You might have spotted the cool setting on your dryer and never bothered using it because maybe it didn't make sense to you. But the cool shot is actually like popping the cherry on top of the cake - it seals the hair cuticle, leaving hair looking shiny. "A cold button is absolutely essential for finishing and setting the hair," says Reed. Dual voltage: You need around 220-240V to power your dryer at home, but this varies around the world, making dual voltage essential for frequent fliers. The voltage is usually printed somewhere on devices sold within the EU, so keep an eye out for ‘120/220-240V’, which means it’s dual voltage. You’ll need to switch it manually with a coin once you reach your destination.

Travel Pro Hair Dryer | 6344U | BaByliss

Designed to be the perfect travel companion, it is lightweight and comes with a folding handle so it is small enough to fit into your bag whilst on the move. With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work. Wattage vs weight: Wattage refers to the power of your dryer and usually the higher it is, the heavier the hair dryer is. If you’ll mainly be using it to style, opt for a more lightweight model. And consider how often you’ll be carrying it around (in a gym bag, on a weekend trip etc.), while also bearing hand luggage weight restrictions in mind — every gram counts in a carry-on! Heat/speed settings: Use the lowest heat setting and a styling nozzle for styling hair. For drying, remove the styling nozzle and use the higher settings for speed. Every product listed below has two heat/speed settings. How we testThe water in your hair, post hair wash, is positively charged, the ionic technology creates negative ions to counteract the moisture. Fancy words for anti-frizz and smoothing science. You find the same technology is some of the best hair straighteners too. Cool shot The truth is that while most hair dryers can look very similar, they weren't all created equal, and some will be better suited to your hair type and particular needs. You need to look at power, speed, and the attachments in the box. Syd Hayes, Session Stylist to the stars and Babyliss Ambassador looks for a few things when choosing a hair dryer. "Firstly it has to be powerful, there are lots on the market that just don’t have enough power to get through every different hair type. Secondly, heat is also important. I don’t want to overheat hair, but you need to know it's there. And thirdly the weight of the hairdryer is key. I go to the gym for heavy weights I don’t want to be lifting them all day with my dryer." Hayes says.

BaByliss 5344U Travel Dry 2000 Travel Hair Dryer A compact BaByliss 5344U Travel Dry 2000 Travel Hair Dryer A compact

Long cables are a great feature too," says Douglas. "There’s nothing worse than not being able to see in a mirror when you’re drying your hair, as plugs aren’t always where you need them," he explains. You might not have a plug by your mirror, you might have to plug it in the hallway but do your hair in the bathroom. It matters. Weight If luggage space and weight are an issue for you, consider this Vo5 mini dryer. It measures just 22 x 14 cm, one of the smallest models on test, but its performance belies its size. It was one of our top scorers for helping to reduce frizz and testers said the cord length allowed them to reach around their head with ease. If you can get a dryer with a self-cleaning function like the BLOW has, it will prolong the life of your dryer," says Michael Douglas, Celebrity hairstylist at mdlondon. From a concentrator nozzle for ultra-smooth blow dries to a compact diffuser for beautiful waves and curls, this dryer comes with all the accessories you need to style any hair type on the go.Popular with testers for its sleek and stylish design and light-up filter, this was also the quietest dryer on test. The panel was impressed by how powerful the airflow was relative to its size and weight, which InStyler puts down to the same turbine technology used in its full-size dryer. Choosing the best hair dryer for curly hair is no easy feat, you want to look at all the key points as you would in the best hair dryer, but in a tool that works for curls.

Travel Pro Hair Dryer | 6344U | BaByliss Travel Pro Hair Dryer | 6344U | BaByliss

With the power of a full-size hair dryer in a foldable and compact body, BaByliss claims its model provides an ultra-fast drying performance. It also has a wide, detachable styling nozzle, which testers liked as it made styling easier. A diffuser attachment is key for curly hair – it essentially diffuses the hair and stops it being blown everywhere so the curls are contained and can form easily," says celebrity hairstylist Michael Douglas. When "drying curly hair specifically, you want high heat and low speed so that you are creating minimum disturbance while concentrating the dryer on sections to allow the curls to form," Douglas explains. Cool shot: If you struggle with frizziness or regularly visit hot and humid climates, look for a cool shot button. It helps set your style and seal cuticles, keeping moisture and humidity at bay and leaving hair shinier.I love all of the tech to sit inside. I also like a bit of weight, a long barrel, and a good wide nozzle. For me, the most important part is the way the air meets the hair. A controlled stream of air allows control of the hair," says Adam Reed, celebrated hairdresser and founder of Adam Reed London and Arkive Headcare.