DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS ME IN KOREA
PSA: DO NOT BRING YOUR CORDLESS HAIR STRAIGHTENERS TO KOREA!!!!!!
ever since i cut my hair short, i’ve been using my stryv mini styler to curl the ends in, since short hair is a pain to manage using only a straightener……… and i brought it to korea because i obv want to have nice hair while i was there and it was a BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!!
bringing it there was no trouble, but bringing it back… long story short, i had to throw it away. the first red flag was when they didn’t let me bring it to jeju, but i really thought it was just a domestic flight regulation so i just left it in seoul and collected it when i went back to seoul. but when i wanted to bring it back to singapore, i was notified that i couldn’t bring it onto the flight, be it carry on or check in luggage. there was no way around it and the staff suggested that i ship it to a friend in korea to safe keep for me - no offence to the staff who suggested this but everyone i know lives in singapore…. 🫠
and since i was in a rush to do the tax refund inside before boarding my flight (korea’s security checks take quite some time before flights lol there’s always a queue before entering the departure gate), i had no choice but to throw it away. 🥲
so don’t be like me, please don’t bring yours to korea if you have one. and please please please check the regulations of whichever country you’re heading to, because i learned it the hard way 😭 and if anyone is wondering, i took SQ to and fro korea
Many travelers don't realize that cordless hair straighteners often contain lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a fire risk on airplanes. From my experience, Korean airports have very strict rules regarding these devices, including prohibiting them both in carry-on and checked luggage. Some airlines require such devices to have an airplane mode and removable batteries that must be carried separately, but even then, Korea tends to enforce an outright ban. If you're planning a trip, it’s best to check your airline’s specific regulations ahead of time and consider bringing a traditional corded hair straightener instead. Corded straighteners are generally allowed, as they don’t have built-in batteries and comply with international safety standards. I also learned that trying to ship your cordless device within Korea or asking airport staff for solutions can be challenging, especially if you don’t have friends or relatives nearby. In my case, international flights like Singapore Airlines have similar restrictions, so you could end up forced to discard your device at the airport if caught last minute. To avoid this, always pack hair styling tools with lithium batteries removed and properly insulated, or better yet, opt for travel-friendly corded models. This careful planning can save you from losing your favorite styling gadget and the stress of unexpected airport security complications.
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