There are a few essentials that every lady’s travel bag should not be without, whether you are going on a weeklong getaway in Bali or attending a business conference. Some obvious ones are toothpaste and toothbrush, a moisturizer, a deodorant and sunscreen. A hair straightener is also right up there along with these travel must-haves.
You don’t have to pack a huge ghd or Babyliss straightener that takes up all the space; there are plenty of compact alternatives that are just as good as their heftier siblings.
Even if you are just going for a day trip where you don’t need a large travel case, a good mini hair straightener will easily fit in your purse.
Top Rated Mini Hair Straighteners In The UK
We’ve put together a list of the 8 best travel mini hair straighteners you can buy today. To choose the best ones, size was important. All our top picks are cute little but powerful straighteners. For the international travelholics and business travellers among us, we have included universal voltage straighteners that you can use anywhere you go.
While all the following options are great, the first two are my personal favourites. They are lightweight and compact, easy to use and they provide almost salon-quality styling.
1. ghd V Gold Mini Styler
Its ghd so you know it’s good. This mini styler has a smaller and lighter body than the usual ghd straighteners. But its compact design doesn’t affect performance at all.
The ceramic plates heat up quickly and evenly, providing professional-quality styling in just a few minutes. The narrow plates allow more precise straightening down from the root of the hair to the ends. The smooth plates prevent snagging and help you work through your hair quicker.
And if you want to create beautiful curls or waves, the contoured plate edges do a great job of it.
It has universal voltage so you don’t have to worry about using it abroad. Read my full review of ghd V Gold Mini.
What we like about it:
- Produces smooth and frizz-free hair in no time.
- Includes two protection features; a protective plate guard and auto shutoff.
- Compact and lightweight, making it perfect for any travel situation.
2. The Cloud Nine Micro Iron Hair Straightener
This is the smallest hair straightener from Cloud Nine. It’s not just great for travelling; it also comes handy for those with short hair that is hard to style with a bulky flat iron.
The straightener has only one heat setting, not a surprise for a mini straightener. To make up for the lack of temperature control, you get a luxury travel case along with the straightener. The case is heat-proof so you can place the straightener in it without waiting for it to cool.
There is also a hibernation feature where the straightener automatically turns off if left on for too long.
What we like about it:
- It’s compact size makes it perfect for travelling.
- Great for use on short hair and areas like the nape of the neck and fringes.
- Travel case included.
3. New Babyliss 2860 Pro Nano Mini Salon Travel Hair Straightener
The Pro Nano also lacks temperature control; you only have one option. But it quickly heats up to 200 degrees for a quick and effective straightening. The smooth ceramic plates produce a soft smooth finish, effortlessly eliminating frizz and kinks.
As for size, the Pro Nano perfectly fits its name. It’s small enough to fit in your purse. And if you are travelling to a different country, the straightener is multi-voltage. So no worries about compatibility or buying an adaptor.
What we like about it:
- Can be used worldwide.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Salon-quality styling.
4. Elie Mini Travel Hair Straightener
If you are looking for a good hair straightener to carry around with you all the time, the Elie mini straightener is perfect. You can carry it in your purse when going to the office or pack it in your travel case when travelling.
It quite small (20cm long), definitely not designed for everyday use at home. But it’s perfect for quick styling touch-ups when you are on the road.
It uses smooth ceramic plates to give your hair a sleek wavy look and can be used with all hair types. It heats up in seconds and when you are done, you can immediately put it in the travel heat resistant pouch.
What we like about it:
- Perfect for travelling.
- Ideal for all hair types.
- Fast-heating ceramic plates.
5. BaByliss 2860BAU Pro 200 Nano Mini Straightener
If not for anything else, get this mini straightener just for its hot pink colour.
But the BaByliss Pro 200 Nano is more than just the style. It has smooth ceramic plates that quickly heat up to 200 degrees for a fast and effortless styling.
Measuring 16cm in length, it is smaller than the Elie mini straightener. So if you are looking for an ultra-compact travel straightener that you can carry around in your purse, try this one.
It’s also multi-voltage meaning you can use it just about anywhere without compatibility issues.
What we like about it:
- Extra small, making it great for travelling.
- Great style.
- Ceramic plate technology for fast and even heating.
6. Remington S2880 Unisex Mini Straightener
This one is even shorter than the BaByliss Pro 200 Nano at just 15cm in length. There is clearly no shortage of extra mini straighteners for traveling.
The Remington Straightini also has a maximum temperature of 200 degrees and no option to change it to a lower setting. But 200 degrees works well for most hair types. It’s hot enough for thick hair but not too hot that it will damage weaker and thinner hair types.
It includes a heat-proof pouch that allows you to store the straightener safely even when it’s hot.
One unique feature is the Teflon fibres coating the ceramic plates. Teflon provides a protective shield, preventing damage especially for those with already damaged hair.
It also has a tourmaline coating which contains negative ions that give your hair a smoother and more vibrant look.
What we like about it:
- Tourmaline and Teflon coating for enhanced styling.
- Extra small and light.
- Unisex design.
7. BaByliss 2581BU Pro Cordless Straightener
If you are planning to go camping, hiking or a weekend festival, I highly recommend this straightener. It’s small enough to fit in your bag but even more importantly, it is cordless and gas-powered. It uses a portable gas energy cell to create a small flame that heats up the ceramic plates.
The straightener heats to a maximum of 215 degrees and comes with automatic temperature control to prevent overheating.
What we like about it:
- Cordless, making it easier to use.
- Ideal for outdoor travel.
- Salon-quality hair styling.
8. Jinri Titanium Plate Mini Flat Iron
While ceramic plates are the most common in flat irons, titanium plates are also considered great for hair straightening.
The Jinri flat iron uses titanium plates that heat up quickly and evenly to provide professional-quality styling. It heats up to 210 degrees.
The rounded edges of the plates make it easy to create curls and waves. An extra-long 9-feet swivel cord means you can style your hair without straining.
What we like about it:
- A long swivel cord makes the straightener easy to use.
- Curved plate edges for curls.
- Titanium plate technology for fast and even heating.
Key considerations when buying a travel mini hair straightener
The 8 straighteners we chose are just a few among the dozens available from many different brands. Even for us, it was a challenge to sort through all the marketing buzzwords and unnecessary bells and whistles to find the best travel mini hair straighteners.
To make it easier for you when shopping for a travelling hair straightener, I’ll give you the cheat sheet we used when picking the best. It’s a lot of the most important factors to consider when comparing among different mini hair straighteners.
One thing to note about mini hair straighteners is that they generally have fewer features than full-fledged varieties. So don’t compare between a full size ghd and their mini one for travelling. It’s a classic case of apples and oranges.
For instance, a normal flat iron usually comes with temperature control. You can choose low, medium or high heat setting. Mini straighteners often have only a single heat option. Mini straighteners may also not be as effective for certain hair types, especially thick and long hair.
Just remember that these compact flat irons are not designed to give you a perfect hair job. They just provide enough straightening to keep your hair looking good. But depending on the straightener you buy, some come close to salon-quality styling.
That’s why it is important to know what to look for when choosing the best mini straightener.
1. How travel-friendly is it?
There are several features that matter a lot when determining how travel friendly a mini hair straightener is.
The most important one is size. Make sure that it’s actually a mini hair straightener. It should be between 15cm and 20cm in length, small enough to fit in a purse. If you have thick and long hair, go for a slightly longer one (around 20cm) that can easily handle your hair. If you have short hair, a small and narrow one is best. It will allow you to straighten out kinks with more precision.
Make sure you also get an extra-small straightener if you are going to be carrying it in your purse all the time. If you find a good cordless straightener, it is even better.
Another important factor is compatibility with different voltage systems around the world. Look for the label multi-voltage’, dual voltage’ or universal voltage’. It simply means it is compatible with different voltage systems, not just the UK one. With a universal voltage straightener, you can keep your hair looking good no matter where you are.
Finally, check whether the seller provides a travel pouch, which should be heat proof. A travel pouch gives you an easy and safe way to carry the straightener around even when it’s hot.
2. Max temperature and heat control
As I mentioned, you won’t find many mini hair straighteners with temperature control. This is not an issue for most people especially when you are not exactly looking for salon-quality styling from a mini flat iron.
But it can be an issue for hair types on the extremes; extra thick hair and extra thin hair. The straightener will either not be hot enough to provide proper styling or it gets too hot to safely use without damaging your hair.
If you can find a straightener with several heat settings go for it. You can also look for one with automatic heat control. A good example is the BaByliss gas-heated straightener we mentioned above.
If you can’t find a straightener with different heat settings, there are still a few other options. For thin or sensitive hair, get a straightener with protective technology. The Remington S2880 Straightini is one of the best. It uses Teflon fibres to shield your hair from damage.
For thick hair, get a straightener that has a higher temperature maximum. If 200 degrees (the max for most mini straighteners) is not enough, try the BaByliss 2581BU Pro Cordless Straightener (215 degrees) or the Jinri Titanium Plate Mini Flat Iron (210 degrees).
3. Heating technology
Almost all hair straighteners, whether full size or mini, use ceramic heat technology. Ceramic heats up fast and spreads heat evenly throughout the plates.
Ceramic is great for all hair types. But you can also opt for a titanium flat iron, such as the Jinri straightener we mentioned, if you have coarse or thick hair. Titanium gets hotter than ceramic.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What are the benefits of a mini hair straightener?
A: The main benefit is in the name – mini. The compact size of these straighteners makes them ideal for frequent travellers. It takes up very little space in your bag and it’s easy to use when in a hurry.
Q: Are mini hair straighteners as good as full size straighteners?
A: Usually, no. Mini hair straighteners do not style as well as full size flat irons. But they are not meant to provide the same level of quality. For most people, the styling quality of a mini flat iron is good enough when on the road.
Q: Can’t I just buy a full size hair straightener?
A: Sure you can. If you have the space and don’t mind carrying the bulky device around, go for it.
Q: What can you do with travel mini hair straighteners?
A: Travel mini straighteners are the ideal solution to straightening your hair while out and about – and you can do jut the same things with them as you can do with your home straighteners.
The best bonus to travel mini straighteners are that they are completely portable, so you can sort your hair out in a hotel room, on an unexpected weekend away, or a business trip – and you usually get a pretty bag to carry them about in!
Many travel mini straighteners are designed to go from country to country, so will have different voltages so you can adjust the electricity they receive depending on which country you are in.
Travel mini hair straighteners are compact and small, so you can easily fit them into your luggage and be sure that you can sort your hair out at your destination.
They are great for an emergency taming of wild locks, as well as for more involved styling processes – you can do whatever you normally do with straighteners with the travel mini version – just bear in mind that it may take a bit longer, as the travel versions are necessarily a bit smaller.
Q: Where to find the best travel mini hair straighteners?
These nifty little space saving devices can be purchased almost anywhere – from high street shops to online retailers, or, if your salon is big enough then you may even find that your hairdresser has a selection for sale.
However you buy them, you can find a great deal of inspiration and information online, to help you decide which type you want to buy. If you prefer to see what you are buying before you buy it, then a trip around the local shops or a visit to a large department store may be your best bet.
Q: How to use travel hair straighteners?
Travel hair straighteners work on exactly the same principle as their non-travel counterparts – they are often a bit smaller though, so you may have to take a little longer straightening your tresses with a travel straightener.
- Wash and dry your hair as normal, then add some heat protecting serum to make sure your hair doesn’t get damaged by the heat.
- Section your hair – a section should be no more than 2 inches, however long your hair is.
- Run the straighteners down the length of the hair, from top to bottom.
- Once you have finished all the sections, check your hair in the mirror and re straighten any sections that might need a little more work.
- Finish with some smoothing serum to add lustre and shine to your locks.
I really like my Karmin.