No matter where your adventures take you, you always want to make sure you look your best. But everything from sandboarding in Dubai, to swimming in your hotel’s pool, to hiking in Cinque Terre can put your hair on the fritz. We know it’s not always practical to bring your full glam kit overseas with you, but thankfully there’s a solution…travel hair straighteners. These mini life-savers can easily follow you wherever your travels take you. So what are the best travel flat irons? That really depends on the type of hair you have and the styles you want to achieve. Check out our guide below to find the travel flat iron that’s going to work best for you.
Quick Answer: Best Travel Flat Irons
Below is a list of the best flat irons for travel:
- BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron
- MHU Professional Travel Size Flat Iron
- HSI Professional Glider Flat Iron
- Herstyler Forever Travel Flat Iron
- Lovani Mini Portable Travel Flat Iron
- AmoVee Mini Flat Iron for Travel
- PHOEBE Mini Travel Flat Iron
- SABUY Dual Voltage Hair Straightener
- Conair Infinitipro Mini Flat Iron
- Wazor Dual Voltage Travel Hair Straightener
What to Look for in a Good Travel Flat Iron
These are things you should consider before purchasing your next travel flat iron…
1. Maximum Temperature
The temperature that works best for you will mainly depend on your hair type and style preference. You don’t want your straightener to get so hot that it damages your hair, but you want to make sure it’s hot enough to give you the style you want. If you want to style your hair in different ways, consider getting a flat iron that allows you to adjust the heat level instead of one with a fixed temperature.
2. Size
There are travel straighteners as small as six inches and others that are longer than 12 inches. Think about the type of bag you’re going to be carrying it in and keep in mind that larger irons are likely to have more features. If you’re flying and have a checked bag then the size may not be as important. But if you’re only traveling with a weekender bag then space will likely be more important, so you won’t want your straightener to be any larger than absolutely necessary.
3. Dual Voltage
If there’s any chance you’ll be taking this flat iron with you to another country, you should get a dual-voltage straightener. In the United States and Canada electrical outlets typically output 110-120V while most other countries output 220-240V. Items like chargers for your phone and travel laptop shouldn’t be an issue as most are dual voltage and will automatically adjust. However, if you plug a US straightener into a European plug without it being dual voltage or having a travel converter/adapter combo, you’re probably going to fry the flat iron.
4. Hair Type
Is your hair thick or thin? Is it long or short? Is it curly or frizzy? The answers to these questions will be helpful in figuring out what’s going to be the best straightener for you. Some flat irons with smaller, ½-inch plates, will do more harm than good for people with long, thick hair. Also, the narrower the plates, the longer it will take to style longer, thicker hair. On the other hand, if you have thinner, shorter hair then more narrow plates and a straightener with a lower maximum temperature may be fine.
Best Travel Flat Iron Reviews
Now that you know what to look for, here are the best travel straighteners currently on the market…
BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron
The BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron is an amazing dual voltage flat iron for international travel. It’s only six inches long so no matter if you store it in your purse or your luggage, it won’t take up much space. It can reach up to 430°F and has titanium plates with ceramic coated heaters. It’s great for short hair because it can get close to the scalp for a smooth straightening process. With an option of a one-inch or ½-inch iron, the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron is an ideal quality and size to travel with.
MHU Professional Travel Size Flat Iron
The MHU Professional Travel Size Flat Iron is a ½-inch flat iron which has a non-slip grip and is super lightweight. It’s around six inches long and has a non-adjustable temperature of 356°F. Its size makes it an amazing miniature hair straightener for when you’re on the go. It’s equipped with tourmaline ceramic floating plates which give your hair a silky smooth texture. Make sure your hair is on point no matter where you are with the MHU Professional Travel Size Flat Iron.
HSI Professional Glider Flat Iron
The best dual voltage flat iron for travel needs no introduction. The HSI Professional Glider Flat Iron is a one-inch iron that is great at eliminating frizz thanks to its tourmaline infusion. The ceramic plates contain eight HeatBalance microsensors which help to evenly distribute heat and regulate temperatures. You can adjust the temperature between 140°F – 450°F, which allows this iron to work well on a variety of hair types. To make sure you have a salon-quality flat iron when you’re traveling, go with the HSI Professional Glider Flat Iron.
Herstyler Forever Travel Flat Iron
Many consider the Herstyler Forever Travel Flat Iron to be the best flat iron for European travel because of its quality, size, and dual-voltage capability. The 1.25-inch iron is 12 inches long and can be adjusted up to 460°F, with a heat up time of only 30 seconds. Its ceramic plates promote heat distribution and frizz reduction. The plates even have curved edges to help prevent hair breakage. For an affordable flat iron that does an amazing job, the Herstyler Forever Travel Flat Iron is a great choice.
Lovani Mini Portable Travel Flat Iron
The Lovani Mini Portable Travel Flat Iron is a ½-inch iron which has a fixed temperature of 410°F. Its 3D floating plates allow for better contact and smoother hair without damage. Yes, it can be called the best mini flat iron for travel, but it can also give you cute curled styles. The iron even auto adjusts to your hair in order to deliver the best results. However, this iron is better suited for thin, short hair. It is a dual-voltage iron that is only 7.1 inches long and includes a heat-resistant bag. At only 6.1 ounces, you can carry it on all of your adventures without even realizing it’s there.
AmoVee Mini Flat Iron for Travel
For professional results when you’re on the move this is one of the best travel flat irons you’ll find. It’s ideal for short hair, bobs, bangs, face-framing, and minimal touch-ups. The iron is almost eight inches long and has a fixed temperature of 410°F, which it can reach in under three minutes. It also includes a heat-resistant glove. This iron even boasts thoughtful additions like a safety lock and a 360° flexible cord to eliminate tangles. The AmoVee Mini Flat Iron for Travel is versatile enough to give you all the looks you want while you’re on the go.
PHOEBE Mini Travel Flat Iron
My favorite part about the PHOEBE Mini Travel Flat Iron is that it’s purple (my favorite color :D), but that’s not even the beginning of what puts it among the best hair straighteners for travel. This ¾-inch iron is dual voltage and only 7.8 inches long. It has a maximum temperature of 430°F and heats up in only 30 seconds. The ceramic tourmaline plates reduce heat damage and help to lock in moisture for healthier hair. It also has a non-slip grip to simplify the hair straightening process. Even those with thick and wavy hair will love how the PHOEBE Mini Travel Flat Iron performs.
SABUY Dual Voltage Hair Straightener
One of the best travel hair straightener options on the market, the SABUY Dual Voltage Hair Straightener comes with a high-quality guarantee. It’s a dual-voltage straightener with one-inch ceramic plates that’s 10.5 inches long. You can adjust it to your preferred temperature of between 140°F – 446°F, and there’s even an auto shut-off feature for safety and convenience. Not only is it great because it’ll easily fit in your carry-on bag, but also because it’s full size so you can use it as your everyday straightener at home. For a high-end flat iron at a great price, the SABUY Dual Voltage Hair Straightener is the best travel straightener available.
Conair Infinitipro Mini Flat Iron
If options are what you want then you’ll love the Conair Infinitipro Mini Flat Iron. The choices here start with the size of the iron. Take your pick of a one-inch, 1.5-inch, or two-inch iron any of which heat up in only 15 seconds and can reach up to 455°F. This flat iron has five heat settings so you can choose which works best for the look you want. It even has long-lasting protection against humidity. The Conair Infinitipro Mini Flat Iron is an ideal option if you’re looking to cut down on the time it takes to straighten and style your hair, but you don’t want to sacrifice quality or risk heat damage.
Wazor Dual Voltage Travel Hair Straightener
Help your hair look good and remain healthy and shiny with the Wazor Dual Voltage Travel Hair Straightener. This ⅘-inch dual voltage straightener has a maximum temperature of 410°F and is equipped with 3D floating plates which help to ensure your hair does not get snagged and pulled. For convenience, the cord has a 360° tangle-free swivel and the on / off switch has an LED indicator to promote safety. The light weight, full size, and high heat of this straightener makes it one of the best travel size flat iron options on the market.
The best flat iron for travel will allow you to adventure in confidence and always be picture-ready regardless of what outing you find yourself on. Never again worry about having a bad hair day when you choose from our list of the best travel straighteners.
Katherine
Karmin is the best iron in my opinion