Can You Bring a Hair Dryer on a Plane?

While flying can take you to a well-deserved holiday or an important business meeting, it can be a little stressful. Knowing what you can and can’t pack can be confusing and you might not be able to bring some of the items that you consider essential on your flight.

You might be asking yourself: Can I bring a hair dryer on a plane? What about a hair straightener or curling iron? Are they allowed in my carry-on bag?

The short answer is, Yes. You can bring a hair dryer, hair straightener, and/or a curling iron on a plane with you.

Many people rely on hair styling tools, like hair dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons to look their best when traveling. These tools can be essential for maintaining your hairstyle and looking the best you can.

Here are the TSA rules for packing different hair styling tools and hair care products in your carry-on bag.

Are Hair Dryers Allowed on a Plane?

Yes. You can bring hairdryers on a plane, both in your carry-on and in a checked bag.

Like other styling items, such as electric shavers, hair dryers are perfectly safe to bring on a plane and are not considered dangerous. Therefore, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) allows hair dryers to be taken on planes.

However, you are not allowed to actually use it on the plane.

Ideally, it’s best to put your hairdryer in your checked baggage rather than your carry-on.

There’s a misconception that hair dryers are unsafe, resulting in many people believing that they should not be taken on a flight. However, hair dryers may only be dangerous when they are plugged in.

What About Cordless Hair Dryers?

While most people use hair dryers with electric cords, you can also use cordless varieties. These products are powered by batteries (typically lithium or alkaline batteries) and are allowed in both your checked bag and carry-on bag.

FAA Rules for Bringing Batteries on Planes

If you choose to bring your cordless hair dryer, it’s a good idea to understand FAA rules for batteries.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented safety guidelines for batteries being transported on airplanes designed to prevent fire-related incidents from occurring.

TSA works closely with the FAA on potential aviation safety and security issues, and TSA security officers are trained to identify potential safety and security battery-related threats in carry-on and checked bags.

Most cordless hair dryers use Alkaline or Lithium batteries, which are allowed in both your carry-on and checked bags, however, the TSA recommends you pack them in your carry-on bag so you will have easy access to them in the event a fire occurs.

If you choose to carry a battery-powered hair dryer in your baggage, make sure to package it so it won’t accidentally turn on during the flight. If there is an on-off switch or a safety switch, tape it in the “off” position.

Can I Bring A Hair Straightener (Flat Iron) On A Plane?

Yes. Like hair dryers, hair straighteners and flat irons are perfectly acceptable devices to take on airplanes. Hair straighteners with cords are not restricted unless they also include batteries or gas/fuel cartridges.

What about Cordless Butane Hair Straighteners?

According to the TSA, cordless curling irons containing a gas cartridge and butane-fueled curling irons are allowed in carry-on bags only.

Butane Curling Irons and Hair Straighteners cannot be placed in your checked luggage. They are only allowed in a carry-on bag and they must have a safety cover over the heating element.

Furthermore, gas refills (spare cartridges) are not allowed in either checked or carry-on bags.

Can I Bring a Curling Iron on a Plane?

Yes. Curling irons are essentially the same as a flat iron (from the TSA’s perspective) so you can bring a curling iron in both your checked and carry-on luggage if it has an electric cord. If you have a Butane curling iron, you can bring it in your carry-on, but not your checked bag (as stated above).

Should I Bring my Hair Dryer and Curling Iron on my Trip?

Just because you can take your hair styling tools on a plane, doesn’t mean you necessarily should.

There are some disadvantages to this. For instance, hairdryers and curling irons are likely to take up a lot of room in your luggage.

They are quite large items, meaning that you may be unable to take other more important items. You should pack your luggage according to what items are most important.

Moreover, your hair dryer may not work if you are flying to foreign countries.

If you are flying to a European country, such as the United Kingdom or Italy, a different style of outlet may be used. Consequently, your hair dryer will not work without an international adapter plug.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some additional questions that get asked about various hair styling products and bringing them on a plane.

Can I bring Hair Spray on a plane?

According to the TSA, hairspray is allowed in your carry-on bag if it’s in a container smaller than 3.4 oz (100 ml).

Can I bring Hair Wax or Hair Gel on a plane?

Yes, you can bring hair wax and hair gel in your carry-on and checked bags. However, they are considered a liquid by the TSA guidelines, so they will have to be in a container smaller than 3.4 ounces if you are bringing them in your carry-on bag.

Can I bring a Hair Brush on a plane?

Yes. Hair brushes can be packed in your carry-on bag or your checked luggage.

Can I bring Hair Clippers on a plane?

Yes. According to the TSA website, you can take hair clippers on a plane in your carry-on and checked luggage.

How Should You Pack A Hairdryer?

If you are planning to bring your hairdryer with you on your travels, you may want to purchase a mini version. This will save you room when packing.

If you are searching for a high-quality mini travel hairdryer, we suggest this LURA product. It’s designed for stress-free packing and utilizes a lightweight design and a holding handle.

If you want to save space in your luggage, you can wrap the cord around the hairdryer.

Final Thoughts: Bringing a Hairdryer on a Plane

The rules surrounding what items you can take on a plane may initially seem confusing and overwhelming, especially if you do not fly very often.

Thankfully, the regulations surrounding hair dryers are more simple than they originally appear.

Though this guide will have informed you of the rules, feel free to contact the TSA or an airline company, such as Delta Air Lines if you have any questions.

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