Dual voltage flat irons have been growing in popularity throughout the past few years. One of the main reasons for this is that they are great for travel. While the United States uses 110 volts of electricity, other areas in the world like Europe use 240. That’s a big difference! It means that if your flatiron isn’t dual-voltage and you’re using it outside of the US, it could either fry your hair, not work properly, or even burn out completely!
Dual voltage irons eliminate the need for voltage converters and transformers. You can figure out whether or not your flatiron is dual-voltage by checking the product itself. As well as any instructions booklets and packaging that came with it. On some flat irons, you may need to flip a switch to use it in an area that uses 240 volts.
However, be careful when purchasing a supposedly “dual-voltage” product! Check the reviews to ensure that other consumers have been able to use the product without it burning up or frying their hair!
In this article, we’ll tell you about the pros and cons of dual-voltage flat irons, give you several recommended product profiles, and share a buying guide to help you choose your ideal dual-voltage flatiron.
Pros and Cons
Just like with any type of product, dual-voltage flat irons have their good and bad sides. Read on to find out the best and worst qualities of this type of iron.
Pros:
- They’re great for travel! Whether you’re staying in Canada or Italy, you can rest assured that your flatiron isn’t going to short-circuit or fry off your hair!
- They have all the qualities of a “normal” flatiron as well, so you’re not missing out on any great components.
- They tend to have a long lifespan, so you won’t have to shell out the money for a new flatiron anytime soon.
Cons:
- Some flatirons are marked as dual-voltage, but aren’t actually dual-voltage or don’t work the way they’re supposed to.
- You need to shop more carefully than usual to ensure you’re actually getting a dual-voltage iron. You’ll probably spend a lot of time reading customer reviews to make sure the product works correctly.
- You may have to follow specific instructions (like flipping a switch or pushing a button) to use the dual-voltage feature. If you forget, you might fry your iron–or your hair!
Top 10 Dual Voltage Flat Irons
Here you’ll find the top ten most highly reviewed dual-voltage flat irons, along with detailed descriptions, specs, and customer reviews.
VAV Mini Hair Dual Voltage Flat Irons
Scoring an impressive 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, this adorable pink and white flatiron is perfect for your next international journey. It’s very portable and lightweight has a constant heat of 365 degrees and features tourmaline ceramic technology which enables the plates to create a silky smooth texture for your hair.
Consumers were all in agreement when it came to this product–they loved it! One customer said it worked very well for her and that she loved the small size; it came in handy for styling her bangs. However, this flatiron doesn’t only work for short hair or bangs; one customer loved how the product worked for her long, wavy hair!
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Wazor Hair Dual Voltage Flat Irons Ceramic Titanium Hair Straightener
This product is a clear winner. It has 3D floating titanium ceramic plates, which provide an extremely smooth surface and allow you to create different styles. This product also features an ionic generator that works to eliminate frizz and static.
Of course, this flatiron is dual-voltage and perfect for your next vacation. It also shuts off automatically after 30 minutes of not being in use. So you don’t have to worry about whether or not you remembered to turn off your flatiron!
Other features of this product include an adjustable temperature from 248 to 446 degrees, a tangle-free swivel cord, and a handle lock. One especially happy customer gushed about how much she loved this flatiron and how it had improved her beauty routine.
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Xara Professional Infrared Ceramic Dual Voltage Flat Irons
Featuring Xara’s InfraRED MoistureLock Heat Technology, which locks in your hair’s natural moisture and leaves you with silkier, smoother hair, this flatiron is hard to beat. It also has ceramic ionic tourmaline-infused plates which reduce frizz and add shine. The infusion of tourmaline makes the plates crack-resistant and durable. It’s no wonder this product has been a huge success!
Other important components of this flatiron include eight microsensors that regulate the heat and make sure it’s evenly distributed across the plates, as well as digital temperature control up to 450 degrees. And the Instant Heat Up guarantees you optimal heat in under 90 seconds! There is also an Auto Shut-Off/Safety Mode in case you forget to turn off your flatiron.
One customer talked about her successful use of the product in Spain and recommended the flatiron to others.
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Wazor Mini Hair Dual Voltage Flat Irons
This cute purple flatiron will be your new best friend when it comes time to travel! Featuring instant heat up and heat recovery, a max temperature of 356 degrees, and dual-voltage capabilities, this product shows that a lot can come in a small package.
A satisfied customer called it a great little flatiron. Also said that she had initially purchased it for travel, but loved it so much she uses it every day! A more critical consumer said that the product was cheaply made. However, for such a low price, the vast majority of customers found this product to be worth it!
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Kipozi Pro Nano-Titanium Flatiron
This product earned a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. It has several features, including an advanced heater that delivers 450-degree heat, contoured floating plates for versatile, snag-free styling, and an LCD touch screen.
This flatiron also offers a slide to unlock feature and an Auto-Off component, as well as dual-voltage capabilities and a professional swivel cord. One customer gushed about being in love with the product and detailed the use of each feature. A more critical consumer complained that their iron seemed to have a mind of its own when it came to temperature settings.
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HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Dual Voltage Flat Irons
This flatiron has tons of great features. First, the solid ceramic tourmaline plates and advanced infrared heat technology mean that you can use this iron to straighten, wave, or curl your hair. It also has a swivel cord, which comes in handy if you like to curl your hair with a flatiron.
The temperature adjusts from 240 to 400 degrees, and an Argan Oil leave-in treatment is even included in your purchase! There’s also a new ergonomic design for easier hold, making styling your hair more comfortable than ever.
One consumer called this iron perfect for travel and said that even in the humidity of Italy, her hair stayed pin-straight!
A more critical customer stated that this flatiron wasn’t ideal for textured hair, and another said that the product was well worth the money, but wasn’t the greatest flatiron ever.
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Salona Professional Titanium Dual Voltage Flat Irons
This sleek and simple flatiron features titanium coated plates, an LCD temperature display, an Auto-Off feature, adjustable temperature from 255 to 400 degrees, and dual-voltage capabilities. This product even comes with three travel adaptors so you’re all set no matter what kind of outlet you run into!
The negative ionic charge emitted from the titanium plates means that you can say goodbye to frizz and static for good. In addition, a heat-resistant travelling bag is included, so you’re completely prepared to travel!
Customers were pleasantly surprised with the quality of this product and said that it was great for the price. One customer did complain that the plates didn’t glide smoothly, but many others disagreed.
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BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium Mini Straightening Iron
This tiny iron is perfect for when you’re on the go! It features one-inch titanium plates, a pretty blue design, and superior heat retention to provide exceptional hair smoothness. One especially helpful customer explained that this product was great power in a small package. She went on to say that it fits perfectly in her makeup case and straightened her hair easily. She also mentioned that while she would prefer the larger flatiron, this one was perfect for travel.
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U9 Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Flatiron
This flatiron boasts of several high-quality features, including floating plates that emit negative ions to fight frizz and preserve hair’s moisture, a unique round barrel design, and a U-shaped plate end to ensure hair isn’t pulled.
It also has a tangle-free swivel cord, adjustable heat from 280-450 degrees, and a built-in universal dual-voltage power adaptor perfect for travel.
One customer called this flatiron the perfect product for the job and said that she used it successfully for a week in Europe.
A more critical consumer complained that this product fried her hair and was on par with many drugstore flatirons.
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Waker Professional Tourmaline Dual Voltage Flat Irons
Featuring floating tourmaline plates, advanced infrared heat technology, a unique combination of heat and vibration, an LED display, and even more, it’s easy to see how this product scored so highly on Amazon!
It also has a 30-minute auto Shut-Off for safety, dual-voltage capabilities, adjustable temperature settings from 122 to 470 degrees, and a swivel cord. Consumers felt overwhelmingly positive. They loved the way it worked and that it was able to heat up quickly.
One customer complained that their flatiron did not vibrate as described, but the other customers didn’t seem to have this issue.
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Dual Voltage Flat Irons Buying Guide
After reading the ten descriptions above, you might be a little overwhelmed in deciding which product to purchase. Here are a few quick tips to help you decide!
- Looking for the ultimate portable flatiron? It’s time to go mini. Choose the VAV Mini Hair Straightener, the Wazor Mini Hair Flatiron, or the Babyliss Pro Nano.
- Prefer ceramic? The Xara Professional Infrared Ceramic Flatiron, HSI Professional Ceramic Tourmaline Ionic Flatiron, and U9 Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Flatiron are all great choices!
- Looking for titanium? The Kipozi Pro Nano-Titanium Flatiron and Salona Professional Titanium Flatiron will both fit your needs!
- Want something different? The Waker Professional Tourmaline Flatiron uses vibration and heat to style your hair, and the Wazor Hair Flat Iron Ceramic Titanium Hair Straightener has an abundance of features that are sure to improve your haircare routine!
How to use Dual Voltage Flat Irons correctly?
The flat irons don’t harm the hair, as long as we take into account some basic rules.
First of all, do not straighten your hair while it is still wet. It must be dried beforehand and only then can it be styled.
Divide Hair Into Strands
After that, comb your hair and divide it into strands to make it easier to style. Always start with the parts below, so that, by the end, you reach the ones on the surface. Make sure that the flatiron will cover the entire surface of the hair, from the root to the tips, but without stopping in one place for more than two seconds.
This way, you will get the best results without damaging your hair.
Adjustable Heat
To make the hair as delicate as possible and to protect the hair from the action of excessive heat, use flat irons that allow you to adjust the heat between 130-180 degrees Celsius, depending on your hair type: fine, normal or resistant.
Thermal Protection
Before using the flatiron, apply a spray to the hair for thermal protection of the hair. No matter how efficient your flatiron is (the most modern ones have a ceramic layer for hair protection), always use such a product that you can find in the market, but the easiest way is to buy it directly from hair salons.
Use a Normal Comb
You can also use a normal comb to pass through your hair, even before straightening it with the flatiron. This will make your hair stand on end and make it easier to style.
Keep the Flatiron Clean
You need to keep the flatiron clean at all times, otherwise, the styling products used may remain on it, and eventually, they will get into your hair, but at too high a temperature, which will cause them to lose their properties and affect the hair. After use, the plate should be cleaned with a soft cloth, which will keep it in an ideal working condition.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that no matter which iron from the above you choose, it’ll be perfect for your travels or daily use!