curling irons

hi!

I have bought curling irons in the EU in France it was 30 euro minimum..in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy it was 20 euro...in Olomouc, Czech Republic it was equivalent to 7 euro

look for the curling irons from here that have built in converters and then all you need to bring is an adapter...

I have bought a converter and an adapter for as little as $5.00 new, on Ebay! I bought mine on Ebay and worked just fine when I was in Europe in November.
So, give Ebay a try!

Karen,

Two years ago I bought a folding traveling curling iron from a website, but I don't remember which one. It doesn't require a converter. It works in Europe and here.I think it even came with an adapter. I think if you google travel curling iron you will probably find something.

Karen I was think the same thing, seemed easiest to just buy a cheap one there . But 30 euros is not cheap in my books. I was hoping I could go to some cheapo store and just pick on up for 10-15 euros.. anyone else weigh in on that ?

Hi Karen,
I don't think you'll find a curling iron for anything like $5 in the UK- the other posters here are right, bring one with you that doesn't need a converter- adapters are easy to find. Have a great trip!

Remember the difference between a converter and an adapter. A plug adapter is generally cheap. I think it's fine for basic stuff like a curling iron. Worst case scenario, the curling iron stops working.

For expensive electronics, I wouldn't trust a plug adapter only.

Thanks for your help-you've answered my questions. So if I use something that's not compatible, it only kills my appliance? It doesn't fry out the hotel's electrical system? That would be awkward!

Karen,

I forgot my curling iron on a trip to Spain and found that even at their largest department store they didn't have a very good selection... AND it was pretty expensive.

Now, for my trip to England I bought a curling iron that is dual voltage. You don't even need to change the setting, it adapts to the voltage when you plug it in. It's a Conair and it cost me about $13.00. I will need to remember the adapter though so the plug will fit in the wall, but the power converter won't be necessary.

They have dual voltage hair dryers too but I forgot to flip the switch one time and fried it. Live and learn!

In the UK, you can find curling iron for about 15 pounds (about $30). If you think you will be making more than one trip to Europe, I think it is worth buying one there. If you buy one in the UK, you will need to get a plug adapter for France (to change UK to Continental), but you can find one of these at the airport.

I have a hair dryer that I bought in Europe 10 years ago and I still use it on every trip. I think it was worth the investment.

To answer your second posted question, yes it is possible you will fry the hotel's electrical system, so if you take a non-Europe friendly iron, you must use a converter. My friend caused total darkeness in her London hotel due to her non-dual voltage hair dryer - not the impression she wanted to make on her first day there.

Have you considered leaving the curling iron at home and trying to go without? I understand the desire to look good on vacation, but I found it quite liberating to just go with it. I am wearing a hair band in nearly every picture of me taken in Italy, but the photos are mostly of the scenery and not my hair-do. Just a thought!

Also, the next-to-worst case is that you will melt the handle of your curling iron. My mother found this out the hard way taking her curling iron to Ireland years ago. When she picked it up, after letting it heat up, the rod part just oozed out of the handle and fell off.

Karen, I don't use a curling iron, but from living in Europe for a few years, learned a few things about electrical devices generally. For a curling iron either buy one in the US marked 120/240 volts (120 NAmer/240 Eur) with a built-in switch to go back and forth; plus 2 cheap plug adapters that allow you to match the 'prong' holes in UK/continent (they're different) with those for US/Canada. When overseas switch the iron to 240, use the appropriate 'prong' adapter (either UK or cont) and away you go. Or, buy a cheap iron @ Boots Drugs in London & a UK to continent 'prong' adapter. Try www.austinhouse.com for examples. I found converter/transformers to go from 120v to 240v worked on some stuff, not well on others. EG-the radio in my Cdn alarm clock worked well; the clock wouldn't keep time using the conv/trans; overslept a few times. Solution, bought a cheapie in Europe at the local example of Walmart. BTW, checked my wife's iron and hair dryer; they're both marked 120/240.

Hi Karen,
I posted an answer earlier- I took a dual voltage hairdryer from the UK to Spain- but I forgot to switch it over to the Spanish voltage. It blew up! Altho I didn't get hurt and nothing happened to the electrics in the building, it did give me a scare.
I now have a curling iron (bought in the UK) that automatically switches to the new voltage. I use it with a plug adaptor and it works fine.
Hope you have a 'beautiful' vacation!

Karen, you might try www.magellans.com as they have not only dual-voltage travel appliances such as Curling Irons, but also Voltage Converters and Plug Adapters. I've always found their service to be quick and efficient.

Happy travels!

I agree with CL 150%.
Natural beauty is the best.
I like the saying,"I'm going to see Europe, but I'm not going to Europe to be seen."
Unless of course, you're filming a TV show!
I bet you'll look great without the curls.
That's my personal feeling anyway.
My two cents.

I was on a tour in September through Italy, Switzerland, France and the UK. Not one person on our tour could get their curling irons to work until we go the the UK. We had the proper convertors, etc. Bring a hat, just in case.

You could always do what I do. I get a perm a few weeks before I leave. It gives me wash-and-go freedom and reduces the amount of weight I have to carry in my suitcase (no dryer, no curling iron). Without a perm, I have baby-fine, stick straight hair that requires a lot of work to get any kind of volume or style. I look at the photos from my last couple of trips to France and love the way my hair looks and without any effort.

You can also consider using a "cordless" curling iron which works on a butane cell inside. No plugging in or adapters to fuss with. I bought mine at ULTA for about $25 bucks here in the states. One cell should be good for about a month to six weeks or so, with regular use (not 30 minutes a day, but quicker uses). You wouldn't be able to bring extra cells on the plane with you (should you want to travel via carry-on only), as there are about a million "Flammable! Danger!" signs all over the cells in like five languages. I had put a cell in my curling iron, put my iron in my bag and had no problems taking it as a carry-on.