I either need a hairdryer that works or a flat iron that works in Italy; figured I might as well go for the flat iron.

I just need something that will be reliable for 5 days...Otherwise I will have to wear a hat for a week, and I hate doing that. I've decided to skip converters/adapters, wondering about whether I'll start a fire, short out the whole hotel, etc. In the past I've spent money on "travel" hairdryers, etc, and STILL had problems... Just gonna bite the bullet and buy one when I get there this time.

So...assuming I'll be arriving at Termini Station on a Tuesday in November...any savvy suggestions out there as to the quickest/closest/cheapest place I can pick up a flat iron? Or, last resort, hair dryer?

Thanks in advance!

There's a supermarket in the basement of Termini, you could try there. Also, there's an UPIM department store in Termini, they might have a small appliance department. Darned hair, eh?

Yvonne

Do you know that your accommodation won't have a hairdryer ? Nearly all hotel rooms do.

Had to google to find out that a flat iron is apparently American for hair straighteners Here a flat iron is a pre-electric, solid clothes iron they heated up in the fire or on the cooking range ! Don't you need to dry your hair before using straighteners ?

Anyway, my travel iron packed up once in Rome and I got another (obviously an Italian one) from an electrical shop which I found by walking south from the Spanish Steps along a main shopping street - it only took me 5 mins to find one. The snag with my Italian iron, though, is that it has a 3 prong plug, though, so no good for accommodation with 2 pin sockets - you still need an adaptor. So if you do go ahead with this, try to get an appliance with a 2 pin plug so you can use it anywhere in Italy, or indeed most of Europe.

A travel hairdryer from home with an adaptor would be much more useful IMO. What problems have you had in the past ?

Walmart (if you are in the US) actually carries a cheap ($15) and very small hair dryer that is dual voltage.

Thanks so much, Yvonne---This is what I was hoping for--a quick and easy shopping venue. I'll try hitting both as soon as I arrive at Termini.
Yes...darn hair. My need for the flat iron isn't vanity---if I don't use a hair dryer and/or a flat iron, people run screaming when they see me. I blame my parents. Thanks again!

there is also a fairly new Super Drug (not the name but the idea) in Termini's shopping area that probably carries such things.

sstone151 - we found the drug store by Termini to have all that we needed. We borrowed a hairdryer from the housekeepers at our hotel for the duration of our stay.

There is a brand called We Go Europe and they sell mini flat irons for travel. They are dual voltage (you'll still need a converter, but at least not a voltage converter). It worked really well for me and I'll now use it for all of my trips. It is very small which is great for packing, but it will probably not work as well as the one you have now. Check into it. I found mine at Ulta.

sstone151, I'll be heading to Italy pretty soon and was thinking of purchasing a hair dryer and flat iron there. How hard was it for you to find a flat iron and did it work comparably to your regular one?

Hmmul: This was sstone151's one and only ever post on Fodors nearly two years ago. Apparently she hasn't been back on the forums since.

I'd recommend you start a new thread w/ your own questions.

But the info YvonneT posted is pretty much what you need . . .

Thanks, janisj.

"Had to google to find out that a flat iron is apparently American for hair straighteners Here a flat iron is a pre-electric, solid clothes iron they heated up in the fire or on the cooking range ! "

However girls with curly long hair did sometimes use the old fashioned flat iron to iron their hair straight!

Good one, alihutch ! Come to think of it, I'm sure I have seen references in old books to women with "ironed" hair - maybe particularly black women ?

Think that my Mum referred to it...I'll ask her...

A hairdryer is NOT a flat iron.

Viajero2, I think we all know that - the OP asked about a hairdryer or flat iron, then I said "Had to google to find out that a flat iron is apparently American for hair straighteners".

ttt