I have a special ionic flat iron (300v)that I use for my hair and I don't think I can live without it. I'm from the US and therefore it is a 110. I researched for some step down transformers which weighs a whopping 7-10 lbs! Is this necessary or do the hotels have these converters?
I want to look good in our pictures and video and I don't want to always have a pulled up tied hair or hide in the hat do.
I'll be in Europe for 27 days. Which is more practical: buy a new flat iron in Europe or get a transformer and bring it with me when I travel to another country?
This is my biggest problem (sniff).
For those who spend a little more time to avoid bad hair days, how did you handle it?

JCrUnl, bad hair day? You do not know how many bad hair days I have had recently with the miserable weather we have had! Boy can I relate to your complaint.

Now, I do not know if you can buy an ionic flat iron in Europe.

For other electronic items (hairdryers etc.) I have found that going to an Electronic store and buying what I needed when in Italy has been the easiest way to go.

I have never known hotels to have converters and whatever.

Perhaps some other poster can help you.

But saying that, if you know you can buy a flat iron in Europe that is what I would do.

First, check your curling iron to confirm that it is NOT dual voltage. It is quite common to find electronic appliances in the US which are dual voltage, and there is a chance yours is. If you can’t confirm it yourself, call the manufacturer or check the website.

If it is not dual voltage, consider buying a new dual voltage one in the US before you leave. Run a search on the web, esp. try drugstore.com which has a lot of dual voltage appliances. I would recommend this over buying one in Europe because (i) it is likely to be cheaper in the US, (ii) it will have a US warranty, and (iii) you will have instructions in English, and (iv) you may not feel like spending your first morning in Europe looking for a shop which sells them. You would most likely need a department store or electronic shop; “drug stores” i.e., pharmacia/apotheke in Europe do not sell electronic goods, they sell cosmetics and health aids.

I agree it is very unlikely that hotels will have converters, but most will supply you with an adaptor plug if you need one. You can also buy universal adaptor plugs that have configurations for most everywhere in the world. A good site for plug configuration worldwide is voltagevalet.com. Many European countries use different plug configurations, i.e. a UK plug and a Swiss plug look very different, so it is helpful to know what you might expect in each country on your itinerary.

An electronics store would likely be the ONLY place you'd find that item. We're used to buying such things at supermarkets, Targets--even come convenience stores. My friend couldn't even find a regular hairdryer anywhere in Kilkenney, Ireland, last year, and was finally referred to an appliance store!

Hi JC,

>I researched for some step down transformers which weighs a whopping 7-10 lbs! <

You can find many converter/adapter kits that will handle up to 1850 watts and only weigh a pound or two for the whole thing.

Go to www.google.com and enter "converter adapter kit".

I found this travel flat iron recently, and it could be just what you need:

Revlon Style-To-Go ceramic palm straightener. It's SO much more compact than any others I've seen-- about 3 x 5 x 1.5", and it's dual voltage, so all you need is a plug adapter.

i have no idea what in ionic flat iron is but i can tell you that many/most 110 electronic devices do not work well with transformers.

most european hotels have 110 shaver sockets that are meant for very low amp usage (i.e. they are marked "for shaver use only&quot. if the ionic thing is a very low power consumer (unlike a standard curling iron or hair dryer) then you might be able to use this socket.

Guess what fodorites, an answer to my prayers! Target carries this converter/adapter kit for only US$19.99! It's not a 7-10 pounder and it's small, too. You can use it for any appliance with 50-1,600 watts. That answers my bad hair days and the battery chargers for my digicam and handycam. I hope it works. I'm so excited I can't wait for March 16th. (Even though that means I'm getting older cause my b-day is on the 12th).

An early Happy Birthday wish and of course wishes for a beautiful trip.

And am glad you got the problem worked out, nothing ruins a day like "bad hair"!

Thanks for all your concern (no matter how "trivial" my issues are).
I'm glad I stumbled to this site and got answers for all my questions. My itinerary is looking a lot better and I've graduated from being clueless. Btw this is my first trip to Europe and I'm learning a lot just by reading through the threads. Thanks to the regular helpers like ira, Cicerone, LoveItaly and to all the rest!

One thing to keep in mind:

The "Travel Smart" voltage converter that is sold at Target is rated 50-1600 watts, but note that is the two prong European plug type. This should work, but you will also need to convert the plug to the three flat prong British style.

Target also sells these adaptors in a set.

Trust me, I am a hairdresser and have traveled with my flat iron, as well as having clients travel with theirs. NO matter what you use to convert it to the country you are in, you need to turn down the temperature control, at least to about half its heat. For some reason flat irons tend to overheat to the point of burning your hair or heating up the handle to almost melting, neither of which is good for your hair or the iron. That said, I have used mine in Europe many times with just the plug adaptor and it works fine. I did try to buy one over there about 2 years ago and found it impossible to find at a reasonable price...Here's to shiny straight hair in all your pictures.

Happy Birthday in advance JC, mine is on the 23rd of March

Glad you found the converter, my hair is the opposite, straight straight straight. So not matter the weather, it just lays there

<b>tatersalad!</b>
My dogs name is Tate and we call him tatertot, tatersalad, taterpup! LOL

People are just weird (especially women)... straight wants curly, curly wants straight...
Scarlett, you have the same b-day of my late mom.
Thanks for the impt. add'l info tatersalad and susanna - thank goodness you are there! So you're saying I don't need a converter just the adapter? Even better!

Susanna: A million thanks for the caution about the flat iron. I couldn't live without mine. Everyday would be a bad bad hair day.

Thanks again...Another Susanna

I only travel with a universal adaptor, from taget,cost about $11, weighs hardly anything. I use this on my flat iron as well as our ditgital camera battery with no problems. My flat iron is definately not low amp usage, if that is the only plug in the bathroom I will plug it into a socket where the lamp is plugged in. My iron goes from 140-410 degrees, and eventhough I use it full strength at home, I start it off at about 250....straighten the back lower section of your head first to test the heat. I have used it in Italy, France, Switzerland and England with no problems.

You may need to consider the voltage issue.

to those who replied...
Those are the countries I am going to, this is just perfect. I wish Susanna can give us more tips for good hair days

I am so glad that you asked this question JC4Unl...I, too, love my flat iron , and I was wondering how to travel w/ it. I've taken it to Prague and Portugal and the nicer hotels had these huge converter boxes they let me use. We're renting a house in France this summer, and I was wondering how I was going to handle the electricity. Thanks again!

Susanna....Your advice about flat irons has been extremely helpful to those of us who depend on them. Do you have any advice about using blowdryers as well?

I've always taken my own travel blowdryer along with me on trips because you can't be sure how well hotel blowdryers will work. But I do run into the problem you mentioned when you see the socket labelled &quot;for shavers only.&quot;

Marcy...I'm going to look for that Revlon flat iron you mentioned.

Thanks again.