Your Number One or a Spare for the Suitcase?
A few years ago, I was off on my overseas adventure and I didn’t think twice about using flat iron in Europe. I took out my trusty socket adaptor, plugged it into the wall and…NOTHING. Not only would it not work in Europe – it never worked again. I had fried it from the inside out!
I learnt a valuable lesson that day: electrical appliances made for the US are not always compatible with overseas plugs. And it’s not just a matter of having a different outlet type. They actually run on different voltage.
So, now I know that if you ask me the question, “can i use my straightener in Europe?” The answer is ONLY if the hair straightener voltage is dual or universal.
Today I’d like to review the U9 Pro Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener which is equipped with dual voltage and a few other HOT features to boot.
BUY U9 PRO TOURMALINE CERAMIC STRAIGHTENER-AMAZON-
A Great Option for Travellers
First things first, “what is a dual voltage flat iron?” Basically, it’s a flat iron that can be powered at the standard US 110v – 120v or the more common overseas voltage of 220v – 240v. We’ve got a few funny little quirks here in the US of A and one of them is that our standard electrical voltage is much lower than most of the rest of the world. If an appliance is not dual voltage, it will not work in overseas plugs. A socket adaptor only changes the size of the pins, not the actual voltage so you need to check carefully.
So, next time you’re packing your luggage to head off overseas, ask yourself can I use my flat iron in Europe, NZ, Australia, Egypt or wherever it is you’re heading off to and check that you’ve got dual or universal flat iron voltage. It’ll save you the heartache of a fried flat iron and the headache of frizzy hair on holiday!
One thing I think is worth considering is owning a flat iron especially for when you’re travelling. And that’s where the U9 is such a great option! It costs less than $40 to buy one and at that price you wouldn’t be too gutted if you left it in a hotel room or it got battered around in your luggage. If you’ve got a set of expensive professional irons they’re pretty close to your heart and taking them travelling can be risky. This way you can have fabulous hair on vacation and salon style at home. Perfect!
The Heat is On
Okay, so you know that the U9 is fine for using overseas, but I haven’t told you if it’s actually a good hair straightener. In my opinion, the u9 pro tourmaline ceramic is a pretty good option for the price (it’s by no means professional but you won’t be disappointed if you don’t have unrealistic expectations. It features floating plates for faster, snag free straightening, narrow 1 inch place and a slimline, rounded body which makes it good for curling as well as straightening.
There’s an ongoing debate about is ceramic or titanium flat iron better and the answer to that really depends on your hair-type, styling needs and budget. This one has ceramic plates coated in tourmaline which can heat up almost instantly, give you reliable and consistent heat and are much cheaper to purchase than their titanium competitors.
BUY U9 PRO TOURMALINE CERAMIC-AMAZON-
…And Off (when you’ve forgotten!)
There’s no point in having beautifully flat ironed hair if it resulted in you burning your house (or hotel room!) down! Luckily this iron has a neat little feature for those of us who are a bit forgetful with the off switch. The auto shut off feature means that the iron automatically turns itself off after 30 minutes without being used. That could be a lifesaver!
The Customer is Always Right
The flat iron ratings for this model on Amazon are actually really good. It has an overall consumer rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars after more than 100 reviews and 75% of buyers gave it the full 5 stars. If you think this might be the flat iron for you, why not head over to Amazon and see what customers say about it in the hair straighteners reviews?
My Verdict: Some Great Features for the Price
This straighener gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. I know that it’s not the hottest model on the market but the universal voltage, the auto shut-off function and the effective heat settings do make it a very attractive buy. Also, you can pick it up for just a little more than the Remington hair straightener price which is fantastic considering its features.
I think I’d consider buying it as a spare iron to take travelling with me rather than having it as my go-to iron for everyday styling. Remember, if you’re planning on using hair straightener in europe, you have to make sure it’s dual voltage!
If you’re a jetsetter and want to the U9 to be your new travelling companion, skip over here to check it out.
If you’re not sure that this model is your new best friend, why not scroll the sidebar and read a couple more of my hair straighteners reviews?