Taking Mini Flat Iron to Europe

If it says it takes 240 VAC then it should work with just a plug adapter. But I still have to question hauling the weight, even if it is a mini. But I don't know what you have planned.

Why not wait and just buy one upon arrival at the local department store (or similar). And then leave behind at your last hotel for another guest.

Give yourself a break. Go buy yourself a fresh card of hair elastics and leave the appliances at home. You aren't going to want to spend 45 minutes every morning getting ready.

As you can see, there's an issue with terminology. In the US, a "flat iron" usually refers to a hair appliance. In the UK, a "flat iron" is for clothing.

The one for clothes is often available to borrow, but it's much less common in Europe for one to be in the room (since I rarely travel in the US, I was surprised to learn that an iron and ironing board are very commonly found in the closet in US hotels!)

If you mean the one for hair, one that is labeled 110-240 volts will be safe to use in Europe. However, if you have to switch the voltage manually, make sure you do this before you plug it in, or else you can destroy the device, blow a circuit breaker, or start a fire (unfortunately not an exaggeration).

I love my flat iron, take it on each trip! It is a regular sized, dual voltage iron. I purchased it at that dreaded big box discount store. ;) It sets itself automatically, just like cell phone, kindle, ipad, so no worries about turning a switch. All I need is to take the correct plug adapter. I prefer my flat iron to a hair dryer. I let my hair air dry, then quickly, less than 10 min, straighten my hair. Easy peazy.

Thanks everyone. Yes a flat iron for your hair and it is actually tiny so not heavy at all (we are going just with carryons) but it only takes me a few minutes in the morning to do my shorter pieces around my face - if I don't with humidity hair drives me crazy. I just don't want to be the one to blow up my appliance or blow circuits in the hotel. I have the two prong adaptors for the wall plugs in Europe - going to Venice, Rome, Santorini and Athens. Trip of a life time.

I was saying to the hubby that perhaps I should just buy one when in Venice and then just keep it for when we come back but don't want to be hunting around for a small flat iron while on vacation - time is too precious.

Looking at the flat iron it states specifically on it - 110-240V - 5060Htz. Power 20W(USA) 15W(Canada). Will this be okay in Europe? Also just wondering the reason I am worried are the many things I have read how people cause alot of problems with taking things like a flat iron and doing damage etc. but when we were in Europe a couple of years ago my battery charger for my camera and cell phone were okay to use with the adaptor?

@Liz - I travel with a mini flat iron all the time, even when I travel only with a 16 L pack. Some of us have hair that goes off in odd directions, especially in the humidity.
I use the Conair Mini Pro 2-in-1 styler. It automatically adjusts for the different voltage. No need to flip any switches.

I would warn of one thing though. The plug on my styler is polarized. That means that one plug tip is larger than the other. Many plug adapters do not accept the polarized plugs. Make sure your adapter will work with your plug.

BTW - the reason many people have problems with their flat irons is because they are single voltage. This is especially true for the older models in the Babyliss line, one of the more popular brands.

Your battery charger and cell phone were fine because they were lower voltage. USB powered devices have a maximum voltage of 5 Volts. Even a netbook draws a mere 3 Amps, which means a maximum power draw of 15 Watts. Compare that to regular flat irons, which draw 260 Watts. That high draw is why people blow the electronics. You should be fine if your flat iron is as described.

Everything makes sense in

110-240V - 5060Htz. Power 20W(USA) 15W(Canada)

except the last bit.

I can fathom absolutely no reason why it should draw more wattage in the US than in Canada. It simply makes no sense at all. The electricity in both countries is identical. The plugs and wiring are identical. How would the flat iron know which country it was plugged in to? Works differently in Detroit than in Windsor? I don't think so.

Regardless of what sounds like Chinese labelling, your device should be OK in Europe.

Thanks so much - that is a relief. I wasn't going to take it and suffer the consequences lol but will take it for sure now seeing that it will work fine.

I can fathom absolutely no reason why it should draw more wattage in the US than in Canada.

Because we're closer to the equator, of course.

The only reason I can think of to explain the "Canada" notation on the nameplate label, is that the device may have to state that to indicate that it's approved for sale and use in Canada. There could be slight differences in the regulatory requirements for devices sold in each country?

"The electricity in both countries {USA and Canada] is identical." I beg to differ. Ours is superior.

Norma is right. The electricity is better up north because a volt goes much further there. Canada is more energy-efficient because they're closer to the North Pole, while in the US everything is heavier because we're closer to the equator, so it takes more energy to make things go. It's really simple, just look at the globe and it all makes sense!!!!1!!

15W in Canada cost the same as 20W in US due to exchange rate

The equator has nothing to do with it!

What a creative and humorous group. The comments about the "differences" in electricity between Canada and the U.S. are very entertaining!

Many plug adapters do not accept the polarized plugs.

I'm not sure that's true anymore. In 1990 I had a plug adapter that would not accept the wider blade of a polarized plug, but I haven't seen any like that in years. However, they shouldn't. The wider blade is there for a reason. It is meant, for safety, to assure that the correct side of the device is connected to the neutral conductor of a polarized power source. Except for Switzerland, continental European power supplies are not polarized, so the safety provision of the polarized plug is lost. At the very least, make sure you never leave a device with a polarized plug plugged in when not in use.

110/240 VAC is not an example of a dual voltage device; 120/240 VAC would be. The switch places two 120V loads in series, so each one sees 120V at 240V. Automatic "switching", or multi-voltage, devices use a power transistor to limit the voltage to the load to 120V regardless of the voltage of the source.

Well now I am officially worried , a friend of a friend is currently in Venice and just blew her flat iron up. Not sure of the details - not sure it if was a full sized one or if she didn't use an adapter (but think it would be impossible to plug in the flat iron) in the electrical outlets in Europe. Now thinking twice about bringing my mini one? Any thoughts.

Any thoughts? Yes. Buy one in Europe.

I always bring one with me. They don't weight that much. I don't want to waste precious travel time shopping for a flat iron for my hair.

Ladies, I had cancer nine years ago and lost all my hair to chemo. When I got better I vowed I would stop wasting 20+ minutes per day futzing with my hair in an attempt to make it look a certain way. I figured I'd spent weeks of my life in front of the mirror with a blow-dryer, time I will never get back. Life is too short. Pin up your hair, put it in a ponytail, or just let it be what it is. Get out there and enjoy your trips!

@Lee. I just bought an Israel adapter that would not accept polarized plugs. They're out there.

As noted, the polarizing is only useful where there are polarized plugs. Most of Europe has non-polarized plugs.

While non polarized or non grounded plugs are less safe, I'm hesitant to call them unsafe. Calling it a safety issue makes people think that they are unsafe.

Polarized plugs are required in US and Canada.

I take a flat iron/brush with me when I travel. I have never blown a plug, but it's a fairly new device.

For those people who say skip that step, I'm fine doing that. I do find that people tend to look down on me for not taking the time to style my hair as if air dried hair is a personal insult. My main reason for doing that when with a tour group is so that I won't embarrass the rest of the people on the tour.

The best answer, of course, is to buy one on Amazon that is specifically for travel.

Thanks everyone. It is a quite interesting conversation. I have decided to take my iron - the prongs are both the same size so no worry there and as mentioned it does show both voltages on the appliance. It is tiny - smaller than a ruler. I would usually not bother bringing the iron but new hair style needs some straightening around the face lol. We are only travelling with carry on so I am giving up on my clothes selection so need to at least have nice hair lol. Thanks again.