Cordless curling iron
 

Can anyone tell me where they have purchased a Braun cordless curling iron or, alternatively, a curling iron with dual voltage? Would rather buy in person than mail-order, but either would be fine. I posted this under travel tips but wanted to cover all bases. Thank you!

I have seen cordless curling irons in stores that sell luggage, at malls or outlet stores. I purchased one, took it home to try it out, and returned it. It didn't seem to heat up enough to do any good. I can't emember the brand name of that particular one. I had no trouble using a converter and plugging in my own curling brush while we were in Lisbon and Paris.

I've been told that the fuel cells for <BR>cordless curling irons are sometimes <BR>prohibited on aircraft -- you might want <BR>to double-check.

Hi Kathy, <BR> <BR>Here's a source: www.westmarine.com. They carry the Braun on the web site and in stores, if you are close to any of their locations. I have a friend who has used it a lot. I don't know about the problem previously mentioned with the cartridges, but I'm pretty sure that my friend has carried them on planes (legally or otherwise!)

Thanks for all the information on curling irons. The Braun website said an individual is allowed to carry one butane appliance in each checked bag, but no refills are allowed. I am also checking out dual voltage curling irons. I am not excited about converters. Used one in Spain last year and it was a pain. I am almost ready to just buy the curling iron at my destination.

Braun is trying to sell you a product. What they don't say is that all countries airline regs are different. Butane in a controlled environment with large canisters of oxygen are quite an explosive combination. Many airlines totally ban them. <BR>

Of course, if you can't take the butane on a plane, you can always bring the curling iron without the cylinder and buy a cylinder at your destination. If you're just travelling to Western Europe, you shouldn't have a problem with that. Of course, if you're flying around within Europe, it might start getting expensive.

I would just buy one when you arrive. It's handy if you travel there again, and you can loan it out to friends. I have a hair dryer that I bought in Ireland and it saves so much hassle.

I have used butane curling irons for the past six years on travels to Ireland, England,Germany, France and Italy. Have used Conair and Braun. Both brands heated much better than my regular iron that I used with an adapter. I wouldn't leave home without it, and usually pack an additional cartridge with it. Never entered my mind I couldn't/shouldn't do that. I think they are a great convenience. Bought Conair at Walgreens and Braun at another discount store.

Does anyone have a more recent expirience with cordless curling irons? I'd like to bring mine in case of hair emergency!

EBAY Braun curling iron new 19.95 plus shipping

the curling irons are allowed on board -- however butane is not in either checked nor carry on luggage.

Why not just buy an inexpensive electric curling iron after you arrive if needed?

I love this! After going through great pains in the Brookstone store, I bought an expensive converter set for Switzerland. First day, blew the fuse in our room and luckily got that smokin curler out before sprinklers came on. In my best French, I tried to buy one in Lugano, ha ha. Found one in a Manor store, not in salons. Now, I've read where you can have one cartridge provided it's got a safety cover. (Air Canada) However, the US reg site says no butane. Drugstore.com sells them and claims that you are allowed one, but then will only ship them by ground as they state &quot;they are not allowed on aircraft&quot;. Go figure! Now, I'm confused, as I was planning to take one in June. I think it would be difficult to find cartridges in Switzerland.

Just my two cents, but I wouldn't bother with a butane curling iron. I have purchased several &quot;dual voltage&quot; curling irons at Target. Revlon and Conair both make them, and I assume they're readily available at stores like Meier, Wal-Mart and K-Mart. The packaging will indicate whether they're dual voltage. I've used them with success in both England and France. You'll need a standard adapter, but you can buy those for about $5.00 online or at a travel store. Target also carries converter/adapter kits, but that's more than you really need.

Good luck!

Kate

Thanks everyone. I have one that I'll just leave at home. I don't use a curling iron everyday, just for touchups on awful humid, rainy days when I don't want to start all over again. One less thing to pack...

I have one word for women whose hair reacts somewhat negatively to humidity or rain: <i>hat</i>.

I've used a butane-powered curling iron on 5 continents since 2001. No problems with carrying it on any aircraft. No one's even ever questioned it. I got mine at WalMart.

kswl-two words in response-hat head-doubled by the effects of rain and humidity.

skedaddle: you may not have had any problems -- But effective April 1 of this year, butane is no longer allowed in either checked or carry on luggage subject to TSA. So perhaps between other countries you will get away w/ it - but any luggage starting from/through the US is subject to this prohibition.

This also applies to butane lighters . . .

Don't bring your dualvoltage curling iron with adapter to the Renaissance la Defence on Paris. The only bathroom outlet is built in to the hairdryer and is specified for shavers only. Rampant misogyny. The front desk suggested my wife use one of the outlets under the desk!

Too true, swalter. You just can't take it off all day! (And it has to look cute.)

payant: &quot;The front desk suggested my wife use one of the outlets under the desk!&quot;

It is most common to not have any but razor outlets in bathrooms. Has absolutely nothing to do w/ the Renaissance la Defence being misogynist.

Using 250 volts in in a bathroom is not something I'd want to do. You usually have to use outlets in other rooms . . . . .

I contacted the TSA before taking my butane curling iron to Ireland. The response I received is below. I packed it in my checked baggage as I was told by someone else they would take it out of my carry on. I had no problems and my luggage was not searched. I printed out a copy of the email from the TSA and placed it with the curling iron, just in case.

Thank you for your email message concerning traveling with a butane curling iron. We apologize for the delay in responding and hope the following information is still helpful.

You may place the curling iron in carry-on or checked baggage. The safety cover must be in place over the heating element. You may not carry any extra butane cartridges in carry-on or checked baggage.

As changes and enhancements to aviation security are implemented TSA publicizes Traveler Tips in local and national media, as well as on its website at www.tsa.gov, to aid travelers with the enhanced screening processes.

TSA Contact Center

That email is at odds with the list of prohibited items posted at the linked URL. Here is the list:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interweb/a...ited_Facts.doc

If a TSA agent going by the published list sees your curling iron with fuel, I hope they will confiscate at least the butane. Flying is dangerous enough without passengers carrying explosives on board.

When I contacted TSA to confirm the new rules re butane tanks and lighters (I teach a packing class and give out the latest TSA info) I was told - You can take the iron but not any tanks.

BTW - many years ago (early 90's long before TSA was even a glimmer in anyone's eye) I owned a Butane hair dryer. Took it on a trip to Scotland via several airports in the States/Canada. The butane was just fine -- UNTIL I was going through Logan on my way home. There it was confiscated. It was explained to me how dangerous it was - I hadn't given it a second though before that.

So do what you want - but like robespierre I sure hope you aren't on my flight. Why anyone would want to carry explosives w/ them - for a hair style no less?????

oops - meant a Butane CURLING IRON.

The braun curling iron got way too hot and after using it for a few weeks (at home) it started to fry my ends. I have really thick hair and I've never had my hair get so visibly damaged by heat. This was around 8 years ago, perhaps they've made improvements to the Braun since then. I had to purchase an iron in London but it makes me happy to pull it out whenever I start packing for another trip.

Scuti makes a small travel flat iron for hair that is light, folds up, and is dual voltage and worked much better than my standard flat iron used with a converter/transformer (the old standard model just didn't heat up).

The butane cartridge may be 'allowable' under TSA, but I've had them confiscated (taken out of the curling iron) by security. Unftly, I don't remember if in US or returning to US, but I was bummed since they were great. (I was able to buy them at Target about 5-6 yrs. ago).

Magellan's has a folding curling iron that is dual voltage - automatically, you don't have to decide. I just used it and thought it was great. I also avoid the 'shaver only' outlets and just use the ones in the room and find the closest mirror.

oh, the price of vanity

Flammable gases in carryon or checked luggage are prohibited by TSA regulations. Click the link above.

I don't know where you got the idea they were &quot;allowable,&quot; because they certainly are not.

Rob, see zshark's message... although when I re-read it, it said curling iron allowed, no extra butane cartridges... I don't know if they consider the one IN the curling iron as 'extra' or not.

But clearly, since I had one confiscated, I didn't expect them to actually go through security without a problem.

Bottom line, I wouldn't take the chance.

I know that Canadian regulations permit curling irons containing hydrocarbon gas on board aircraft, but gas refills for such curling irons are prohibited.

As always, however, the screening officer retains the right to prohibit any item they feel could pose a threat.

This link is from July of 2000. I suspect Kathy has decided how to curl her hair by now---for the record, my wife had her butane curling iron confiscated by TSA when we were in Atlanta. Didn't bother her that much because she didn't like it--not enough heat to do a decent job. She carries her standard curling iron and uses a convertor!

surfmom, see my message immediately after zshark's message. The &quot;extra&quot; mentioned in the email is not part of the regulation at the tsa site.

Rob, I don't disagree that butane is a dangerous fuel.

When I initially read zshark's message, I took it to mean that the butane cartridge IN the curling iron was allowed, but no extra cartridges carried separately were permitted.

Apparently, I read the TSA email incorrectly.

So, I agreed with you - that its not a good idea. I gave an example of why I don't recommend it. I gave a further recommendation of something that might work (so I'm clearly trying to help solve the problem).

I'm sorry I'm such an idiot that I read a prior post wrong. Thank you for pointing out multiple times what an idiot I am. Do you understand that this is why people are turned off by this board?

I think we're posting at cross-purposes (and, for the record, I don't think you're an idiot).

The poorly-worded email zshark received from TSA had that &quot;extra butane cartridges&quot; business in there, and my purpose was to point out that the regulations prohibit <u>all</u> LPGs, whether checked or carried.

I just returned from France, flying AA to ZRH then Swiss to Nice. I had in my checked bag a butane curling iron. My bag had a paper telling me that it was inspected. The curling iron and butane cartridge was still there as it has been the past 35 trips to Europe. But in Nice I bought an electric one at Dartys(Revlon) because I don't like to chance running out of butane. This is my third purchase of a curling iron in Europe. I continue to carry the butane one for touch ups on overnight trains or airports after being covered with snow as in ZRH April 5.

Even if this began as an old post, it's still useful for hundreds (or more) looking for answers to similar questions. I never assume that answers to my posted questions here are just for me -- I assume those replies are for many people following a thread, whether now or in the future.

Rob, thank you for not thinking I'm an idiot

:)

I'm happy to let this dead horse rest in peace...

scatcat, the TSA screwed up by allowing your cartridge to remain.

The regulations clearly prohibit full or partial butane tanks in either checked or carry-on luggage.

This is one TSA regulation that I agree with fully.

<b>Do <u>you</u> want to be on the airplane when a tank fails at high altitude and releases several hundred cubic feet of explosive gas into the cabin?</b> I sure don't. So do me a favor and don't flout the law, okay?