I have heard that on long flights, sometimes liquids, like shampoo, will burst because of the pressure. I am moving to Italy for a year and I have a lot to pack, should I risk it or just wait until I get there to get things like shampoo?

Just make sure the top is screwed on tightly and it will be fine. The "altitude" in the cabin is about 9,000 feet even if the plane is flying at 37,000.

The passenger compartment and baggage holds are all pressurized and heated by the same air conditioning system.

Don't worry about it.

You would be nuts to bring shampoo to Italy.

Are you renting? Rentals in Italy come fully furnished except for linens.

I wouldn't pack anything except your clothes, some sheets and towels, your computer and books.

Take zepploe's advise and buy your shampoo and other toiletries in Italy.

Personally, I would only bring what you need for a few weeks until you settle. Trying to bring things for a year that you can buy over there is packing a lot. At the risk of coming across as sarcastic, Italians wash their hair too with all kinds of shampoos and soaps at all kinds of prices. They don't have all of the premium brands we have here they have different ones. You'll find all the soap, shampoo, toothpaste etc you need locally. By the way leave a little room at the top and pack your liquids in plastic bags. They shouldn't explode, though on one trip mine did.

I wouldn't even bring enough for a few weeks. A small travel sized bottle is more than enough to get you through the first week or two.

They do have shampoo in Italy afterall.

But - no, shampoo doesn't burst. Any bottle/tube may leak though if the top is not firmly screwed on.

It helps to partially unscrew the lid, squeeze some excess air out, then screw the lid on tight while you're still squeezing.

Yes - there is shampoo in Italy. But you might not find a brand you like for several weeks or even months. Your accustomed brand might not even be the same formula your hair is used to.

So take the biggest bottle of your favorite brand you can carry so that if you don't find something you like right away, you won't be frustrated with your hair - on top of all the other adjustments you will be making.

To answer your question - yes, it does happen, and has happened to me. I am aware of all the reasons why it is not supposed to, but it occasionally does happen, more often in checked than carry on bags. That's why you should always pack such things inside zip lock bags.

So if you have a brand of shampoo that you just cannot live without and are sure it will not be available in Italy, bring it packed inside a zip lock bag.

Oh please! Most shampoo brands are international and sold in every Italian supermarket or open market. And native Italian shampoo is some of the best on the planet. I'm not carrying a torch here for Italian beauty products, but having moved to Italy, Mpoppins is best advised not to drag any more than she needs. She surly will be overpacked anyway. She doesn't need to pack a huge bottle of a commercially made shampoo. If her hairdresser has been mixing her a boutique blend, fine, but I doubt that's the case.

She asked if she should "just wait until I get there to get things like shampoo?"

The answer is yes. I think if she was using some exotic hair product she would have said so.

(Just wanted to post some more angry rhetoric for Janis. )

I agree with zeppole. You'll find all of your favorites in Italy. No need to lug a bunch of that stuff with you on the plane.

I would take just enough like you would for a trip... travel sized bottles that would last a few weeks.

To avoid an accident simply don't fill them super-full and pack them into sandwich sized ziplock bags just in case.

Especially since you are moving there for a year, you're going to have to shop locally eventually. Why not save the luggage space for more important things (like clothes and shoes -haha)?

I dunno, I use Kiehl or Abba shampoo and have only ever seen Kiehl products in Milan, never seen Abba.

I've never had an explosion but have had many leaks, I second the zip lock bag suggestion.

you would be nuts to bring clothes and shoes to Italy. Their clothes and shoes are wayy nicer. I tease

Mpoppins,

I moved to Switzerland 18 months ago. There are a lot of products avail here (although not nearly as much as in a US CVS!) but I don't like all of them. I do buy my shampoo here, but when I go home I load up on my face wash and lotion.

My teenage daughters hate the shampoo here and carry a few of the largest size of their favorite back with them in their suitcases. I have them put it in a plastic bag because once or twice it has opened and bit leaked out.

I think they are crazy to lug these huge bottles back, but as long as their bag is under the weight limit it's not my problem and it does make them happy. They also bring back A LOT of Jif peanut butter and some favorite candies.

Not everything from the US is avail everywhere.

gruezi

RE: the air pressure issue

Squeeze as much air out of the bottle as you can. Less air = less expansion. The ideal condition to reach is no air at all in the bottle.

<i>So take the biggest bottle of your favorite brand you can carry so that if you don't find something you like right away, you won't be frustrated with your hair - on top of all the other adjustments you will be making.</i>

This is the best advice on the thread. If you are attached to your shampoo, it is surely less hassle to lug a big bottle than to add it to a long list of adjustments you will have to make.

If you don't care, then buy local, but don't count on readily finding your favorite brand.

I agree with travelgourmet...

Many people underestimate the little things that can make us feel better when we are far from home and adjusting to a new culture/language, job, etc...

For me, it's not shampoo, but there are other things that I need to bring along to feel less discombobulated.

gruezi