Can I take it?
Can you take hair straighteners on a plane?
Yes. Plug-in (corded) straighteners are allowed in both hand luggage and checked baggage. Cordless straighteners have a lithium battery, so they’re better in the cabin, and gas-powered ones need the safety cover on and no spare gas cartridges.
| Type | Hand luggage | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|
| Corded (plug-in) straighteners | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. | Yes Allowed in checked baggage. |
| Cordless (battery-powered) straighteners | Yes Allowed in hand luggage. Lithium-battery devices up to 100Wh need no airline approval. | With conditions The CAA says lithium-battery devices should be carried in the cabin. If checked in, it must be completely switched off. |
| Gas-powered straighteners or curlers | With conditions Allowed with the safety cover fitted at all times. One per person. | With conditions Allowed with the safety cover fitted. One per person; no spare gas cartridges. |
Which kind do you have?
- Corded: plugs into the wall, no battery. The simplest case — pack it anywhere.
- Cordless: charges by USB or a dock and works unplugged. It has a lithium battery. The CAA says lithium-battery devices should be carried in the cabin. If checked in, it must be completely switched off.
- Gas-powered: uses a butane cartridge. Allowed with the safety cover fitted at all times. One per person. You must not carry spare gas cartridges. It must not be used on board.
Curling tongs and hair curlers follow the same rules as straighteners with the same power source.
Check your straighteners
Packing tips
- Let them cool completely before packing, and use a heat-resistant pouch on Amazon UK (opens in a new tab) (paid link) if you have one.
- For cordless models, use the travel lock or switch-off so they can’t heat up in your bag — protect it from switching on by accident.
- Charge cordless models before you fly. GOV.UK’s rule for electronic devices applies: if it doesn’t switch on when asked, it won’t be allowed on the aircraft.
Using them abroad
Plug shapes and voltages differ between countries. Check that your straighteners work on your destination’s voltage before you rely on a plug adapter on Amazon UK (opens in a new tab) (paid link) — an adapter changes the plug shape, not the voltage.