Hair Straightener for Europe!
 

Hi all,

I am looking to buy online a hair straightener that I can use while I'm in Europe. Specifically, I will be in Italy, Northern Ireland, and Dublin. I do NOT want to use a US straightener with a voltage converter or a dual-voltage straightener. I want a straightener that is made for Europe with a European plug. I have tried the expensive voltage converters before and the straightener still burned out and also tried a dual voltage straightener which I didn't like.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the plugs in Northern Ireland are the 3 prong plugs and then Italy and Dublin are both the 2 prong plugs? I heard about a kind of straightener that has the 3 prongs, but you can remove one for using in the countries with 2 prongs? If any one has any advice or information on directing me to where I can buy a good straightener for Europe, I would really appreciate it.

Is the voltage the same in these three places that I can use just a regular plug converter between the 2 prong/3 prong places without worrying about blowing it out?

Please help, I'd like to buy this online ASAP. Thank you!!! :)

I forgot to add, I'm looking for something around $60-$80, not one that is super cheap and crappy (I have think hair), but I don't want to spend over $100 either.

Both, Northern Ireland and the Republic use the 3 prong plugs.
Italy and the rest of the Continent the 2 prong plugs.
As voltage is the same you would indeed just need a simple plug converter.

No clue about how you could buy a 240v appliance in the US other than go to, for example, amazon.co.uk and probably pay a nice sum for shipping.

I would just wait and buy one there. Most airports will have an electronics store with travel type items.

I feel like ordering something ahead of time will be cheaper than buying something in an airport, and I don't want a travel iron, I want a regular-sized one and I want a good iron to use for a long period of time, not the type you would buy at an airport. But thanks anyway. I'll check amazon.uk, anyone have any specific suggestions of ones they have or have had that have been good? Thanks!

No need to buy one at the airport. Wait until you are at your hotel, then go shopping for one in the city you arrive. My wife did just that when her US plugged straightener burned up our converter. She simply went to a appliance store in Paris and picked one up. I think the cost was 40-50 euros = $52-$65. You can buy a plug adapter either onlineor from Radio Shack, if you have one in your town.

I've bought a hair dryer, a curling iron, and a travel iron while in Germany.

I have bought plug adaptors at a luggage store, so that when I'm in a three-prong country I just attach the plug adaptor to the two-prong appliance.

None of the three items was expensive, but they've held up very well on multiple trips to Europe.

In Paris now using the flat iron I purchased years ago here at Darty. I've used it in London and Italy with an adaptor. It's terrific. I agree that you should purchase one at your first stop. It's fun to go to the local stores and see what's available. I have thick, curly, frizzy hair so I can appreciate your desire for a working straightener!

Good luck!

I bought one in Paris a yrs ago at Galleries Lafayette. You are right to not try the US version with converters...it just doesn't work. I would wait and buy there.

I bought a rather expensive straightener from folica.com a few years ago for use abroad, not a dual voltage, I believe it was a Solia or Sedu. Then last year when my daughter was going to Greece, we found a dual voltage one at Marxhalls for $25. I did not have much faith that i would work well, but given the price, I thought it was worth a try. That one worked fine for her & I used it while I was there, it was almost as good as my Solia straightener here. I have also bought a universal adaptor from Amazon which has 3 types pf plugs built in, one for USA, one for UK & I believe the third will work in other European countries. Will find out in a few days when we are in France!

Well my first week I am going to be in small towns in Italy and I don't think I'll be able to buy one there and I don't want to go a week without straightening my hair. Also, I bought a straightener last summer in Paris and I really didn't like the way it worked, so I'd like to buy one ahead of time so that I can read reviews and was hoping to hear of one that someone thought worked really well. I'd much rather buy it ahead of time, so if anyone has any suggestions please still let me know!

You can find one on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Sedu-Ceramic-T...5919045&sr=8-4

That would work for the UK but you would need an adaptor for the rest of Europe (I think).

It's more than you wanted to spend but peace of mind before a trip is invaluable.

"<i>I heard about a kind of straightener that has the 3 prongs, but you can remove one for using in the countries with 2 prongs? </i>"

Nope! Not only would that ruin the plug, UK/European prongs are completely different size/length.

You need plug adapters

Www.amazon.co.uk. Should have what you need, and like janisj says, you will need plug adapters as the prongs are different sizes.

okay perfect, thanks everyone! I will check out amazon

Hi, I was wondering if you ever found a good flatiron to use in Italy? I'm going in June and I've had trouble in the past using converters with American products in Europe. They never work!
Thanks ��

This thread is 2 years old and the person who wrote it hasn't been on here since then; but maybe someone else will answer.

Elizabeth: You will be MUCH better off waiting and buying one when you get to Italy. Sure, a dual voltage one will work <i>most</i> of the time, but it also might blow all the circuits in your hotel or even melt.

Buy a single voltage one in Europe -- then you have nothing to worry about.

Yes, janisj is correct. My dual voltage dryer is somewhere in the trashheaps of Dublin after the conversion switch refused to move from 110 to 220. I now have a lovely Irish dryer.

I have bought my stuff on ebay. I have a dryer and curling iron. I take a converter for different countries. There are usually dryers in the rooms but they are always so bad and I have thick hair so like my own.

Converters and high wattage devices do not go well together unless you pay for an expensive (and heavy) converter

>>>There are usually dryers in the rooms but they are always so bad and I have thick hair so like my own.<<<

I agree. I have thick hair and the dryers that are on walls are like someone blowing air through a straw to dry your hair. Would take forever. I take my cheap Conair folding hair dryer. It's dual voltage (1875 watts)so I don't need a converter. You do have to change the little button from 110 to 220 and run it on low, not high. Works great and has made many trips (remember to change it back before using it when you return home!). This is the one I use. The voltage button is just below the off/on. I have used this dryer on trips for years with no problems and I also use it at home daily.

http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...&aparam=147880

>>>Converters and high wattage devices do not go well together unless you pay for an expensive (and heavy) converter<<<

That's really no longer true. Years ago, converters only handled certain wattage usually 50-1600(you needed to check the wattage on the appliance you were going to use and make sure it was compatible). About 10 years ago, they started making hi/low converters with a switch (covered a bigger wattage range). Now they make them that automatically switch and cover wattage 0-2000. You just need to remember to operate any heat appliance on LOW. On low, it will operate as if on high.

This is the hi/low you have to switch.
http://www.amazon.com/Conair-TS2000-.../dp/B000H7K3C6

Auto switch.

http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Smart-C.../dp/B0010BLVYC

Thanks for your advice. The trouble is, I'm going with a group of students with EF Tours and I don't think I'll have much free time to go out looking for one there. I would really like to bring one with me. It doesn't have to be great, I just want one to work.

They have an assortment on Amazon.com and you can always find them on eBay.

>>Converters and high wattage devices do not go well together unless you pay for an expensive (and heavy) converter<<

AlanRow's advice is still correct. The solid state converters in kybourbon's link will damage electronic devices, and eventually any appliance with an electric motor. Those of us who live in Europe and use 110V appliances <b>always</b> have heavy-duty transformers. As a matter of interest, I just put a 1000W autotransformer I use in my home on my bathroom scales, and it weighs 18 lbs — you wouldn't pack that in your suitcase. ;-)

>>> The solid state converters in kybourbon's link will damage electronic devices, <<<

Hair dryers/curling irons/flat irons are not electronic devices. Have used what's in the link with zero problems, but they are not meant for electronic devices or to be used continually such as an appliance(running something all day). I don't bother anymore with it since everything I now have is dual voltage.

I suggest the obvious, curly hair for the former, clothes that don't need ironing for the latter.

Kybourbon, you left out part of my quote: "... and eventually any appliance with an electric motor."

A 240V hair curler or straightener would probably cost less than your Conair voltage converter, anyway, so what's the point in buying a more expensive converter? Most chargers for phones, cameras, tablets, etc are 100-240V these days, and only need adapter plugs (you need to check the specs to be sure, of course).

As an experiment I once tried using an electric window fan with one of those converters, and it damaged the motor within a few hours. I threw the converter in the trash. Usually the damage to an electric motor, e.g. hairdryer, will occur gradually, so it's not immediately noticeable, but will shorten its life. One only needs to read the 1 and 2 star reviews on Amazon.com to see that many people have problems with them.

BTW, here is an example of a hair styler where the owners manual states:
<i>"13. DO NOT operate with a voltage converter."</i>

http://www.qvc.com/html/hb/pdf/InStyler_Manual.pdf

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Health-Beaut..._ssn=verde1171

I bought a hair dryer from him for Germany. He has curling irons.

>>Hair dryers/curling irons/flat irons are not electronic devices. H<<

Hair dryers definitely do have motors. Yes, kyboubon, dual voltage appliances <i>usually</i> work. But trust me, all you need is one failure to change your opinion. I traveled w/ dual voltage hair dryers and curling irons and later flat irons for MANY years and 95+% of the time - no problem. But I've had two really dramatic failures - one melted, and one blew all the circuits in the guest house. (the other guests were not at all happy about that one). Two other times the hairdryer just stopped working and smelled like it was burning but no other damage . . .

So I completely solved the problem by buying a hairdryer and hair straightener overseas.

<i>Heimdall on Mar 10, 14 at 2:32pm
As an experiment I once tried using an electric window fan with one of those converters, and it damaged the motor within a few hours. I threw the converter in the trash.</i>

See http://tinyurl.com/luva2b3 for reasons why travelers should avoid converters, especially since there are safer alternates.

Hi spaarne,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for that very useful reference! :-)

As I wrote, I only tried using the converter as an experiment on a cheap window fan, and quickly unplugged it when I saw signs that the motor was being damaged. I am an American who has lived in England for many years, but still have some 110V appliances which I use through heavy duty transformers scattered around the house. These are perfectly safe, as John Bermont wrote in your reference. Everything I use for travel is rated 100-240V 50/60Hz, so I don't need converters or transformers away from home.

I have a thing about Fodorites passing on bad advice, especially when it has safety implications. If kybourbon won't believe me, maybe she will believe John Bermont. BTW, have a look at the 1 and 2 star reviews in http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Smart-C...owViewpoints=1. If that won't put someone off voltage converters, I don't know what will!