# Can you bring a curling iron or straightener on a plane? > OneBag Kit · https://onebagkit.com/can-you-bring-a-curling-iron-on-a-plane/ > Updated: 2026-10-24 · Published: 2026-10-24 "Electric curling irons and hair straighteners with cords are not restricted," says TSA. Its cordless curling iron page lists "Checked Bags: No" and says battery or butane models "are only allowed in carry-on bags." Our pick is a corded tool, which goes in either bag. The trade-off with a cordless one is that it stays in the carry-on, and TSA says "A safety cover must be securely fitted over the heating element." ## Corded curling irons and straighteners ![A curling iron with a charcoal handle, a white barrel and a short cord beside a terracotta flat iron with its plates closed.](https://onebagkit.com/img/brick-spot-can-you-bring-a-curling-iron-on-a-plane-640.webp) TSA gives each tool its own page. Its [Curling Iron (with cord)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/curling-iron-cord) page lists "Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)" and "Checked Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)", and says: "Electric curling irons and hair straighteners with cords are not restricted." The [Hair Straightener, flat iron (with cord)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hair-straightener-flat-iron-cord) page prints a longer version of that line: "Electric curling irons and hair straighteners with cords are not restricted unless they also include batteries or gas/fuel cartridges". By our reading, a corded tool with a battery or a gas cartridge falls under the cordless rules below. ## Cordless and butane: carry-on only TSA's [Curling Iron (cordless)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/curling-iron-cordless) page lists "Checked Bags: No" and says cordless curling irons powered by lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries, or by gas or butane fuel, "are only allowed in carry-on bags." It adds: "A safety cover must be securely fitted over the heating element. The device must be protected from accidental activation." It ends: "Gas refills (spare cartridges) are not permitted." The [Hair Straightener, flat iron (cordless)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hair-straightener-flat-iron-cordless) page also lists "Checked Bags: No" and says cordless hair straighteners powered by lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries, or by gas or butane fuel, "are only allowed in carry-on bags." It prints the same safety cover and refill sentences. TSA's older [Butane Curling Irons (cordless)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/butane-curling-irons-cordless) page says: "Cordless curling irons containing a gas cartridge and butane fueled curling irons are allowed in carry-on bags only." On refills it's wider: "Gas refills (spare cartridges) are not allowed in either checked or carry-on bags." For a spare battery, the FAA's [PackSafe lithium batteries](https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/lithium-batteries) page says spare lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, power banks included, must go in carry-on baggage only. The [electronics guide](https://onebagkit.com/packing-electronics-carry-on/index.md) covers batteries and power banks. ## At UK airports: gas curlers in hand or hold luggage GOV.UK's [Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: electronic devices and electrical items](https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/electronic-devices-and-electrical-items) page, under "Gas-powered hair curlers", says: "You can take hair curlers containing a gas cartridge in hand or hold luggage as long as the safety cover is fitted at all times. You must not take separate gas cartridges on board." That's a difference from TSA, whose cordless and butane pages list "Checked Bags: No". By our reading, a gas curler goes in either bag under the GOV.UK rule and in the carry-on only under TSA's. The same GOV.UK page says its table of devices covers "flights to the UK", and adds: "Some airlines might also have different restrictions." Sources, each read on 24 October 2026: TSA [Curling Iron (with cord)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/curling-iron-cord) (Last Updated on November 17, 2021) · TSA [Hair Straightener, flat iron (with cord)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hair-straightener-flat-iron-cord) (Last Updated on November 17, 2021) · TSA [Curling Iron (cordless)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/curling-iron-cordless) (Last Updated on March 29, 2023) · TSA [Hair Straightener, flat iron (cordless)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hair-straightener-flat-iron-cordless) (Last Updated on March 29, 2023) · TSA [Butane Curling Irons (cordless)](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/butane-curling-irons-cordless) (Last Updated on August 29, 2017) · TSA [Hair Dryers](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hair-dryers) (Last Updated on February 4, 2019) · [FAA PackSafe, Lithium Batteries](https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/lithium-batteries) · [GOV.UK, electronic devices and electrical items](https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/electronic-devices-and-electrical-items). ## FAQ ### Can you bring a hair dryer on a plane? Yes. TSA's Hair Dryers entry shows a plain "Yes" for both bag types, without the extra handling notes attached to heated styling tools. Arriving into Britain, GOV.UK's electrical table pairs "Hairdryer or straighteners" with "Yes" in each column. ## Related OneBag Kit guides - [How do you pack electronics and power banks in a carry-on?](https://onebagkit.com/packing-electronics-carry-on/index.md): lithium batteries and power banks in the cabin - [Can you cruise with only a carry-on? Four cruise lines' rules](https://onebagkit.com/cruise-carry-on-only/index.md): the cabin hair-tool rules on four cruise lines - [What goes in your personal item vs carry-on?](https://onebagkit.com/personal-item-vs-carry-on/index.md): which bag the tool rides in: personal item or carry-on - [What counts as a liquid at airport security?](https://onebagkit.com/what-counts-as-a-liquid-airport-security/index.md): heat-protectant spray and the quart bag HTML: https://onebagkit.com/can-you-bring-a-curling-iron-on-a-plane/