Taking a straightener or curling iron on a trip is sometimes not an option for many people. Well, now the TSA has issued a new ban that has to do with some of these objects: they cannot be carried in checked luggage.
Wait, don’t implode, it’s those models that work with gas or butane, very common in the versions that are cordless, the reason you already know, but we will tell you. They can explode, yes, explode at such an altitude and with the pressure inside the plane, imagine if it explodes and the cargo hold of the plane catches fire a thousand kilometers up… We don’t want that, right?
So, if your curling iron or straightener has gas, butane or you carry spare cartridges for them to work… Better leave them at home because the TSA will not let you take it on board unless you follow their instructions.
What hair tools are prohibited?
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prohibits the following devices in the hold:
- Straighteners or curling irons with gas cartridges.
- Hair devices powered by butane.
- Spare gas cartridges.
Can they be carried in hand luggage?
Yes, but you have to keep in mind that they must have a safety cover that prevents them from being activated by accident, so if you don’t have one and you need to travel with your straightener, find one, otherwise it will stay on the ground.
Are there alternatives?
Yes, of course, the TSA itself reminds that there are other devices that pose no risk, among them any straightener or curling iron that has a cord instead of a cordless version that uses gas. Of course, if your straightener is cordless and rechargeable, and not gas, you have no problem.
And brands like Dyson have released high-performance models that work with a battery and come with a travel case and safety systems, these Dyson people think of everything! (that’s why their products cost that much…) And they not only comply with the rules, but they also protect users because they have temperature control and automatic shut-off, they don’t run any risk!
Why are these measures taken?
Because on a plane, any failure can be fatal, think that they fly at very high altitude and speed, and the cabin pressure can cause fires, it would not be strange, in fact, to see a plane with a fire in the hold, not a few have happened in recent years, that is why they have also banned carrying any lithium battery in the hold.
Any device that can cause fire risks in an uncontrolled area can cause many people to die, so the TSA prefers to anticipate events and that is why they prohibit some things, they are not random, but if you carry your device with you in the cabin and a fire happens, the crew can act quickly and free the plane from any danger, but in the hold there is no one!
What should I remember before traveling?
Our recommendation is that, if you have to take a plane, check what the rules are at that airport, of the airline you are going to fly with and even for your return trip, so that there are no surprises. But, in this case, remember that you cannot check devices that carry gas or butane, that if you carry them they must have a safety cover, and that if you opt for safe alternatives you will save yourself a headache.
This way you will avoid problems at security control and you will still be able to take care of your style during the trip, good luck with the fight against those rebellious hairs!