If you're not a wash-and-go type of person, you need a travel hair dryer — and if you pick the right one, you might never go back to your full-size one. I recently switched my mini travel styler for the light and breezy T3 Afar, and I was so impressed, I've realised it's all I need — and you might too.
My first travel hairdryer (a little Remington model) was very simple — it had one speed and one temperature, but it folded down small enough to stick in a bag with relative ease, and it was a big improvement on the offerings in most hotels.
Hotel dryers usually fall into two categories: either they blast you with a jet of desert air, or they’re so underpowered that they only wheeze warmly in your general direction. You’ll usually find the holiday hairdryer in a drawer, nestled in a drawstring bag, but if you’re unlucky, then the dryer might be tethered to the wall using a coiled cable like an old phone handset. Want to style your hair over by the window, in the natural light? Not a chance.
Even a basic travel dryer will make your life easier and your hair happier, and today's portables are a far cry from my fold-away Remington. Now you can expect adjustable heat and speed to protect your scalp, and ionic technology for smoother results (the only thing flying away should be you).
Opting for a travel dryer doesn’t mean simplifying your styling, either. The T3 Afar is available with an optional diffuser for drying curls, and the Dyson Supersonic Travel (which launched just a few weeks ago) is compatible with all regular Supersonic and Supersonic Nural attachments, including the wide-toothed comb and concentrator nozzles.
The best travel dryers also offer universal voltage, so the appliance automatically adapts wherever you go. You might need to pop a small plug converter into the dryer's carry case, but that’s all.
All of this comes in an appliance that’s small, lightweight, and tough enough to survive being thrown around in a suitcase. They’re so good, in fact, that after trying the T3 Afar, I realized that I simply didn't need anything else.
A travel hair dryer has advantages at home, too — particularly if you live in a small apartment where storage is scarce. Having only a travel dryer means I can stash it in my nightstand rather than leaving it out, and the Afar has a handy cable tidy to keep everything neat, too. No more tangled cables for a hungry robot vacuum to try to swallow.
Finally, if you're still not convinced, travel dryers are usually less expensive than their full-size counterparts, too. The Dyson Supersonic Travel is $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$449, while the standard Dyson Supersonic Origin is $419.99 / £279.99 / AU$599. The T3 Afar is $199.99 / £159.99 (about AU$280), while the bigger T3 Airluxe is $224.99 / £199.99 (about AU$320).
Next time you're looking to replace your hairdryer, you should seriously consider making it a portable one. Your hair and wallet will be happier for it.
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