The Dual Voltage Hair Straightener You Need for Travel

Want the dual voltage hair straightener that I’ve used in over 10+ countries? Read on.

Since 2014, I’ve traveled to eight countries with my dual voltage travel hair straightener and curling iron. I even moved to Europe in 2015 and took these US hair appliances with me.

They’re still going strong even though I use them a few times a week with an adapter. They’re the best ones for their value and make it really easy to have nice hair while traveling internationally.

However, it wasn’t always this easy. Not being aware of the differences in each country’s voltage, I’ve had my share of hair straighteners that either malfunctioned or went dead while traveling– oops. That all changed when I was planning for my trip to Italy in 2014. I played it smart, did some research, and came across this dual voltage curling iron and straightener that soon became my everyday hair appliances in Europe.

Here’s everything you need to know about using a dual voltage hair straightener while traveling. Learn which ones I consider the best for international travel.

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TL;DR- Dual Voltage Hair Straightener

Want to skip the reading and just get the dual-voltage hair straightener I’ve been using for 2-3x a week abroad since 2015?

I recommend the HSI Glider Ceramic Flat Iron on Amazon. Click through to see its amazing reviews.

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Will the curling iron, hair straightener, or blowdryer I have now work when traveling internationally?

Yes! But it depends on:

• your home country,
• what country you’re going to, and
• if you have a dual voltage compatible appliance or not.

Here are three scenarios to decide if your hair appliance will work abroad.

1. If your home country and country you are traveling have the same electrical system, then your hair appliances will work whether or not it’s dual voltage. You may need an adapter still.

1. If your home country and country you are traveling have a different electrical system AND your hair appliance is dual voltage, then your hair appliances will work abroad if you have an adapter.
2. If your home country and country you are traveling have a different electrical system AND your hair appliance is not dual voltage, then your hair appliances will work abroad if you have a converter and an adapter.

For example, I was going from the United States, which runs on a 110 volt system, to Europe, which runs on a 220 volt system. I did not have a dual voltage curling iron or hair straightener so I had the choice of:

1. buying a converter and an adapter to use with my existing hair appliance
2. buying a new dual voltage appliance and an adapter

This is because the electrical system in countries vary and run on a different number of volts like the US and Europe. Thus, you need to convert how much electricity flows (or doesn’t flow) into your appliance to work properly or else, KABOOM, it could get fried. We wouldn’t want that to happen to your hair straightener or curling wand while traveling internationally so check the voltage of your home country and where you’re traveling to on this page.

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Do I need an adapter, converter or both?

If you want to use your existing hair appliance, which is not dual voltage, then you’ll need:

• this converter— to convert the voltage from 110 to 220 or vice versa, and
• an adapter— to adapt your home country’s plug into the visiting country’s socket.

Warning: Based on what I’ve read about and experienced using converters with appliances that heat up like curling irons, straighteners, clothing steamers, and even humidifiers is that converters don’t do a good job at making these run smoothly. They can still possibly ruin your appliance so I would play it safe and buy a dual voltage hair straightener or curling iron, which is what I did.

I didn’t want to run the risk of ruining my Chi straightener, which would not work abroad* without a converter AND adapter, so I opted for a new curling iron and hair straightener, which I knew would 100% work with just an adapter.

*Update 02/27/19 – One of my readers mentioned that the Chi straightener IS dual-voltage! My model is older so it seems that the new ones are dual-voltage. Just check your hair straightener and make sure it says 110-240V.

If you already have a dual voltage appliance or need to buy one like I did, then you’ll need either a dual voltage hair straightener, curling iron, or hair dryer I list below and an adapter.

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What’s the best dual voltage travel hair straightener?

I bought this HSI glider ceramic hair straightener for my trip to Europe in 2015, but since then I’ve used it in the US, South Korea, and several countries in Europe. It’s even replaced my original non-dual voltage hair straightener and has become my everyday hair straightener!

Since moving it to the Netherlands, I’ve used it 2-3x a week since 2015. Yes, even though I always use it with an adapter, it works well.

Click here to see the amazing reviews on this dual-voltage hair straightener for traveling abroad via Amazon.

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What’s the best dual voltage travel curling iron?

For its price, this curling wand is a steal because I use this curling wand both at home and abroad.

It’s even replaced my Remington curling wand because although I loved the tapered curl that it made, my hair would slip so easily off that wand, it was annoying to use. The Bed Head has absolutely no issues like that and just wants to help you get some fancy pants curls.

Get this dual voltage curling iron for international travel.

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What’s the best dual voltage travel hair dryer?

The handle folds in, which makes it easy to pack, and of course, it works great abroad. I’ve used it now in the US and in Europe.

The price is awesome too for a hair dryer you’ll only use for travel. Get the dual voltage hair dryer on Amazon.

Read more about a dual voltage travel hair dryer here.

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What adapter should I get for my dual voltage hair appliance?

To use any of the dual-voltage appliances I listed above, you’ll need an adapter. This travel adapter is also a surge protector that’ll work anywhere in the world! You can use it for everything, not just your hair appliances.

Bonus: It also has two USB port slots so you can plug your phones in it too and not carry extra adapters for it.

Tip: If you want to double check, you can find out the voltage/plug of your own country vs. the one you’re going to on this post.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Using Hair Straighteners Abroad

Are Chi straighteners dual voltage?

Update 02/27/19– Older models of Chi straighteners are not dual-voltage, but newer ones like this one are!

For older models, you will need an adapter and a converter but will still run the risk of ruining your hair straightener. I have a Chi hair straightener, and based off my experience with converters, I can tell it would get ruined in a second.

Get a hair straightener that is dual voltage, which means you’ll only need this and an adapter. Chances are you’ll need an adapter for your other electronics anyways so you can use an adapter for both your hair straightener and everything else.

Click here to see the amazing reviews about the hair straightener I have on Amazon.

How do I know if my curling iron is dual voltage?

Google your curling iron brand, or look at the curling iron itself. In small letters, there is usually the voltage engraved onto the appliance.

If it says it’s 110-220 volts, then it is dual voltage. If it only says 110 volts or 220 volts (depending on the country you’re in), then it’s not dual voltage.

I love the Remington dual voltage curling iron for international travel because it grips your hair nicely and is inexpensive. I moved to Europe in 2015 and use this weekly with an adapter so I’d say this is the best dual voltage curling iron since it’s still going strong.

How do I know if my hair straightener is dual voltage?

Google your hair straightener brand, or look at the hair straightener itself. In small letters, there is usually the voltage engraved onto the appliance.

If it says it’s 110-220 volts, then it is dual voltage. If it only says 110 volts or 220 volts (depending on the country you’re in), then it’s not dual voltage.

For a dual voltage one, I recommend the HSI hair straightener I’ve been using abroad since 2015. I now live in Europe and use this 2-3x a week with an adapter so I’d say this is the best dual voltage flat iron for Europe since I use it here so often. It still works great after all this time.

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You Might Like: How to Use Olaplex at Home

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Photos of My Hair After Using These Dual-Voltage Hair Appliances

 

A post shared by S a r a h ✨ (@sarchetrit) on May 22, 2017 at 6:25am PDT

 

A post shared by S a r a h ✨ (@sarchetrit) on Dec 28, 2017 at 9:34am PST

 

A post shared by S a r a h ✨ (@sarchetrit) on Mar 29, 2018 at 3:01am PDT

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I hope my experience helps you get appliances you need for great hair abroad. Have anymore questions on using dual voltage hair appliances abroad? Ask me by commenting below!

Thanks for stopping by! xo.

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I’d love to know if you made it this far down into the post. It’d actually make me quite happy if you reached out on Instagram and said hello!

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Dual Voltage Hair Straightener