The Under-$100 Flat Iron I've Been Traveling Abroad With for 8 Years
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For plenty of people, the notion of a summer vacation doesn't exactly go hand-in-hand with a labor-intensive hot-tool hairstyling session. But as much as I'd like to be fully Team Air Dry from May through September, I also prefer to look somewhat cute in my vacation photos, which means traveling with at least one hair tool. Exactly one, in fact: The T3 SinglePass Compact Travel Styling Flat Iron, which I use to tamp down my natural hair texture's cotton-candy puffiness, re-invigorate a blowout, tame flyaways and even do quick flatiron waves.
I've owned this small-but-mighty hair tool since 2016, which was also the first time I brought it with me to Europe. That's when I discovered it was the only hair tool I could use in a London outlet without instantly burning out. (I lost a beloved BeachWaver on that trip. RIP.) Even if you have a power converter for European outlets, most standard North American hair tools of all varieties will, in my experience, instantly smell like burning plastic, start sparking and/or completely freak out if you attempt to plug them in. Not this one!
I've subsequently traveled with it quite a bit, bringing it along to far-flung destinations like Milan, Paris and Tokyo, as well as closer and less exciting ones. (Sup, Northeast Ohio?) The tiny size is helpful for squeezing it into even the most overloaded carry-on, and I love that it comes with a sheath-like case that holds it clamped when not in use. While it doesn't have adjustable heat, the ceramic plates get hot (obligatory beauty editor reminder to always use a heat protectant!), so that whole "single pass" claim in the tool's name is apt, at least for my fine hair texture.
Any hair tool that's still going strong after having been used for the better part of a decade is truly impressive. (I've killed plenty of other more expensive ones with far less mileage.) So as I'm prepping for my next European getaway this month, I know exactly what will be at the top of my packing list.
T3 SinglePass Compact Travel Styling Flat Iron, $89, available here
Please note: This product was gifted. Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way do either affect our editorial decision-making.
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