Using British straighteners in US
Jul 1st 2004, 11:26 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: indiana
Posts: 6
Using British straighteners in US
Hello all,
I am new to this forum, but hopefully someone can help me.
I have a pair of hair straighteners that I brought with me from England that I was told would work here with a 40w reverse wattage converter from Radio Shack. However, upon going to my local Shack I found out that said device is for a two prong European plug, not the three prong UK one!
I have looked online and become confused. Do I need a step up transformer or would the Radio Shack devise work if I just get a plug adapter (UK->Euro) then plugged it into the converter? I'm so confused and I just want my Ghds to work!!
If you can help at all, please do!
Thank you so much!
Becky
I am new to this forum, but hopefully someone can help me.
I have a pair of hair straighteners that I brought with me from England that I was told would work here with a 40w reverse wattage converter from Radio Shack. However, upon going to my local Shack I found out that said device is for a two prong European plug, not the three prong UK one!
I have looked online and become confused. Do I need a step up transformer or would the Radio Shack devise work if I just get a plug adapter (UK->Euro) then plugged it into the converter? I'm so confused and I just want my Ghds to work!!
If you can help at all, please do!
Thank you so much!
Becky
Jul 2nd 2004, 12:31 am
#2
C.G.D.S
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Ireland--->London--->Spain--->Rockport, MA
Posts: 3,353
I very happily managed to use my GHD's over here for three months just using a bog standard converter thing. Then they died a death. I've switched to an American brand called CHI which are just as good.
Jul 2nd 2004, 12:54 am
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: indiana
Posts: 6
Re: Using British straighteners in US
you mean just the thingy that switches the plug shape from Uk to US? or the radioshack thingy....
i've heard of CHI, maybe when the ol' GHDs die (knock on wood!!).
thanks!
i've heard of CHI, maybe when the ol' GHDs die (knock on wood!!).
thanks!
Jul 2nd 2004, 1:26 am
#4
C.G.D.S
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Ireland--->London--->Spain--->Rockport, MA
Posts: 3,353
Re: Using British straighteners in US
Originally posted by beckles
you mean just the thingy that switches the plug shape from Uk to US? or the radioshack thingy....
you mean just the thingy that switches the plug shape from Uk to US? or the radioshack thingy....
I have to say nothing beats GHD's so I feel your pain but the CHI's are pretty good. GHD doesn't let you order online for products either. You have to phone them in for delivery here.
Jul 2nd 2004, 3:15 pm
#5
I'm as thick as a plank!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 360
gosh I used to worry about things like that before I moved here...thing is, you soon find out that most appliances like this are so dirt cheap here that you may as well buy the US product, and keep your British products as spares for those inevitable trips back home.
Jul 2nd 2004, 7:42 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Originally posted by PrincessofWales
gosh I used to worry about things like that before I moved here...thing is, you soon find out that most appliances like this are so dirt cheap here that you may as well buy the US product, and keep your British products as spares for those inevitable trips back home.
gosh I used to worry about things like that before I moved here...thing is, you soon find out that most appliances like this are so dirt cheap here that you may as well buy the US product, and keep your British products as spares for those inevitable trips back home.
Ash
Jul 2nd 2004, 8:41 pm
#7
Just around the next bend
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,276
Originally posted by Ash UK/US
Exactly why bother you can pick those up in places like target or walmart for about $15 or $16... it's not worth messing with.
Ash
Exactly why bother you can pick those up in places like target or walmart for about $15 or $16... it's not worth messing with.
Ash
Jul 2nd 2004, 11:29 pm
#8
Rock Goddess
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 1,429
See? Isn't it so much better when women answer this type of electrical question? I personally can deal much better with the wotsits and the thingumybob and the oggimaflip plug jobbie than all those techincal terms. I still haven't bought my transformer coz I haven't a flipping clue what I'm looking for. Ask a bloke and you get more information than a NASA manual...ask a woman and you get a description of the dooda and then I can happily walk around radio shack looking for said item according to the description. Thanx ladies! 
Jul 2nd 2004, 11:38 pm
#9
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,542
I feel inadequate. I have a shower, I get out, I dry self and hair with a towel. I comb hair. I leave (oh well I do put on clothes too.)
Jul 3rd 2004, 2:10 am
#10
Winter hyphenator
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 660
Originally posted by Lion in Winter
I feel inadequate. I have a shower, I get out, I dry self and hair with a towel. I comb hair. I leave (oh well I do put on clothes too.)
I feel inadequate. I have a shower, I get out, I dry self and hair with a towel. I comb hair. I leave (oh well I do put on clothes too.)
Jul 3rd 2004, 5:28 am
#11
Howling at the Moon
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Incline Village, NV
Posts: 3,742
Originally posted by dbark
My daughter is addicted to her hair straighteners. She has really expensive (UK) ones, I forget the brand name, but they are ceramic and get hotter than the usual kind. She brought them here and uses them with an adaptor we bought at Gatwick airport for about £3. We did buy some here, thinking they would be as good, but they really aren't!!
My daughter is addicted to her hair straighteners. She has really expensive (UK) ones, I forget the brand name, but they are ceramic and get hotter than the usual kind. She brought them here and uses them with an adaptor we bought at Gatwick airport for about £3. We did buy some here, thinking they would be as good, but they really aren't!!
Jul 3rd 2004, 4:23 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Originally posted by lairdside
I was in Walmart tonight buying - you guessed it - straightners for my daughter. They had ceramic plated ones from about $14 and up (the most expensive being about $28). They also had glass plated ones.
I was in Walmart tonight buying - you guessed it - straightners for my daughter. They had ceramic plated ones from about $14 and up (the most expensive being about $28). They also had glass plated ones.
Ash
Jul 5th 2004, 6:58 pm
#13
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3
Re: Using British straighteners in US
hey
i took my straighteners to florida a few months ago when i went on holiday and i used an uk usa adpater plug. it was ok but took so long to heat up(they take about 10 secs to heat up here) and werent half as effective as they are in the uk. but maybe they were just mine straighteners. im movin to usa next month and i plan to just buy some there.
its your call..
i took my straighteners to florida a few months ago when i went on holiday and i used an uk usa adpater plug. it was ok but took so long to heat up(they take about 10 secs to heat up here) and werent half as effective as they are in the uk. but maybe they were just mine straighteners. im movin to usa next month and i plan to just buy some there.
its your call..
Jul 7th 2004, 6:59 pm
#14
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: indiana
Posts: 6
i broke down and just bought some US straighteners....they are supposed to be nice salon quality, so we'll see how they stack up next to the blessed ghds. thanks for your help, ladies!
Jul 7th 2004, 7:05 pm
#15
C.G.D.S
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Ireland--->London--->Spain--->Rockport, MA
Posts: 3,353
Originally posted by beckles
i broke down and just bought some US straighteners....they are supposed to be nice salon quality, so we'll see how they stack up next to the blessed ghds. thanks for your help, ladies!
i broke down and just bought some US straighteners....they are supposed to be nice salon quality, so we'll see how they stack up next to the blessed ghds. thanks for your help, ladies!