Travel hair dryers: Best and cheapest in Australia

It shouldn't be too surprising that the most expensive option for travel hair dryers ends up being the best pick. GHD Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer has the basics of every other travel hair dryer worth considering; a relatively low weight, a good wattage balance, and dual voltage.

What sets it apart is that it actually takes hair health into consideration. Equipped with ceramic and ionic heating elements, the GHD adds an extra layer of heat protection that many of the cheaper options leave out. The manufacturer also takes the time to note the maximum air temperature of the device, something that no other travel dryer we looked at does. 65°C is low enough to use even if you've forgotten your heat protectant. 

Of course you'll be paying a good chunk more for this, but if you're a frequent traveller than your hair will thank you for the investment.

Not only is the Pocket Rocket foldable, tiny, adorable, and cheap, but it packs a punch for all those considerations. Weighing in at just 237g, and folding in on itself, this is among the lightest travel hair dryers you can get. Even if you're going carry-on only you can easily slide this hair dryer right in your bag without worrying.

The flip side is that the Pocket Rocket doesn't have a voltage switch but depending on where you're off to, you may not need one anyway. Most of the world uses 230-240V but the Americas, Antarctica, and some cruise ships use the lower 110-120V.

Using a 240 volt appliance on a lower voltage socket won't do any damage, but the device may not operate as effectively as it normally does. For appliances like hair dryers it isn't as much of an issue, but for chargers they may just not work. Conversely plugging in 120V to a 240V can fry the device immediately.

Our top picks for cheap travel hair dryers all have one thing in common - a dual voltage switch. There are a bunch of other cheap options in our comparison table that don't have this feature, and frankly it makes them hard to recommend. Anko, Remington, and Baybliss all have reasonably priced devices that will work no matter where you are in the world.

Out of these the Baybliss Pro Bambino stands out the most due to its super lightweight design, and its inclusion of negative ionic technology. The downside is that it doesn't fold down, and has a lower wattage than the rest. This lower wattage should be fine for most hair types, but if you've got curly or coarse hair then the Remington may be a better point of call.

With 2000W of power, the Remington Jet Setter is a bit too powerful than we would recommend for most people - hence its lower score. However, if you have hair that needs higher heats then it will likely be a better option. At 444g it isn't the lightest travel dryer, but it will probably still use up less of your baggage allowance than your home hair dryer.

Of course if price is your main consideration, you can't go past a good Kmart find. The Anko Travel Hair Dryer mostly loses out due to having no ceramic heating elements, and Kmart not disclosing the weight of the device. Generally Anko products are quite heavy (think 1kg for a normal hair dryer heavy), so we would expect that this is the same deal. Without a ceramic element it will also be harsher on your hair. Still if you've got naturally straight hair and are looking to save some money, this will be the best cheap option for you.