It’s summertime and the airports are more crowded than ever—many people are fleeing the coop for the first time in more than a year. But when it comes to what to pack, there’s a new class of tools in town that will make your beauty routine easier than ever, and they’re cord-free. Yes, you can finally heat-style your hair in the back of a cab after a gym sesh or on an early flight—no outlet, no problem.
Flat Iron
Today, ghd announced the launch of its first-ever cordless styler called Unplugged ($299), which is light and compact, but powerful enough to create the styles (sleek and straight or effortless beach waves) you get from the brand’s full-size tools. It comes in black and white, heats up to 365 degrees in 45 seconds and one charge—it can charge via USB and doesn’t need a wall outlet or charging dock—lasts 20 minutes. It also includes a heat-resistant carry case so you can safely toss it in your carry-on right after using.
“The ghd unplugged tool is a game changer for stylists!” says Justine Marjan, celebrity hairstylist and ghd North America ambassador. “No longer do I need to run between set and the trailer or glam room with a hot iron to do touch-ups. This tool fits in my set bag and is perfect for on-the-job quick touchups. I love how lightweight it is and how quickly it heats up so I can truly polish any look, anywhere. Sometimes I’m in such a rush in the morning that I don’t have time to style a full look on myself, so I love that I can grab this and do my hair literally anywhere.”
Blowdryer
Last week, VOLO (we’re big fans of the brand’s Hero Quick Dry Towel) debuted its new Go Cordless Dryer ($450), which is powered by the same lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars and utilizes infrared light and heat to dry hair in a much healthier way. “Due to the power demands of hairdryers, we were told many times that a cordless hair dryer was impossible,” says Jonathan Friedman, cofounder and president of VOLO Beauty. “Through years of R&D, we discovered that our quartz infrared bulb heating element not only allows us to dry a full head of hair using battery power, but the radiant heat of the dryer is also gentler and leaves hair feeling more smooth and less heat-damaged. Beyond being cordless, it is a better hairdryer.”
The high-tech dryer comes in both black and white with a charging station that features a USB port to double-up on charging and a built-in dish for jewelry or hair accessories that looks great on a bathroom vanity (each charge lasts at least 22 minutes at full power). One downside is that the battery adds some bulk: Go clocks in at 2.8 pounds, which is nearly double the weight of standard blowdryers on the market.
Curling Iron
How many times have you been bothered by a cord while curling the back pieces of your hair? I know I’m not the only one. That’s where the Lunata Cordless Convertible Curling Iron/Wand ($250) comes in handy. The only full-size curling iron on the market requiring zero cords, it features a 1.25″ (32mm) titanium barrel and lasts up to 45 minutes on one charge (even at the maximum 450-degree heat setting; there are three others).
The convertible capability is a plus—the clip is easy to remove when you’re feeling a wand-wrapped curl instead—but it can take three hours to reach a full charge, so you’ll need to plan accordingly if you’re taking it on the go.
