French appliances in UK

Amy,

The Hair Straightener should work fine in London with a Plug Adaptor. If you haven't bought a UK Plug Adaptor yet, try and find one of the "approved" models which are equipped with a Fuse.

Great! I have a really nice kit I've borrowed from a friend who travels all over the world for business. I believe it's from Brookstone. I will check it out and make sure it's the right one.

UK to "Euro" plug adaptors are easy to find in the UK. They are bought by people from the UK going on holiday in mainland europe.
"Euro" to UK is more difficult to find. Make sure you get one going in the correct direction. And if your hair dryer has an earth connection (which is a pin coming out of the socket and going into the plug for French plugs), then make sure your adapter also has an earth connection, SAFETY FIRST.

The voltage and everything else is the same throughout Europe, it is just the plugs that are different.

Amy, if your friend's adapter is US plug to "any socket in the world", then it won't help for "Euro/France" to UK.

Rats, yes that won't work. I have got to be able to straighten my frizzy old hair! Do you think I can find one in a store in UK? I am flying from US to London, then after a week taking the eurostar to Paris.

Any supermarket, Wilco hardware, or even in the station - try WH Smith.

My house is full of French, German and Italian appliances. I get so much better prices on the same products in Media Markt (BE, I, CH, NL and D) and Darty or Carrefour or Auchun (F) than I do here.

If you have a converter kit, you can probably just use two of the plugs: France to US plugged into US to UK. We did these types of Frankenstein contraptions in France/Germany where the outlet holes are set so deep in the walls that a single plug adapter didn't reach the holes so we had to piggyback two.

Some of the kits have adapters with universal holes that accommodate both US and France/Germany in the same holes so that would work out easiest.

Also earth = ground if that term puzzles you.

You should be able to find a France>UK adapter plug at the airport once you land in London. Happy straightening everywhere you go :)

Thank you!!

Nigel, I bought my french straightener at darty after I fried my American one! I agree with you, it's easier to just buy one from that country if you think you will use it often.

I will look for an adaptor at the airport when I arrive. Thanks!