If using a hair straightener is part of your daily beauty routine, you might be asking yourself, can you take a hair straightener on a plane? Or if you prefer curls, can you take a curling iron in carry on luggage? And can you bring a hairdryer on a plane?
Well, never fear, you don’t have to sacrifice your hairstyle to travel carry on only. Read on for answers to whether you can take hair straighteners in hand luggage, plus info on flat irons and hair dryers.
Note: This post is written referencing TSA rules for travel from airports in the USA. Some countries may have different rules, so if you’re flying from an airport in another country, please look up the rules for the authority in that country.
So can you take hair straighteners in hand luggage?
I get this question a lot: Can you bring a hair straightener on a plane? And I totally understand, you want to be able to style your hair while traveling just like you would at home.
Luckily the answer is yes, you can bring a hair straightener in your carry on bag.
Since you might have to pack your bag in the morning right after using your hair straightener, I recommend bringing a wash cloth or small hand towel to wrap your hair straightener. That way you’re not putting it directly into your luggage while it’s still hot, which could burn your clothes or other items in your bag.
Does your hair straightener have a butane cartridge? This gets a little more tricky to travel with, so see below for more details.
If you’re traveling internationally, you need to be aware of differences in voltage and plug styles. Read below for more info.
Please note that some posts contain links that earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Search for dual voltage hair straighteners on Amazon.
Can you bring a hair straightener on a plane in checked luggage?
If you’re traveling with checked luggage, it might be more convenient to pack your hair straighteners in your checked bag.
Luckily you can pack your hair straightener there as well, in most cases. As with your carry on luggage, you should wait for the hair straightener to cool down before packing it, or wrap it in a towel if you don’t have time.
The one exception to packing a hair straightener in checked bags is if it’s a butane hair straightener.
Butane hair straighteners and curling irons are not allowed in checked luggage, but they are allowed in carry on luggage as long as there is a safety cover to prevent accidental activation.
>>Read: How Much Liquid Can You Bring on an Airplane?
Can you bring a hair dryer in carry on luggage?
I know what it’s like to get stuck with those awful hotel hair dryers that look like vacuum cleaner hoses and barely dry your hair. So you might be wondering, can you bring a hairdryer on a plane?
Just like with the hair straighteners, you can take a hair dryer in carry on bags. You can also pack your hair dryer in checked luggage if you’re not going carry on only.
Hair dryers are the bulkiest hair styling appliance, and the one most likely to be provided at your hotel, so you might want to consider leaving yours off your packing checklist.
Yes, I do hate dealing with those subpar blow dryers hotels sometimes provide! So it’s a decision you have to make based on how much space you have in your luggage and whether you’re willing to just make it work with whatever the hotel has.
If you’re traveling internationally, you need to be aware of differences in voltage and plug styles. Read below for more info.
Search for dual voltage hair dryers on Amazon.
Can you bring a hair dryer on a plane in checked luggage?
For those of you who are checking bags, you might prefer to pack your hair dryer in your checked bag.
Luckily packing your hair straightener in checked baggage is allowed. This will save you some precious space in your carry on bag.
Can you bring a curling iron on a plane?
Maybe you like curling your normally straight locks, or maybe you’re traveling for a fancy event. So you might be asking yourself if you can take your curling iron in carry on luggage.
Just like with the straighteners and hair dryer, the answer is yes. Curling irons can also be packed in checked bags if you’re traveling with a little more luggage.
Remember to pack a wash cloth or small hand towel to wrap your curling iron. Like I mentioned above with bringing your hair straightener in hand luggage, you want to make sure your hot curling iron doesn’t ruin your clothing or other contents of your bag.
It’s always best to pack it once it’s cooled down, but if that’s not an option, this wash cloth trick is the next best thing.
Does your curling iron have a butane cartridge? Read on for more about this exception to taking a curling iron in carry on.
If you’re traveling internationally, you need to be aware of differences in voltage and plug styles. Read below for more info.
Search for dual voltage curling irons on Amazon.
Can you bring a curling iron on a plane in checked luggage?
If you’re not a carry on only person and you have checked luggage, it might be better to pack your curling iron in your checked bag.
Luckily you are allowed to pack your curling iron in checked luggage as well, in most cases. As with your carry on luggage, you should wait for the curling iron to cool down before packing it, or wrap it in a towel if you don’t have time.
The one exception to bringing a curling iron on a plane in checked bags is if it’s a butane curling iron.
Butane hair straighteners and curling irons are not allowed in checked luggage, but they are allowed in carry on luggage as long as there is a safety cover to prevent accidental activation.
Can you bring hair curlers or hot rollers in your carry on?
Some of you have asked about whether you can bring hair curlers or hot rollers on a plane.
You’re in luck! The answer is yes, hot rollers and hair curlers are permitted on a plane. You can pack your hair curlers or hot rollers in your cabin baggage or your checked baggage.
But please wait until they have cooled down before packing them. You don’t want to accidentally burn your clothes or other belongings.
>>Read: Can you take batteries on planes?
Can you take a butane hair straightener or a butane curling iron on airplanes?
Some hair straighteners and curling irons have a butane cartridge. The appeal here is that they are cordless, but the butane cartridge makes it a little more complicated when bringing your curling iron or hair straightener on a plane.
According to TSA, butane hair straighteners and curling irons are not allowed in checked luggage, but they are allowed in carry on luggage as long as there is a safety cover to prevent accidental activation since they are a fire hazard.
Here’s the exact quote from the TSA site:
“Cordless curling irons containing a gas cartridge and butane fueled curling irons are allowed in carry-on bags only. A safety cover must be securely fitted over the heating element.
The device must be protected from accidental activation. Gas refills (spare cartridges) are not allowed in either checked or carry-on bags.”
I’ve read that it’s acceptable to separate the cartridge from the curling iron or flat iron, but TSA doesn’t mention this on their site. Be aware that the final decision is always with the TSA agent.
>>Check it out: Can you bring a razor on a plane?
Will your hair straightener, hair dryer, and curling iron work when traveling internationally?
Voltage and plug style are two different things you need to be aware of when traveling to other countries.
Before you pack your bags, I have a warning about traveling with your favorite hair styling appliance.
There might be electrical issues with using your appliance abroad. Different parts of the world use different voltages, which means your hair dryer and straightener and curling iron might not be compatible.
>>Read: Can you bring makeup on a plane?
Your best option is to purchase a dual voltage appliance.
For example, the US electrical system uses 110 voltage, while the European system is 220. Having a dual voltage hair straightener means you could switch the voltage between 110 or 220 depending on where you are in the world.
Do you need a travel plug adapter? Or a voltage converter?
If you don’t have a dual voltage appliance, you would need a converter. A converter would switch the voltage in order to avoid frying your appliance, blowing a fuse in the building, or even risking a fire.
When you’re traveling abroad with any electrical device, you might need a plug adapter to make sure your plug fits into the wall socket.
For example, the US and Canada use the same plug style as Central American countries, but the plugs in Europe are different. Even within Europe, the UK uses a different plug style from most of the rest of the continent.
A plug adapter will not convert electricity, but these days, most things that don’t heat up convert on their own, so your laptop and phone charger should be fine with just an adapter.
Any appliance that heats up, like a hair straightener, curling iron, or hair dryer, might not function as well even if it’s dual voltage or when using a converter. Some even have warnings that you should use the lower setting when traveling abroad.
Search for plug adapters on Amazon.
Hopefully this article answers all your questions about bring curling irons, hair straighteners, and hair dryers in carry on!
Read more about packing:
- Can you bring makeup on a plane?
- Carry On Luggage Size Chart with 170+ Airlines Worldwide
- Best Carry-On Luggage
- What NOT to Pack in Your Carry On Bag
- Carry On Toiletries: Non-Liquid Options for Carry On Travel
