...they go together like oil and water. Take it from me, I brought my straightener to New Zealand in 2015 and wound up filling the hotel bathroom with smoke and breaking my straightener. Yes, I used a voltage convertor and outlet adapter. Yes, it broke anyway. We had a repeat performance in Reims, France in 2016. Less smoke but this time there was an actual spark and a pop before the entire curling iron stopped working.
Turns out, hair tools with multiple heat settings aren't recommended for voltage conversion. Who knew?! Certainly not 2015-Elyse. Hair tools with multiple heat settings have some form of temperature regulation system that doesn't convert correctly and it can overheat your entire unit. So what's a girl to do? If spending time aboard with your hair au naturel isn't going to work for you, I've put together a few different options & product recommendations. If you want a visual guide to the outlets of the world, scroll all the way to the end. Happy travels =)
OPTION 1: BUY ONE-SETTING HAIR TOOLS FOR TRAVEL & HOPE FOR THE BEST.
If you're going this route, I recommend this Chi Travel Set. It includes a travel sized blow dryer, straightener & curling iron, as well as a travel bag to store them in. All three are dual-voltage which means all you'll need is an outlet adapter. Both the straightener and curling iron have only one heat setting. The best part? The entire set is $110 (though often on sale for even less!)
Another great (though much more expensive) option is this GHD cordless hair styler. It's rounded shape allows you to both curl and straighten hair with it (we love a multi-functioning queen!), heats up to 365 degrees in less than a minute, and charges using a standard USB cable. It does require frequent charging, as it's only designed for 20 minutes of heat styling, but you're on vacation! Don't spend all day doing your hair, get out there and vacation.
OPTION 2: BUY "LOCAL" HAIR TOOLS WHEN YOU GET THERE
Obviously this option works only if you're going somewhere where there is a reasonable expectation that a store selling hair tools will be nearby. Fortunately, every major city on the planet will sell hair tools (as well as most minor cities, and large towns...). If you'd like specific information on exactly where to purchase these items, reach out to your hotel/Airbnb/Vrbo. Remember, these people are locals to the place you're visiting, and (in the case of a hotel, at least) they work in the exact neighborhood you're staying in. They know everything!
OPTION 3: BUY APPLIANCES MADE FOR VOLTAGE ADAPTION.
This bad boy from Conair does the most. He has a folding handle which keeps him compact and perfect for travel. He also has Smart Voltage technology that detects foreign voltage and adjusts accordingly. It even reads the voltage out in different colors (green for US, blue for European, etc) so you can see that it's operating correctly.
This curling/straightening hybrid tool comes in a miniature size, perfect for squeezing into a suitcase. It's dual voltage and has only one temperature setting (though it's a hot one - this guy heats up to 450 degrees in 30 seconds!), making it a great travel accessory. It's $80 though often can be found for almost half that on Amazon.
A DIAGRAM OF EVERY OUTLET IN THE WORLD
image courtesy of gearpatrol.com