Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
Holiday hair is one of the most frustrating parts of travelling; you never know what you’re going to get.
When you can’t bring your usual styling tools – be it a hair dryer, hair curler or straighteners – a travel version could be your saving grace, so you don’t end up disheveled a la Monica Geller from Friends with frizz up to your eyeballs.
I’m constantly flying across the globe with little more than a cabin bag, and as a travel writer, I’m often having to prioritise work tools over my personal items.
This means trying to fit other travel essentials, especially if you’re opting to fly with only a cabin bag, rather than hold luggage can be a bit of a struggle.
GHD’s Flight travel hair dryer promises to be much easier to bring with you on holiday – with 78% of the power of a full size hair dryer like the GHD Helios, yet 49% lighter, 25% smaller and complete with a foldable handle.
Plus, it comes with a chic and portable travel case and a price tag that I found, for such a popular brand, to be relatively well-priced. At just £79, it costs far less than some of its premium competitors including the Shark SpeedStyle.
I also recently reviewed Dyson’s Supersonic Travel hair dryer – so how does this one compare to the ultra-premium model? Read my verdict below.
GHD flight and travel hair dryerProduct SpecsWeight422 gDimensions22.9 x 12.7 x 8.9 cmNumber of speeds2Our verdict
To be honest, I’m often sceptical of travel hairdryers. Without all the attachments and power I use on a daily basis at home, I often wonder if I’d just be better off letting my hair air dry while abroad.
But at £79, this travel dryer from one of the top hair brands had me intrigued – and I was right to be.
Light to hold and foldable, I had no trouble throwing the GHD Flight into my handbag for a night away – so it would take up very little room in a suitcase too. Plus, it comes with a classy case to keep it protected – though this does take up additional space.
In terms of power, I noticed little difference from my usual hairdryer, which is always a plus and the two speed settings meant I could adjust the heat and strength easily. The end result was pretty frizz-free curls.
Plus, with dual voltage functionality, you can safely style wherever you are in the world – just don’t forget your plug adapter!
The only real downside? The shortage of attachments. As a curly-haired girl, I’m always on the lookout for a diffuser but this did a pretty good job nonetheless.
I tested out the hairdryer – and also checked it would fit inside my luggage
How we test
When testing beauty products like hair dryers, we try them out thoroughly and use them exactly how we would when styling our hair on a typical day. We give them the sort of challenges they are likely to face when coming on holiday with us.
In the case of the GHD flight and travel hair dryer, I washed my hair like I usually would, brushed it out and began to dry my hair.
While I was using the hair dryer, I made sure to look out for a variety of different factors.
These include the drying speed, power, frizz, how the dryer felt in my hand and the ease of use.
I also researched similar products on the market, either by Shark or other companies like Dyson, to see how it would compare.
Plus, I tried it out in my backpacks and suitcases to check it would comfortably fit alongside my other must-haves.
GHD flight and travel hair dryer reviewFirst impressions
It’s evident from the start that this is a suitcase-friendly tool.
It’s both light and compact, my wrist didn’t get tired holding it and it fit in my overnight bag and suitcase perfectly.
I’m also impressed with the folding feature – if you wanted the case protection, you could have it, but if like me you’re often short on space, the ability to basically bend it in half means you will absolutely save on space.
Size
The size of this product is a win – at 25 per cent smaller and 49 per cent lighter than GHD’s full size model.
As mentioned, the folding feature makes this better than any other compact hair tool I’ve ever tried.
The size of the GHD travel hair dryer is its biggest selling point
Attachments and settings
Unfortunately, the lack of attachments is the only complaint I had. But, admittedly, if I had space for the add-ons, I probably wouldn’t need a travel-sized hairdryer in the first place!
A straight-haired friend of mine also gave it a whirl and was very positive about the results, too.
Hair drying speed and power
This hair dryer is super powerful and has two settings to give you a little more control over the heat and speed. Ideal if, like me, you’re used to using a diffuser and slower drying speeds at home. It also dried my hair in around 10 minutes, which is super fast – I have no complaints.
Smoothness and damage
The hair dryer left my hair far less frizzy than usual, which is a great perk – plus, it retained my natural curl pattern well
The main thing I look for with hair dryers is how frizzy it makes my hair. I was pleasantly surprised with this model – very little frizz and, as you can see from image, it retained my natural curl pattern nicely.
The curls also lasted me three days, which is ideal if you don’t want to spend ages washing and restyling your hair each day.
Value for money
GHD is not always the cheapest brand, but I have to say this product is well worth a buy – even if you simply use it as your standard hairdryer.
At £79, it’s on the lower end of the price scale for such a premium item, especially when compared to Dyson’s Supersonic travel hair dryer (£249.99).
I would even say the GHD just beats it on ease of use – despite being less than a third of the price.
GHD flight and travel hair dryer
How does it compare to similar products?
Other popular premium travel hair dryers include the Drybar Baby Buttercup travel blow dryer (£125).
I found the hairdryer speedy and effective for drying curly hair, as well as easy to hold
Also, be sure to check out our full review of the Dyson Supersonic Travel hair dryer. Dyson’s Supersonic Travel hair dryer promises to be a great compromise on the original – more compact than the standard model – 32% smaller and 25% lighter but just as effective.
How does it rate online?
On the GHD website, it has a 4.6/5 rating – impressively high.
One review said: ‘Fantastic powerful, lightweight hairdryer. Compact with a great wee case big enough to accommodate all the brushes I need.’
A second chimed in: ‘Great little hair dryer, as powerful as my normal hairdryers Nice little case, making it easy to travel with. Best compact hairdryer without having less power as other brands. Normally compact travel size ones have so much less power. This packs a punch.’
Why trust us
At the Daily Mail, our team of expert testers have been researching, reviewing and writing about their respective specialisms for years.
Erin has plenty of experience reviewing and writing about a range of products from travel to beauty. All of her reviews are honest, impartial and give a full-rounded opinion of the products she tests.
FAQsIs the GHD flight and travel hair dryer worth it?
Absolutely! This is a great budget-friendly travel tool that is easy to bring with you on holiday.
Source link
CHECK OUT: Top Travel Destinations
READ MORE: Travel News
