Using your ghds abroad

Taking your ghds on holiday? The plug is the easy part. The thing to check first is whether your straighteners are happy with the local voltage.

Voltage: check the label

Mains electricity isn't the same everywhere. The UK and most of Europe use around 230 volts, while the USA, Canada and some other countries use around 110 to 120 volts.

ghd says its straighteners, apart from the older model 3.1b, are universal voltage. That means they adjust themselves to the supply and only need a plug adaptor. Not every ghd product is the same, though, and some of their hairdryers and other tools are made for one voltage only.

The reliable way to know is to read the rating label on your straighteners. If it shows a range such as 100 to 240V, they'll work on either type of supply. If it shows a single figure such as 230V, they're made for that supply only.

Adaptor or converter?

• Plug adaptor: changes the shape of the plug so it fits the socket. This is all a universal voltage straightener needs.
• Voltage converter: changes the supply itself. You'd only need one for a single voltage appliance, and cheap converters often can't cope with a straightener's heating load. If your label shows a single voltage, it's safer to leave the straighteners at home.

Packing them

• Let them cool completely before packing.
• Use a heat resistant pouch so the plates are protected and nothing else in the bag gets marked.
• Coil the cable loosely beside the straighteners rather than wrapping it round them. Our cable care guide explains why.
• Pack them where they won't take a knock. A drop can crack a plate or damage the parts inside.

In the hotel

Heat on a hotel bed or carpet is a fire risk, so use them on a heatproof mat or a hard surface, and switch off at the wall afterwards.

If they stop working after your trip, book them in and we'll find out why.