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Europe - use of curling irons and blow dryers

Posted by on

I am going to Spain, Italy, and Netherlands this summer. I have been told all I need is an adapter for my curling iron and I have a travel blow dryer that converts to convert it from 110 to 220. Then I have also read that things can happen or not work when it comes to using an adapter with my curilng iron.

I need to know if a adapter only or a converter that plugs into the wall that I could plug my curling iron into which do I need. I have also read to buy a dual wattage curling iron or to wait until I get to Europe and buy one there.

I just want to make sure my curling iron and blow dryer will work so I can do my hair while I am over there and they don't blow a fuse and or don't work at all.

Posted by
1057 posts

You need a dryer with dual voltage. There’s usually a switch that turns to change from one current to the other. Be sure to switch it before you use it, as otherwise you will blow the circuits and cause considerable trouble. You’ll also need a plug adapter to switch from the US plug to the two round plug style used in continental Europe. As for your curling iron, make sure it is labeled for dual voltage use. I have two and neither requires a switch to change power type. It will also need a plug adapter to fit European plug ins.

BTW check with your hotels — most have hair dryers. I haven’t taken one with me in years.

Edited to add — you should be able to find both appliances in dual voltage with no problems in the USA. Don’t wait til you get there and have to waste valuable travel time looking for one.

Posted by
34221 posts

So your curling iron is not 110-240? Leave it at home. Converters are way too much trouble and without them you will likely create fire and smoke (sparks too, if you are lucky) and you will have one ex-curling iron.

Get a gas one, or a dual voltage or get one over here.

Posted by
2698 posts

I bought a Conair dual-voltage curling brush at Wal-Mart, they should also have curling irons and if not then Amazon is a good place. Then you just need an adapter for the countries you'll be in--your hotels should have hair dryers, why waste valuable suitcase space?

Posted by
1225 posts

Unless you have a very special blow dryer with special attachments, and unless you are staying in large youth hostels, every hotel and B&B that you stay at in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands will have acceptable blow dryers, so you might want to leave yours at home and save space.

Posted by
339 posts

You sound like my wife, LOL.. I tell her that she looks great and does not need to bring her own hair dryer. I say put you hair in a pony tail, throw on a baseball cap and go. Nobody in Italy cares what you look like. She ignores me and does what she wants.

That being said. She says the dryers in the hotels are not hot enough. So she bought a Mini Baby Bliss at Bed Bath and Beyond. It has the dual voltage, but she didn't know that until we got home, so who knows what she was doing. It blew out the fuse twice in Venice. Other than that, there were no issues, it worked fine. Adapter yes, converter no. Can't help you with the curling iron...

Oh, and BTW, she looked great and nobody in Italy cared...... :-)

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