Taking hair straighteners to New York

[Binky]

Am I right in thinking that you need a special adapter for the USA? I have one that I use in Europe but suspect it won't do. Are there any problems with taking electrical appliances, such as hair straighteners to the States? Thanks.

[pega]

you would need an adapator I saw some for USA at heathrow airport shop and will get one for next trip and take my little kettle for coffee in room, i think can take appliances they sometimes ask have you any electric goods, i am just come back from jerusalem and was strict checks at airport i had a kettle and iron and was ok.europe adaptor not for usa. have a good trip.

[dzug]

The USA uses different plugs to Europe and the UK, so yes you would need a different adaptor.

It also uses a different voltage. Not knowing what a hair straightener is, I don't know what effect this would have - it could work normally, work less efficiently, not work at all or burn out.

Better to buy a cheap one when you get there.

[dannydingbat]

US uses a different voltage. You will have problems getting your equipment hot enough, fast enough.

[BenDToy]

Based on my wife's experiences you will be wasting your time. As danny says they won't get hot enough to work. Take dzug's advice and just buy a cheap set when you get there. May not be great, but a lot better than the results from using UK ones there. Or you could always have wavy hair for a day or two! Hair dryers are also a waste of time, unless they are dual voltage.

Other appliances may be OK, but a US adaptor will be required. Available in many high street shops for a couple of quid. Don't wait 'til you get there though - you probably won't be able to buy one easily in the US.

[Mortie]

Went last week and had advice from Answerbank - they were right! Buy US adaptors at airport - hotbrush worked really OK - hairdryer very slow, although used my friend's travel dryer from Boots with adaptor included and that was fine.

[maggie01]

It's better to buy some cheap ones there as in my experience they do not heat up enough. I took curling tongs and they were useless. I had to buy some there.

[paddy_36]

You need to step up the voltage in the US - a three to two pin adapter is not enough on its own. Your hair straighteners will work, but not very well. Have a look at this site:

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/voltage_conversion.htm

and scroll down to the step-up converters. I'd get it sorted before you get there; how annoying to have to waste any of your holiday time looking for something like this!

[rampart]

Mrs rampart simply buys electrical appliances once she arrives at a foreign country. A bit of a waste, but sure to work.