Silly question - hairdryer recommendation :)

Are you looking for one that will work on 220 current in Europe?

(OK the answer is probably yes because it looks like you may be planning to go to Greece?)

My recommendation is simply don't pack one. Every hotel room has one and you can save weight and cost.

Sorry, I missed that detail :) I am actually looking for one I can use in the US but can adapt for use in Europe as well. Thank you!

Mine is a dual voltage Vidal Sassoon Ion select travel dryer. All I know is it dries my hair in about the same time as my regular home dryer. Don't forget to bring along the proper adaptors for the plug.

You should find a few different travel dryers in any large drug store. Or on Amazon. Compare the power and features between them.

I second the comment about don't pack one - all the hotels I've stayed in the recent years have had one in the room - and in the rare case where there wasn't one, you could get one at the front desk. Don't take up valuable real estate in your suitcase by packing one, IMHO.

I never pack one and I have a ton of thick wavy hair. Every RS hotel we stayed in during the Germany Austria Switzerland tour has one, and if you're doing Airbnb, you can check the box for hair dryer under Amenities. It's just unnecessary weight.

On my last two trips, there has been a hair dryer in every single hotel room/inn. They are typically better than any travel hair dryer that I've owned. That said, I believe that every hair dryer, curling iron etc. sold in the U.S. has a converter so the appliances works in both the U.S. and Europe.

I'm going to add to the comments of not bringing hair dryer. Every hotel room I've been in, and I've been in a lot of hotel rooms, has a hair dryer.

My answer (and links) included in this post https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/blow-dryer

Ditto on the not bringing one. I'm in Germany right now and there is NO place I've stayed that has not had a blow dryer - and they all work fine. Even if you feel like your hair needs special care, believe me no one will care what your hair looks like. You will thank us when you're carting your luggage around. :)

The only travel dryer I have is the Babyliss Pro 1000w dual voltage. But I never take it to Europe. I use it in our RV because it doesn't overwhelm our generator. Have had it several years now and it's held up well. Not super powerful though. Works for my short hair.

anamkranzlin, it sounds like you are looking for advice on actual hairdryer brands and models - not whether or not you should take one. I don't feel like I can answer many of the questions in these forums, but this one I might have some info to offer.

I ordered this one recently and actually just tried it out today:
https://smile.amazon.com/BaByliss-BABNT053T-Titanium-Travel-Dryer/dp/B0041QZOF0/

It is seriously the tiniest and lightest hair dryer you can imagine. It almost looks like a toy or something for a doll! I have thick hair but not curly. It was surprisingly powerful for 1000W. It has 2 speeds but only 1 temp - and it's pretty hot. If you like warm or cool air, I would say this is not for you. It has a concentrator that worked well. I still can't get over how small it is. If you have seen the standard Conair folding travel hairdryer, this is signifcantly smaller and lighter.

The other one I'm considering is this one: https://www.ulta.com/p/mini-healthy-heat-pro-power-dryer-bag-pimprod2005928
I saw it at Marshalls recently and think I'm going to try it. From what I can tell it's the same size as the Babyliss, as in super tiny. I think it is smaller that what it looks like in the website pic. It does not fold. It has a concentrator and a diffuser. I also think it has a couple of different temperatures, which would be a bonus for me. From the info I read, the cooler temp settings may not work in Europe but I would use those other times.

Both of these are dual voltage btw.

Hope this helps!

I have the Eva NYC travel hairdryer that Katie linked to at Ulta - it is a good hairdryer. What I like is that it comes with its own diffuser. I have fine, wavy hair so the diffuser really helps prevent frizz. i don't use the very cute case it comes in - too bulky; instead, I put it into a small mesh bag - the dryer/bag weighs 13 oz. all told (no I'm not crazy on my test packing, lol).

That said, I think I'm going to finally not bring a travel hairdryer for our upcoming England trip. My hair actually air dries pretty well but (oddly since it is so fine) takes FOREVER to dry. I'm going to take a chance on bringing a collapsible diffuser and if that doesn't work, just going with the flow.

I have a Conair 1875 dual voltage hairdryer that I have had for years but I don’t know if they still make them. It is lightweight and does a good job. I am currently on a RS tour and one of the women on our tour is really, really sorry that she didn’t bring a hairdryer with her and says she will bring one in the future. The hotel hairdryers are subpar at most hotels.

Wow, thank you everyone for all your suggestions! I love this forum because it's helping me a lot planning my future trips :)
Even though most of the places I've stayed at have a hairdryer, sometimes it's happened to me that it's either not working or it simply does not it do its job (my hair is not easy to handle), so to me, bringing a hairdryer is as important as having my toothbrush Lol.
I've looked at the different links some of you have shared and definitely in going to get one of them.
I need advice on something else - going to create another thread :)
Thanks again!

I have the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Travel Dryer and have taken it on domestic travel, but I have found the the diffuser is probably more important than the dryer. Even though this weighs about 10oz, I'm planning to leave it behind on my upcoming trip and just take along my universal diffuser. Trying to pack light :)

Dryer: https://www.amazon.com/BaByliss-BABNT053T-Titanium-Travel-Dryer/dp/B0041QZOF0/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=travel+hair+dryer+dual+voltage&qid=1653072039&sprefix=travel+hair+%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-9

Diffuser: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019GBG0IE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you're going to go to Europe frequently, I'd plan on buying one there.

I used a Babyliss flatiron provided by my friend's niece (we stayed at their place in London) that worked great - I know it's not a hair dryer but it's seemingly a good brand.

I've got a quick update - I picked up the Eva NY travel dryer today and tried it out. It is pretty much identical in size and weight to the Babyliss travel dryer. Also like the Babyliss, it has one heat seating and 2 power/speeds - high and low. In terms of drying I really couldn't tell a difference. The main difference is that the Eva NY comes with a tiny diffuser! The Babyliss comes with a concentrator - the Eva NY comes with both a concentrator AND a diffuser. The diffuser is small and pretty light too. It worked really well, which surprised me. I'm keeping the Eva NY because 1) it was cheaper and 2) I like the diffuser. Even if I don't pack it, I would use it here. Hope this helps!

OK, the Eva NY dryer wins the award for cutest!

Hi Katie2303, thank you for the update! So nice of you! I also found a very travel-friendly hairdryer on Amazon. I share the link to it here in case you'd like to check it out: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DFP3GCF/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A1XPJR3MAJDWHU&psc=1
Thanks again to everyone!

I hate that the hairdryer ads on the internet never show you the plug. I think it is deliberate; they're hiding something.

For 1000W, a plug legally (by European codes) has to have a grounding plug, and there are at least four different kinds of grounding plug adapters for the B.I. and continental Europe (French/German Schuko, Swiss, and Italian). Most likely, the hairdryer has a two bladed, non-grounding US plug, and they expect you to use a two-pin Europlug adapter, which is limited by code to less than 600W!

Problem is, UL (et al) is only concerned with devices used over here, and Europe (CE?) is only concerned with devices sold over there. No one regulates devices sold here and used in Europe.

I have thick, curly hair. It's beautiful. ;) I don't use a hair dryer on it ever unless I am desperate. But if I do, I feel you not being satisfied with the hotel hair dryer because I never know if my diffuser will fit. So, instead of all that I usually put it in a pony, smooth some balm over it and forget about it until the afternoon. In the afternoon once it's dried a bit, if I still want it down, I'll let the pony out & just scrunch & fluff it a bit. Works great. Letting it air dry in the ponytail keeps the frizz down and helps shape it a bit. I also carry a silk pillowcase or at least sleep with a silky shower cap thingy that looks absurd but keeps my hair from tangling much when I sleep. The things we Curly Girls endure!

Good luck! And please post what you ended up doing. I'm always open to learning about how to handle these locks while traveling!