Frizz fighting ions and conditioning materials
- Affordable
Cons
- Only two settings
Chi Advanced Ionic Compact Dryer
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While the Chi Advanced Ionic Compact Dryer may not be your average travel hairdryer, it can pass off as one. It’s small, easy to pack, and does an excellent job of drying hair, making it one of the best Ulta hair dryers in the smaller category.
“The size of this drier is what brought me to buy it. It’s a powerful little guy. My hair feels so soft and looks amazing. Great for a busy, traveling Mom.”
By Stephanie
This compact dryer is your answer for those who have the annoyance of frizzy hair when traveling. The built-in ion generator emits impressive negative ions to reduce frizz. Although it may not feel as hot as the other dryers, it decreases drying time. You can adjust the heat with three heat and two-speed settings. Don’t be fooled by the compact look of this dryer. It punches far above its size.
Pros
- Built in ion generator helps reduce frizz
- Compact and easy to pack
- Three heat and two speed settings
- Removable filter helps with cleaning
- Air nozzle concentrator and diffuser included
Cons
- Not as hot as the other dryers
Conair InfinitiPRO Frizz-Free Compact Dryer
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Another ultra-lightweight travel hair dryer that punches above its weight is the Conair InfinitiPRO Frizz-Free Compact Dryer. With the 3x Frizz Control, you won’t have to worry about looking your best when you’re out.
With the high-torque motor, your hair will dry fast. Furthermore, you can adjust the heat and the speed with the settings. The Advanced Ionic Technology ensures your hair will remain frizz-free after drying. Additionally, the included diffuser is designed to boost volume.
Pros
- Dries hair in record time
- Compact and easy to pack
- 3x Frizz Control
- Advanced Ionic Technology
- Included diffuser to boost volume
- 3 heat settings for all hair types
Cons
- The paint is not long lasting
How To Choose The Best Travel Hair Dryer
When traveling overseas or within the same city, certain features are worth considering if you plan to buy a travel hair dryer.
Weight and Size
You want to be sure that your hair dryer takes up the least amount of space in your baggage. To that end, you should look for something that is lightweight and compact. It’s worth eliminating too many bells and whistles and looking for something scaled-down. Hair dryers that have retractable cables or foldable handles are your best options.
Settings
Most Ulta travel hair dryers only come with two settings for heat and speed. While this should suffice for your travels, hairdryers with additional settings are also an excellent option. The dryer settings help you adjust according to hair type and texture. Hair on the finer side would need a lower speed, whereas higher speed and heat are recommended for thicker hair. The cool shot option is also an added benefit as it allows you to secure the strands in place after styling.
Technology
Nowadays the best hair dryers come with advanced technology to enhance the look and feel of your hair. Ceramic or ionic technology not only dries your hair faster but also leaves it looking shinier and healthier. This technology also reduces frizz.
Is A Dual Voltage Travel Hair Dryer Better Than Single Voltage?
A dual voltage hair dryer is definitely a better option for travel, especially overseas travel. The reason being these dryers can be plugged into any power source with no issues. This eliminates the need for a converter. Look on the body of the hairdryer to find out if it is a dual voltage which is usually 110/240V.
Can I Take My Hair Dryer In My Hand Luggage?
Given the shape and size of your hair dryer it would probably be better to put it into your checked suitcase. However, if you are not checking in baggage, you will be allowed to carry your hair dryer in your carry-on luggage.
Is Ionic Or Ceramic Hair Dryer Better?
The advantage of using ionic technology is that it prevents frizz and also dries your hair faster. It’s especially great for people with curly hair. Breaking down positively charged ions present in water prevents them from soaking into your hair. On the other hand, Ceramic hair dryers are better for those that have fine or dry hair. While it’s not as effective as controlling frizz, it helps preserve the hair’s natural moisture and luster. The infrared heat that it creates penetrates the hair shaft to preserve the natural elements of your hair.