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Taking hair straighteners to New York

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Binky | 21:21 Fri 18th Nov 2005 | Travel
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Am I right in thinking that you need a special adapter for the USA? I have one that I use in Europe but suspect it won't do. Are there any problems with taking electrical appliances, such as hair straighteners to the States? Thanks.
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you would need an adapator I saw some for USA at heathrow airport shop and will get one for next trip and take my little kettle for coffee in room, i think can take appliances they sometimes ask have you any electric goods, i am just come back from jerusalem and was strict checks at airport i had a kettle and iron and was ok.europe adaptor not for usa. have a good trip.

The USA uses different plugs to Europe and the UK, so yes you would need a different adaptor.


It also uses a different voltage. Not knowing what a hair straightener is, I don't know what effect this would have - it could work normally, work less efficiently, not work at all or burn out.


Better to buy a cheap one when you get there.

US uses a different voltage. You will have problems getting your equipment hot enough, fast enough.

Based on my wife's experiences you will be wasting your time. As danny says they won't get hot enough to work. Take dzug's advice and just buy a cheap set when you get there. May not be great, but a lot better than the results from using UK ones there. Or you could always have wavy hair for a day or two! Hair dryers are also a waste of time, unless they are dual voltage.


Other appliances may be OK, but a US adaptor will be required. Available in many high street shops for a couple of quid. Don't wait 'til you get there though - you probably won't be able to buy one easily in the US.

Went last week and had advice from Answerbank - they were right! Buy US adaptors at airport - hotbrush worked really OK - hairdryer very slow, although used my friend's travel dryer from Boots with adaptor included and that was fine.
It's better to buy some cheap ones there as in my experience they do not heat up enough. I took curling tongs and they were useless. I had to buy some there.
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You need to step up the voltage in the US - a three to two pin adapter is not enough on its own. Your hair straighteners will work, but not very well. Have a look at this site:


http://www.beststuff.co.uk/voltage_conversion.htm


and scroll down to the step-up converters. I'd get it sorted before you get there; how annoying to have to waste any of your holiday time looking for something like this!

Mrs rampart simply buys electrical appliances once she arrives at a foreign country. A bit of a waste, but sure to work.

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