curling iron question
 

i plan to use my dual voltage curling iron with an adapter. i keep reading that people have had experiences with melting hair. does this sometimes happen with dual voltage curling irons used with adapters or just when using a converter?<BR>thanks.

Yeah, like total for sure, it will like, totally fry your hair...so like you need to totally not like worry about like any of that stuff and just like spend you time like totally out of your like hotel room and like not worrying about you hair!

Marci-<BR>I had the same problem you are talking about with a converter, but I am not sure about the adapter w/ dual voltage curling iron. I would be interested to hear any advice anyone has also. <BR>By the way--try to ignore the previous idiot. Like you and most other normal people, I like to bathe and look presentable on vacation.

You do not need a converter but you will need an adapter plug. Do not turn your curling iron to the highest setting; use medium or lower.<BR><BR>If you use a dual voltage hair dryer, always use the low setting.

I melted a curling iron in Paris with a converter.<BR><BR>However, my daughter solved the problem by buying a curling iron in Europe. They are cheap, will work fine and you can save it to use for future trips.

to be safe, you may be better off just buying one in Europe when you get there, or just do without it.

I haven't ever used a curling iron, but I do take a dual voltage dryer with me which works great, I've never had problems.... but, I'm guessing if people are melting something, it is probably the setting being too high. My dryer is great in that when it is set on the 220V, it physically will not allow you to put it on the high setting, only the low, so that's a good safety feature (the low works like high, though, in Europe, no problem getting my hair dry). So, I suspect if you can force a dual voltage curling iron to high setting, that's the problem.

John G must have some thoughts on this...

I took my curling blow dryer with the converter. Plugged all of it and it blew the electric service in the entire wing of our hotel--not electricity until the electrician came. Marilyn

No idea about the voltage conversion issue, but my curling iron self destructed once when I had the front of my hair in it. Burned off several inches of hair. Tragic! Be careful, just in case.

Ok, now I'm getting worried. We're going to Ireland in a few weeks and I use a hair dryer and a curling iron. I was going to go out tonight to buy a voltage converter. The one I was looking at is switchable 50 or 1600 watts. Will that make a difference?<BR><BR>We're doing a whirlwind tour of Ireland and I may not have time to buy a curling iron and hairdryer there.<BR><BR>Any advice (besides going without)? Has anyone had any luck with the voltage converters?

I have had too many traumas with so-called "travel" or dual voltage curling irons & hair dryers that either shorted or melted when in Europe. I finally just bought a European curling iron from BHV and that works fine.

My advice would be to forget this voltage conveerter business and buy a dual voltage dryer and curling iron if you must. It's more convenient to pack, anyway, than having that converter. A dual voltage product is made to be used that way and should have been tested, so I think would be more reliable than something that is not. I know they have these and they cost only $10-$18 in the US, I see them all the time in the drug and discount stores. I think Conair makes dual voltage curling irons (I know they do hair dryers), and I think Vidal Sassoon does, also. The drug store chain CVS has a nice CVS-label travel dual voltage dryer--they were on sale about a month ago for only $10 (regularly $18), so I bought one as I'd been wanting one as my other one will have to die eventually (it's 15 years old). They are quite nice, about 1600 watts, great bright blue color and a foldable handle. <BR><BR>I don't understand the watts issue on the converter as the converter is for the voltage, but I suppose it has something to do with heavy duty versus minor appliances and having two settings should help. I've never used a converter, though. I think everybody who's talked about melting and blowing up was using a converter, not a dual voltage appliance, but maybe I missed something.

well, there you go, we crossed posts and Melissa said she'd had dual voltage ones fail. Well, as I said, I have one that's worked for 15 years all over Europe, Mexico, Caribbean and Africa and have never had a problem with it.

My wife has:<BR>-Fried curling irons with converters<BR>-Blown fuses in hotel rooms with dual voltage hair dryers<BR>-finally bought a EU curling iron however it is only 18W vs. the 85W she has at home so it does not get really hot. <BR>Recommend you buy a dual voltage curling iron with at least 25-30W<BR>Buy a dual voltage hair dryer but do not use the highest heat setting, 1500W will take out a lot of European fuses.

Marci--I took my dual-voltage hair dryer, and dual voltage curling iron to Italy this spring. Both worked fine. As several people mentioned, usually the hair dryers only work on low speed. I also found that the curling iron kept shutting off on high heat, but did fine when I used a lower heat setting. Since both items were dual voltage, I only needed the plug adapter. Good luck!

VIsited Paris last month and always use a hot curling brush at home. Hubby said leave it home and pick one up in Paris. We searched a variety of stores but had no luck. I ended up going natural. (Tried to stay out of photo ops all week long. )

I take a Clairol curling Iron that does't use electricity. It has a "thing" that you screw in the handle and it makes it get hot. Sorry that it is such a poor description !

I believe that would be a butane curling iron.

used an adapter for my curling iron in Sorrento and the darn thing melted!

does anyone know of a website where you can purchase 'italian' curling irons over here (that only owrk over there. i would much prefer that over shopping for a new curling iron and hair dryer on vacation.<BR>thanks.

I think Christina has got it.<BR><BR>Screw the converter, transformer mess. Get a dual voltage appliance (most DO work) and get an adapter (so your plug will fit the outlet). <BR><BR>I have heard that hairdryers are rather iffy, even when dual voltage. I have never been anywhere where the hotel didn't have one I could borrow.<BR><BR>Check your curling iron. Does it say anywhere "100-240V~50/60Hz"? This means it will work anywhere with voltage from 100 to 240 volts (US is 110, Europe is 220, and Australia is 240) and will work either electric cycle of 50 OR 60 Hertz (I may be wrong here on the terminology, but you get the gist of it). BOTH have to be mentioned for your item to be dual voltage. <BR><BR>If your item only says something like "120V~60Hz" it's obviously not dual voltage.<BR><BR>My curling iron worked fine in Australia and Europe. Although, I have to admit, on most days, I just threw my hair up in a ponytail and went on my way!

OK I know to some people this is unimportant but having a good hair day matters for us girlie girls! I have solved this problem by purchasing a blow dryer (or curling iron) when I arrive at my destination. I know it sounds impractical but I have a collection all labeled with country of origin, Italy, Mexico, England. When I visit London again in September I can skip the trip to Boots for the hairdryer (like CVS only better) It is cheap usually around 15-25 dollars and well worth it. I have two sets of converters that I have purchased at duty free. Give it up, a total waste. Sometimes they work, most often they don't.

Teri - <BR><BR>I'll take a woman who is comfortable putting her hair in a ponytail or clipping it up in one of those thingys over the high maintenance "girly girls" any day of the week! There is nothing sexier than a good looking woman who KNOWS she is attractive and is confident enough to go out without trying too hard.

Well Michael that is really nice. Fortunately, my husband whose name is also Michael, prefers an elegant Latina who actually "dresses for dinner" instead of throwing her hair up in a ponytail and pulling on a pair of jeans. One who knows how to sit like a lady, walk in Manolo Blahnik's with grace, and order in French. I do not wear shorts or athletic footwear, except to the gym, where I maintain my size four "high maintainance" figure. Nope, I do not camp, schlep, or white water raft. I guess I must be no fun at all. Oh well different strokes Michael.

My wife took a hair dryer to England 2 years ago and Italy last year. It was dual voltage - 120/240. It worked in England, fried in Italy - I think cuz we didn't push the switch firmly over to 240. ( A little rotor thingie). <BR>There were several stores near Victor Emmmanuel II in Rome on the way to Porta Maggiore and we got an Italian one for about 37.000L ($20US?)<BR>Note the difference between an adaptor (covert round metal to flat metal) and a converter (changes 120V to 240V or vice versa). Most small converters can't handle the hundreds of watts a heater element uses; they will smoke and melt. <BR>A converter is unnecessary for dual-voltage appliances, use an adaptor. <BR>(Sorry if the Electrical 101 is obvious).

Revlon - dual voltage curling iron - available at Target for about ten bucks. I always bring this with me to Europe and have never had a problem. You do need an adapter plug. Curl away.

my wife fried a curling iron in amsterdam. we went down to the lobby, and asked where we could purchase another one of these(showing the curling iron to the girl at the desk, as we didn't speak any dutch) she gave us directions to a place in the red-light district that was a sex-shop! i guess she had different ideas as to what we were showing her!

Teri - <BR><BR>Michael was simply stating a preference. On top of that, you inferred a lot of things that weren't even close to what he said. Do you have any idea how insecure you sound about yourself?

But Michael - <BR><BR>Doesn't a pony and a scrunchie look kind of odd with a cocktail dress for dinner? <BR><BR>

I'm going to have to agree with Michael- Teri sounds like one of those women who simply has to try too hard - just look at the way she tries to build herself up in her post. More importantly, the way she tries to tie having high maintenance, curling iron dependent hair to being able to order in French, carry oneself appropriately, dress stylishly, etc is very telling - AND amusing. The curling iron look went out a LONG time ago - for everyone but suburban chicks with overly coiffed "mall hair" and others with outdated looks.

Oh goodness! What a problem! What do you do, actually, if your hair DOES melt? That must be a horrifying experience, and one I would hope your significant other would capture on film. Some of us less fashion-conscious folks just don't even have to deal with these problems. Our natural hair works fine in Europe, just like all the gorgeous Europeans' hair does. <BR>Get over your hair and enjoy your vacation! If this is your biggest concern, you haven't done even half the planning you need to, ducks!

What is it with Americans & curling irons? THEy are not used in other countires to anywhere near the same extent. Is it part of the tarty texan big-hair thing???? You know, the types that also wear frosted pink lipstick & blue eyeshadow that went out years & years ago?

Big hair, big asses that will not fit into airplane seats, crispy pink 'jogging suits' with white sneakers. My what a glamorous picture we paint here.<BR><BR>Never mind the people who cannot drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, or eat with a fork in their left hand.

Hair styles that require use of a curling iron, as a general rule, are out. Straightening irons are another issue altogether.:)

OK, who is still using a curling iron??? They make a curling brush. (looks like a brush roller with a handle on the end) You need to blow dry your hair till almost dry, then brush (roll) your hair around the barrel. A little bit of syling spray or hair spray put on your hair before it is fully dried will help. And yes, you can melt your hair with a curling iron.