IT’S important to know which electrical items you are allowed to pack when travelling abroad.
You might not be able to live without one item in particular – your hair straighteners.
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Can you take straighteners in hand luggage?
When it comes to packing for a holiday you’ll want to pack items that help you look and feel your best.
Many people know that hair straighteners can be versatile as not only can you use them to achieve silky straight hair, you can also use them to curl too.
There are two different types of straighteners – some are powered by gas, others by the mains electricity supply.
Regular hair straighteners have cords that connect to the power supply.
Cordless hair straighteners are often powered by highly-flammable gases such as butane.
The good news is that both types of hair straighteners are allowed in the cabin along with the rest of your hand luggage.
Though they are less common, straighteners that contain a gas cartridge are allowed, as long as the safety covers are on at all times and the device can’t accidentally turn on.
Can you take a hair dryer in hand luggage?
Most everyday electronic items are allowed in your hand luggage.
Hotels these days tend to have hair dryers in each room, but what if you don’t want to rely on them for your locks?
Thankfully hair dryers are also allowed in hand luggage, so you won’t have to wait for your friends and family to finish using them.
Make sure you bring an adapter for the country you’re visiting so you can plug it in and get styling.
As well as hair dryers and straighteners you can also take on E-cigarettes, electric shavers, and a travel iron.
Mobile phones, tablets, laptops and MP3 players are also allowed on board.
What can you not take in hand luggage?
There are many items you can’t take in your hand luggage due to safety reasons.
Depending on the item, you may have to check with your individual airline as sometimes they have different requirements.
When it comes to sports equipment it depends on what you’re planning on bringing with you.
You won’t be able to bring cricket bats, golf clubs, or darts in your hand luggage.
But equipment like tennis rackets, fishing rods, and pool cues are good to be carried on, but remember to check size and bag limits before travel.
Personal care items like tweezers, disposable razors, knitting needles, nail files, and small scissors are allowed.
Most medicines like tablets and capsules are fine, alongside liquid medication such as inhalers and cooling gel packs.
However, for items such as hypodermic syringes, you’ll need to bring along some evidence like a prescription or note from your doctor just to be safe.
The following items are not allowed in your hand luggage at all:
- Oxidisers and organic peroxides like bleach
- Car body repair kits
- Biological hazards like infected blood
- Tools such as pliers, hammers, crowbars, and screwdrivers
- Paint, paint thinner, and turpentine
- Self-defence equipment like mace
- Poisons or toxic substances like rat poison
- Walking poles
- Liquids of more than 100ml (except for medical purposes, dietary requirements, or baby food)
Some items are forbidden in your hand luggage but you may be allowed to check them into the hold luggage instead.
Aerosols that contain non-flammable and non-toxic gases – you can put them into your checked luggage as long as they don’t exceed 2kg or 2L.
Firearms are allowed so long as they are for sporting purposes and they are unloaded and packed away safely.
It’s best to check on the Gov.uk website or with your individual airline before you travel.
Other items that you cannot take in your hand luggage at all, but can go in the hold include:
- Fireworks and pyrotechnics like flares
- Knives or scissors or corkscrews with blades longer than 6cm
- Smoke canisters
- Plastic explosives (including black powder and percussion caps)
- Flares
- Hand grenades
- Blasting caps
- Detonators and fuses
- Dynamite
- Gunpowder
- Cigarette lighters
- Imitation explosive devices (also includes replica or model guns)
- Mines, grenades, and other explosive military stores
- Smoke cartridges
It’s important to check with your specific airline before you travel because if you have prohibited items with you, you may risk having your goods confiscated at security.