Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer – Review

Packing light for staycations used to be second nature, but that confidence in hotel amenities has long faded. Soap and an iron? Usually reliable. A hair dryer? Technically available, but often disappointing. The memory of weak, lukewarm air sputtering out of a small, outdated dryer permanently fixed to the bathroom wall is enough to make anyone reconsider. Too often, these built-in dryers take twice the time and leave hair looking mediocre at best, with limited heat, lackluster airflow, and cords that never seem long enough.

Air drying isn’t always an option, and a poor styling tool can turn a simple routine into a frustrating chore. For travelers who want to avoid the hassle, a compact and reliable alternative is a must-have. But finding one that balances portability with power is easier said than done. That’s where the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer comes in, small enough to slip into a carry-on yet capable of delivering a high-performance blowout, it challenges the notion that travel-sized means compromised results. 

With two specialised attachments (the Unfrizz Nozzle for smooth styles and the Curling Nozzle for waves), a standout feature is the dryer’s foldable design, where attachments snap into place securely, staying put during styling without any unexpected detachment. Swapping attachments is quick and effortless, allowing for easy transitions between different modes without disrupting the flow of styling.

In the classic L-shape, it functions as a traditional dryer ideal for everyday use, and enables use with the Unfrizz Nozzle, which immediately brings to mind the Flyaway attachment found on the Dyson Supersonic. By harnessing the Coanda effect, it draws hair toward the nozzle, smoothing flyaways while maintaining a sleek finish. If you wash your hair almost every day, the Unfrizz Nozzle works best when hair is about 80% dry as it only diffuses airflow which doesn’t speed up drying, but enhances the finish. The Bernoulli effect (where faster airflow creates lower pressure) plays a role in reducing frizz, helping strands settle neatly. Second-day hair without a wash or stubborn bedhead also benefits, with the nozzle effectively coaxing unruly sections back into place. Paying close attention to airflow direction makes a difference – holding the nozzle near the roots and working downwards allows the hair to be gently lifted and smoothed without causing unwanted volume. 

Extending the barrel into an I-shape enables use with the Curling Nozzle, transforming the device into a styling wand. Taking inspiration from the curling attachments found on the Shark FlexStyle and Dyson Airwrap, the Curling Nozzle uses the Coanda effect to gently pull hair around the barrel. In theory, this should make styling easier, setting curls or waves as the hair dries. In practice, achieving the right results requires some effort. Your hair needs to be at just the right level of dampness (not too wet, not too dry…) which can be tricky to gauge. 

Getting hair to wrap fully around the barrel is another area where the Curling Nozzle struggles. While it does a slightly better job than Stryv’s Auto Wrap Barrel attachments for the airflex 6-in-1 multi styler at securing strands in place, the overall performance still feels inconsistent. The airflow isn’t strong enough to capture all sections of hair evenly, which leads to looser curls that don’t hold their shape as well throughout the day. Compared to a traditional curling tong, which provides more control and lasting results, this attachment feels less reliable for those who want defined, long-lasting waves.

Beyond the Curling Nozzle’s performance, the overall design of the attachments raises some portability concerns. Portability is a key selling point, but the Curling Nozzle and Unfrizz Nozzle feel disproportionately large when attached. The Curling Nozzle, in particular, stands as tall as the 5 x 14.5 x 20.1cm Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer itself, making the overall design feel slightly unbalanced. Sadly, packing the dryer for travel also requires some effort, with the included Dreame-branded waterproof storage bag just large enough to fit the dryer and its 1.5m cord, and sometimes squeezing in the attachments makes for a tight fit. Careful positioning is needed to zip everything up, which slightly undermines the travel-friendly aspect of the design, so a slightly roomier case would have made storage more convenient.

While the attachments and storage case might present minor portability challenges, the 300g Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer itself is surprisingly lightweight and quiet for its size. A high-speed motor running at 110,000 RPM generates an airflow of 70 m/s, all while keeping noise levels consistently low across both Low and High speed settings, averaging 80dB during use. Unlike many high-powered dryers that generate a disruptive hum, this model remains quiet enough to allow for casual conversation or listening to music while drying my hair. For anyone sensitive to noise, this subtle improvement enhances the overall user experience.

Adding to its user-friendly design, a thoughtful approach to controls makes the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer intuitive to use without overcomplicating the experience. Positioned on the handle, two buttons manage all functions: an airflow switch for selecting Low or High speed and a mode selection button for toggling between five temperature settings: Cold, Warm, Hot, an Instant Cold Air cool shot, and a Hot & Cold Cycling mode to help reduce heat damage. 

Among its five modes, Cold, Warm, and Hot provide standard heat options, while Instant Cold Air acts as a quick-access cool shot, bypassing the need to manually toggle through settings to reach the cold function. Holding down the mode button instantly switches to cool air, an especially useful feature for locking in a style or preventing excess heat exposure. Once released, the dryer seamlessly returns to the previously selected mode. Hot & Cold Cycling Mode alternates between warm and cool air to minimise heat damage. While this feature extends drying time slightly, it noticeably enhances hair texture, making it a valuable addition for those who frequently use heat tools.

Drying performance stands out, especially for a compact dryer. In my testing, it took 10 minutes to dry my long, thin, low porosity hair on Warm mode at Low speed, and 7 minutes on High speed. Switching to Cycling Mode on High added about another 30 seconds but resulted in smoother, healthier-looking hair. Even at Low speed, the airflow effectively lifted the roots, speeding up the process without excessive force. For a dryer this size, the ability to cover a large section of hair at once was impressive, making styling more efficient without requiring constant repositioning.  After four weeks of daily use after showering at night, my hair felt noticeably healthier.

Visual indicators on the mode selection button simplify temperature adjustments. Colour-coded LEDs provide instant feedback: blue for Cold mode, orange for Warm, and red for Hot. In Cycling Mode, the LED shifts between red and blue, offering a clear cue that the temperature is fluctuating. The thoughtful addition of visual indicators ensures users can quickly identify their selected mode without second-guessing and pausing mid-styling.

That said, while it ticks many of the right boxes, its biggest flaw is its lack of dual voltage. Unlike the GHD Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer, which adapts to different electrical standards worldwide, the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer is locked to 220-240V. This means it’s unusable in regions like Japan, which operates on 100V, even with a travel adapter. For a device marketed towards frequent travellers, this oversight is frustrating, especially when competitors in the same price range offer dual-voltage functionality. It’s an unfortunate limitation for those who plan to take the dryer abroad. 

Speaking of price, its S$329 price tag places it at the higher end of travel hair dryers, sitting above models like the Shark SpeedStyle High-Velocity Hair Dryer (S$259) and the GHD Flight+ Travel Hair Dryer (S$169). The folding handle and compact build position it in the travel dryer category, while its power and attachments invite comparisons to premium models like the Shark FlexStyle (S$508) and even the Dyson Airwrap (S$859). It doesn’t quite fit neatly into any one category, which in some ways, enhances its value and offers more than a standard travel dryer but at a lower price than ultra-premium styling tools.

For those who prioritise portability, performance, and styling versatility, the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer is a strong contender with its lightweight and sleek premium touches that elevate the experience. However, the lack of dual voltage could be a dealbreaker for frequent flyers, and at this price, that’s a notable drawback. It’s a good investment for home use or domestic trips, but if you need a truly globe-trotting dryer, you might have to look elsewhere.

The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer is available for purchase on the Dreame website in Titanium Gold and Space Grey.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Sylus from Love and Deepspace.