Euro hair dryers
 

Does anyone know where I might be able to buy a European hair dryer in the U.S.? I've checked the usual places (TravelSmith, Magellans) with no luck. Thanks for your help.

Hi Maggiie<BR> Do you specifically want a European hair dryer or one that works on 220V?<BR> You should be able to buy a dual voltage dryer in the US.

Maggie, I've had this dilemma often before and I simply bought one when I got there! I could not find a Euro dryer here (and, bear in mind, the plugs are different in many countries -- one kind of plug won't necessarily work in all European countries.) I tried the current/shape adapter route a couple of times and each time, it was a disaster -- blew out my American hair dryer and destroyed it. So forget that option. I now own 3 or 4 dryers, all with different shaped plugs, which will work in Europe and Asia. I find out which plug shape will work in the country I'm visiting and then just pack that one.<BR><BR>When you arrive, just get yourself to a department store and buy a hairdryer. I consider it money worth spending because I have long hair, and they're generally as cheap as they are here (you can get a good one for under $25). Plus, it's yours to keep and bring back should you return to Europe. Another thing to think about is if you're staying in a nicer hotel, they often provide their own hairdyers so you wouldn't need to get one of your own. Good luck.

Your present hair dryer is most likely dual voltage (110-220 volts)All you will need is an adapter plug to fit into the wall outlet and change the lever from 110 to 220 if there is one.<BR>Check your dryer and see if it says 110-220 volts. In the unlikely event it does not, Probably all new hair dryers bought in the States are also dual voltage.

Wow -- thanks for the quick responses.<BR><BR>I'm looking for a hair dryer that will work in French outlets without need of a converter or adapter.<BR><BR>Normally, I'd wait until I got to Europe to buy one, but this is supposed to be a gift for someone who's getting ready to leave for France. I was hoping to save her the hassles of using adapters/converters (I've had bad luck with them in the past) or of having to trek around looking for a hair dryer when she gets there.<BR><BR>Any other suggestions?

Maggie,<BR> My wife says: get a dual voltage dryer and an adapter kit. The kit has little plugs that fit the US spades and all of the European outlets. <BR> That way your friend can use the dryer everywhere.<BR> She won't need a converter.

Our local CVS drugstore sells them!<BR><BR>For some reason, they carry a full line of travel accessories--security pouches, fold up totes, money belts and the like.

Thanks for the replies. As I mentioned earlier, I don't want to buy an adapter/converter kit -- I'm looking for a hair dryer that's ready to plug-and-play, so to speak. I know some people have had good luck with using U.S. appliances with adapters in Europe, but I've had too many problems -- and I'm trying to save my friend those hassles.<BR>Elle: Your CVS actually sells European hair dryers? With Euro plugs? Lucky you. My CVS sells dual-voltage ones, but nothing with Euro plugs.

Where is &quot;local&quot; for you? We don't have CVS drugstores. I'd also be interested to purchase one before leaving for Europe. I was just resolving myself to a few bad hair days until I could purchase one over there. I, too, have not had good luck with the converter route--have blown them out or they only work on low.

Text search here re &quot;hairdryer&quot; for multiple threads on this subject. I've replied to several stating that I mail ordered a 220 volt, round pin hairdryer from a Canadian company called House of 220. http://www.houseof220.com/<BR><BR>Think it cost me about $25, including shipping. This little (Braun?)hairdryer works much better than my dual voltage one ever did as I'm able to use the high setting. I did buy plug converters to use for countries that have different outlets (UK, etc.) and it has served me well in all my travels for several years now.

Hi<BR><BR>The people above are correct.<BR><BR>1) Virtually the whole world uses 220-250 v. Most stuff can take either<BR><BR>2) Hairdryers are very cheap in Europe<BR><BR>Peter<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR>

&quot;My&quot; CVS is in Philadelphia.<BR><BR>The European hair dryers are not with the other hair dryers, however. They are in a special &quot;travel&quot; section along with things like luggage tags, security pouches, luggage straps, etc.

Hi Maggie,<BR><BR>If you don't have a CVS, how about Fred Meyer's? They also carry them.

Also take note ladies, the curling irons they sell in Europe are very weak compared to ours. I bought two of them in Italy thinking the first one was broken and finally realizing that they just get warm not nearly hot enough to curl unruly hair like mine.

Hi, I don't know whether this will be of help to you as you are in the US, but I purchased a KORJO brand hairdryer in Australia, which has dual voltage. I also purchased an Italian and UK adaptor plug for use at our destinations.<BR><BR>The hairdryer worked fantastically, it was very compact and very powerful and there was absolutely no problem with the plugs. Actually at one stage I thought I had lost the italian adaptor and had to search for a new one in Florence. Found a dubious looking multi region adaptor in a little electrical store which also worked perfectly. <BR><BR>They have a website www.korjo.com.au and you may be able to find out if they can be purchased in the US or ordered on line.

I'm going to try to be nice without calling you the dumbest broad in history, but it won't be easy.<BR>A dual voltage hairdryer like you can buy for cheap at KMart, Walmart, or anywhere else is not a problem in Europe. You simply turn the little dial on it to 220 instead of 110. But yes you need a little adaptor to fit on the plug, one that changes from two flat prongs like we have in the US to one with two round prongs like they have in France. This is not a big deal. It is done all the time. It will not make your hair dryer blow up, or turn your hair to permanently curled. But if it is too much to ask of you to be able to put on that simple little plug adaptor (not a voltage converter) then I really suggest you not even buy a hairdryer in Europe,but stay home, because if that is too complicated, I can't imagine how you'd cope otherwise.

Here in Canada we can buy dual-voltage hair dryers at WalMart and most large department stores like Sears and the Bay. I've also seen them stateside at Sally Beauty supply: all you need then is the adaptor plug for France...the one with the 2 round pins. Yes, some hotels in France have them but they're usually attached to the bathroom wall and besides meaning you tie up the bathroom for however long they just blow and it's hard to style with them. As someone with long hair I've used Conair and now Phillips ; take the adaptor plug and a 6 or 8 foot cord because so often the plug is on one wall and the mirror is waaaaay over on another. For my next trip in June I've been checking out www.Darty and plan to visit their stores to purchase a 220 dryer. <BR><BR>Lesli: Thanks for reminding me about House of 220; I've been there...it's in Toronto.

Depending on what kind of hotels your friend is staying at, many 3-stars and higher have hairdryers in the bathroom already.

I was going say what Suze just did...there have been hair dryers in just about every place we've stayed in France, England and Italy. I don't even bother packing one anymore. Now, if your friend has a digital camera, you might buy her an extra memory card for her camera....or a voltage adapter so she can recharge the camera's battery.

On our trip to Germany last June, every place we stayed had a hair dryer available. Some in the room, some you asked at the desk. Check with your hotels if you know where you will be staying.

Many thanks to all of you who took my question seriously and provided real assistance.<BR>To those of you who insist on telling me that I don't need a hairdryer, or that I should wait until I get to Europe to buy one, or that I should just buy a dual-voltage dryer and an adapter, please reread my request. The appliance isn't for me, it's a gift for a friend who said she wanted one. Yes, I know that you can buy hair dryers in Europe, and yes, I know that many hotels offer hair dryers in their rooms, and yes, I know that some people have great luck using US hair dryers with adapters.<BR>BUT -- that was not my question. As I said, I'm simply trying to help a friend, and I'm not sure that should earn me the label &quot;dumbest broad in history.&quot; Aren't we all entitled to have different travel styles?

Touche to you, Maggie!<BR><BR>I live in Europe, and when shopping in the US for dual-voltage consumer electronics (where they are cheaper than here), I have not yet been able to find one that is made with a European plug. Athough you can buy a dual-voltage dyer in the US, I don't think you will be able to find a dyer with a French plug already attached. <BR><BR>As you know, Europe has many differently shaped plugs depending on which country you are in, so manufacturers selling dual-voltage products in the US probably don't see any point in selling them with a French-type plug or any other European plug. <BR><BR>Your gift is very thougthful and I don't see how your friend would object to a dual-voltage dryer and an adapter as part of your gift.

Maggie, Lesli answered your question already, go to the web site she wrote and they have them there.

Maggie, actually, no I didn't know that you already knew many hotels provided hairdryers in Europe, how would I know that?<BR><BR>There are all levels of experience in travelers on this board. No need to scold those who try to be helpful.

FYI, I don't like the hair dryers in hotels, the vents are usually plugged up with dust and other people's hair and I want to gag. I like to take my own personal items and I think Maggie's friend would appreciate a hair dryer for her trip.<BR>Also, the adapter plugs don't always fit properly and they keep coming out of the wall.

Lesli, you're a lifesaver. House of 220 is *exactly* the kind of site I was looking for, and their prices are reasonable, to boot. Thanks so much.<BR><BR>And Suze, I didn't mean to scold people for trying to help me. This board can be a great source of help, but I do get frustrated sometimes at how some posters seem to think there's only one right way to do something. I'd made a pretty specific request, and even explained why I was making it, and some of the responses I got took the tone that I was just going about things all wrong.

No offense taken...<BR><BR>But you ask a question on a BB and *opinions* is what you'll get. There is rarely one correct answer to a post. Just pick and choose from what folks feel is appropriate input.<BR><BR>-travels without a hairdryer BTW~ LOL

Maggie--I apologize for my ignorance; I missed the part of your message that said your friend knew that many hotels had hairdryers. Oh Stupid Me! I won't ever bother you with my idiotic, thoughtless input again.

OK - I am another &quot;stupid&quot; traveler and have a hairdryer question :)<BR>If I have a 1600 W 110/220 'grounded' US type plug, what type of plug adapter do I need for Italian hotels? Do they have 'grounded' and 'non grounded' recepticles also?

The part that plugs into the wall (appropriately called the male end) in Italy needs to have two round prongs on it. The part of the adaptor you need to plug your hairdryer into (the similarly appropriately named female end) needs to match what your hairdryer plug looks like -- either two flat prongs, one larger than the other, or two flat prongs plus a round post.

Patrick, is it getting warm in here? That is the most enticing description of electric plugs that I have ever read, lol.

Thanks Patrick... Although SeaUrchin obviously has her mind in the gutter, I found the information valuable :)<BR>And can I infer from your answer that Italian hotels do not use 'grounded' plugs at all? Guess I had better be careful and make sure to avoid water puddles on the bathroom floor!!

I appreciate your question in that I am trying to find the same kind of hair dryer. We travel often and the dual voltage American hair dryers will not work on high. As for assuming hotels will have hair dryers that is very risky as it is very dependent on the country as well on the type (not the number of stars) of accomdations. I have looked for hair dryers while in Europe multiple times but have not been able to find a small one for travel. I looked at the website mentioned above for the European dryer but could not find one on their website. If anyone has a link for the two plug 220 volt (220 only) I would appreciate the advice.

tt

I tried the adaptor route and shut down all the power in my small hotel in Italy once...using the correct voltage, but apparently for too long!

I'll be watching this post to see if anyone has found a better way.

Since this thread originated in 2003, many more hotels/b&b's/apartments now provide hair dryers. If yours does not (sometimes it's not specified on the website but is available, so send an email and ask) just purchase one when you arrive.

or...

Maybe you can find one on Ebay?

Old thread, but I agree with zoecat - just buy one when you get there. Most places have these available but if for some reason you don't like them they are cheap enough to buy. Then, you have an excuse to make another trip to get use out of them!

Said by someone who has a UK blow dryer and straightener, European blow dryer and straightener...

Thank you thank you to the person who suggested ebay!! One of their links had a travel hair dryer with euro plugs and 220v. For anyone interested the website is samstores.com