7. Braun Style&Go – Best travel hair dryer
You might also like
Variously called the Braun Style&Go, the Satin Hair 1, or the HD130, this dryer might be a little confusingly named, but it’s very simple when it comes to what counts: drying your hair.
There aren’t many bells and whistles here, but at this price, you wouldn’t expect them. You get a choice of two heat and power settings, and a removable styling head. Most importantly though, the dryer is small, light and foldable, which so it’s the ideal hair dryer to take when you travel.
Braun has planned for that, making sure it’s compatible with voltages from 100-240V. As long as you have a travel adapter, you can trust that it will work just about wherever you are, without worrying that the voltage will be too low to power it, or too high and break it.
Despite that portability, it packs a decent punch for its size, so you won’t be standing around for hours waiting for your hair to dry. This is unlikely to be your main dryer, but for a budget back-up or a travel-friendly spare, it’s a good option.
Hair dryer buying guide
A hair dryer should be a straightforward purchase but if you haven’t updated yours in a while, there are some nice features you might be missing out on. To decide which one to buy, start with your hair.
Heat settings
If you colour your hair, it’s likely to need a little more TLC. Look for a dryer with at least a low and a high power setting, as well as options for temperature. Use a high power, hotter setting for a quick blast to get most of the water out of your hair and then switch to a lower, cooler setting to protect your locks as you finish off.
Ionic technology
A hair dryer with ionic technology will dry hair more quickly, allowing you to use lower heat. It’ll help to protect damaged hair and restore a bit of shine. Ionic hairdryers are also good for curly hair, as they’ll protect the curl and cut down on flyaway frizz.
Wattage
Once you’ve decided on the right approach for your hair, check out the wattage of the device you’re looking at. More power means it’ll get the job done more quickly. If you’ve ever spent a frustrating half an hour with a dinky hotel hairdryer and still ended up with wet hair, you’ll understand how much difference wattage makes. Your hair dryer should be at least 1,800 watts but professional hair dryers can be twice as powerful.
Cool button and attachments
Also look for a cool button, which will help you set your look at the end.
Finally, there are attachments: a diffuser will help you maintain your curls and a flat-headed nozzle will help you to smooth.
