How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives

Will my hair straighteners work in The Maldives?

Check that your hair straighteners can work in The Maldives:

• If your hair straighteners can run on 230 volts or can support dual voltage (how you can check) then you will only need to bring a suitable power adapter listed below if the plug on your hair straighteners will not fit in the outlet.

If not then either:

• Use dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] - you might still need the correct power adapter for The Maldives but these cheap lightweight accessories are designed specifically for travel.

Buy travel hair straighteners for The Maldives

• Use a power converter (or voltage transformer) - you can then use your existing hair straighteners and other applicances with a 230 volt Maldivian power outlet, however this is significantly bulkier and more expensive than dedicated travel hair straighteners. A voltage transformer will change the voltage but not the shape of the plug on your hair straighteners to fit in the types of wall outlet used in The Maldives, therefore please check that your voltage transformer comes with a suitable power adapter for The Maldives otherwise you will still need to bring a seperate power adapter. Be aware that your personal hair straighteners might not be suitable for travelling and you risk potential damage in your luggage. [13] [AD]

Warning: If your hair straighteners won't handle 230 volts used in The Maldives you run the risk of damage to your hair straighteners, an electrical fire hazard or a blown fuse. Before using your hair straighteners in The Maldives read the instruction manual first to ensure safe operation.

The Maldives power outlets and plug sockets

What voltage is used in The Maldives?

The standard residential voltage in The Maldives is 230 volts.

What electrical frequency is used in The Maldives?

The frequency from a Maldivian power outlet is 50Hz. [14]

Which power adapter do you need to bring when using hair straighteners in The Maldives?

There are five different types of power outlets used in Maldives, types G, D, J, K and L with the primary power outlets being type G:

• Plug Type D - You can recognise this wall socket by the three round holes in a triangle pattern for live, neutral and ground.
• Plug Type G - The wall outlet, technically called a type G power outlet, can be identified by the three holes with shutters forming a triangle shape.
• Plug Type J - The squashed hexagon shaped plug socket (technically called a type J power outlet) looks like three circular holes forming a triangle pattern for live, neutral and earth.
• Plug Type K - The wall outlet, technically known as a type K power outlet, can be identified by three holes in a triangular configuration for the live, neutral and earth.
• Plug Type L - You can identify this flattened hexagon shaped wall outlet by the 3 large circular holes forming a line. Note that there are two variations of Type L plug socket rated at 10 amps and 16 amps. The 10 amp version has 4mm thick pins which are spaced 5.5mm apart and the 16 amp version has slightly larger 5mm round pins spaced 8mm apart.

A suitable power adapter to bring when using 230 volt hair straighteners in The Maldives is a Type G power adapter, read the simple guide below for full details of using a power adapter for The Maldives. Be aware that unless you that have dual voltage hair straighteners you will need to check if you need to use a voltage converter.  [6] [15] [AD]

Buy a plug adapter for The Maldives

Dual voltage hair straighteners

Are my hair straighteners dual voltage?

A simple method to tell if your hair straighteners supports a dual voltage power outlet is to look for either a sticker or numbers printed on the plug or handle. This location might vary depending on the make or model of your hair straighteners, it should also state in the instruction manual or on the box. Some dual voltage models will change automatically, however other models will feature a button or switch which allows you to toggle between different regions depending on which country you are in.

• Single voltage might say a specific number - such as 110V. If this number matches the 230 volts used in The Maldives then you should be able to use your hair straighteners with a Maldivian power outlet.
• Single voltage could also have a small voltage range with a dash to accomodate small voltage fluctuations - such as 100-120V. If the 230 volts used in a Maldivian power outlet falls within the range shown on your hair straighteners then you can use it in The Maldives.
• Dual voltage will say a larger range separated with a slash - such as 100/240V. Your hair straighteners will be capable of being used in The Maldives or any other country if these numbers are shown.

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Travelling to The Maldives with hair straighteners

Is it safe to bring my hair straighteners to The Maldives?

Bringing dual voltage travel hair straighteners are preferable to packing your existing hair straighteners as it ensures that they will operate correctly with the 230 volt power outlets used with a Maldivian power outlet, as long as you use the correct plug adapter for The Maldives.

Please note that packing expensive domestic hair straighteners could put them at risk because of potential loss or damage in transit by a baggage handlers. The inconvenience and costs involved in replacing expensive specialised domestic hair straighteners in The Maldives might be higher than purchasing much cheaper dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] before travelling to bring with you. If you intend to bring your own personal hair straighteners in your luggage either slot them inside a sneaker or boot to protect from light knocks, or use a heat resistant and shockproof hot tools travel case or heat resistant mat pouch for hair straighteners and curling irons which also allows the hair straighteners to be transported whilst hot without risk of burning.   [16] [17] [AD]

Can I pack hair straighteners in my carry on hand luggage?

According to the TSA guidelines for hair straighteners there is no restriction on carrying mains powered hair straighteners in your carry on luggage through airport security in the US. The TSA recommends that you should verify that your airline that is flying you to The Maldives will allow hair straighteners onboard and that they will fit in the overhead bin or underneath the seat of the airplane. Packing your hair straighteners in a dedicated heat resistant protective hot tools travel case leaves them easily accessible by airport security, they can be packed away quickly avoiding a tangle of wires in your carry on luggage (the TSA suggests wrapping cords tightly around electronic items). If you do intend to pack fragile or expensive hair straighteners in your hand held luggage then it is advisable to use hard carry on luggage as this offers the most protection against bumps and knocks during transit.    [2] [16] [18] [19] [AD]

Power converters for The Maldives

What is the difference between a power converter and a power adapter for The Maldives?

A small, cheap and lightweight power adapter (or plug adapter) will change the shape of the plug on your hair straighteners to slot into a power outlet found in The Maldives, but a heavy and bulkier power converter converts a 230 volt Maldivian power outlet to work with non-230 volt hair straighteners. [13] [AD]

Do I need a converter to use my hair straighteners in The Maldives?

The correct type voltage transformer (or power converter) allows your hair straighteners using a different voltage to work with the 230 volt power outlet used in The Maldives. A power converter is suitable for travellers who want to use their own hair straighteners, but it could be more expensive to purchase a power converter than it is to buy dedicated dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2]. Also, a power converter is noticeably bulkier and heavier than travel hair straighteners making a power converter less suitable when packing in luggage. [13] [AD]

Hair straightener safety

Are hair straighteners dangerous?

The temperature of the ceramic plates used in hair straighteners can reach over 200 degrees with the potential to burn hair, skin, and even start a fire if not used correctly. According to figures from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service electrical beauty products have been responsible for an estimated 650,000 fires in the United Kingdom alone.

How can I minimise risk using hair straighteners?

• Skin protection: Wear heat resistant gloves during styling to protect hands from heat.
• Children's protection: With 10% of children's burns being caused by hair straighteners it is recommended to look for flat iron hair straighteners which include a heat resistant bag to keep the plates closed shut when not in use, making it easier to store out of reach of children.
• Luggage protection: Placing hair straighteners directly into luggage without allowing them to cool down can risk damage to clothes and heating up combustible or flammable packed items. If your hair straighteners weren't supplied with a heat protective cap then wrap them in a heat resistant mat or use a hot tools travel case to pack them into luggage whilst warm. A travel case will also keep expensive hair straighteners protected from damage during transit.
• Hair protection: Applying a heat protectant spray prior to using hair straighteners is essential to prevent burning, as well as using the correct technique for your hair type - read our guide on how to use hair straighteners for comprehensive information.
• Fire protection: It can take up to 40 minutes for hair straighteners to cool down so resting your straighteners on a heat resistant mat could reduce the risk of setting fire to furniture. Forgetting to turn off hot domestic appliances can also cause fires. This risk can be reduced by using a model of straightener with a timer socket which will turn itself off automatically after a certain length of time, you can also add this feature to any basic straighteners by using a timer socket in a power outlet.    [16] [17] [20] [21] [22] [23] [AD]

How can I add a safety timer to my existing hair straighteners?

1 in 12 owners of hair straighteners admit to forgetting to turn them off after use, unless your hair straighteners have a built in automatic timer then leaving them on could potentially start a fire. However you can add this functionality to any model even if it doesn't have an integrated timer:

1. Add an automatic timer to any hair straighteners by plugging them into a timer socket then plugging the timer into a power outlet.
2. Turn on the timer and use the hair straighteners as normal.
3. After you have finishing using the hair straighteners turn off the power at the outlet.
4. However if you forget to turn the power outlet off then the timer will automatically switch off the straighteners after a pre-set length of time. Depending on the model of timer this could be 15, 30, 60 or 120 minutes - ideally pick the shortest length of time possible.
5. For added peace of mind use a power outlet splitter to share the outlet from the timer with both your hair straighteners and a lamp. When the timer is running both the straighteners and the lamp will be turned on, making the lamp a clear indicator that the straighteners are still being heated. When leaving a room it is second nature to ensure all lights are turned off, if the lamp is still on then this acts as a reminder to switch off the straighteners.

  [22] [24] [AD]

How to treat a hot iron burn

If you accidentally burn yourself run cold water under your burn and if it is severe it is advised to seek medical attention from a doctor or hospital.

How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives using a type D power adapter

Instructions showing you how to use hair straighteners in The Maldives with a three prong Type D travel charger.

1. Please check that your hair straighteners are either dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] or is compatible with a 230 volt power supply; if not then don't continue as you may damage your straighteners, blow a fuse or create an electrical fire hazard. Before using a travel hair straighteners which can toggle between different voltages make sure you have set it to the 230 volt setting, consult the manufacturers instructions to find out how to do this.
2. If the plug on your hair straighteners isn't the same shape as the outlet which is used in The Maldives you'll need to bring a Type D plug adapter ^[4]. The Type D plug adapter is designed to convert plugs from other countries for use with a power outlet found in The Maldives by changing the shape of the plug, however the adapter doesn't change the frequency or voltage of the hair straighteners to work with a 230 volt outlet.
3. Firstly plug the Type D plug adapter into the Maldivian power outlet. You can recognise this power outlet by three circular holes in a triangular pattern for live, neutral and ground.
4. Plug in the hair straighteners into the Type D plug adapter.
5. Turn on the Maldivian power outlet.
6. You can now switch on your straighteners in The Maldives. [AD]

How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives using a type G power adapter

How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives with a 3 prong Type G travel charger.

1. Check that the straighteners are either dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] or can work with a 230 volt power outlet but if it doesn't then do not proceed as you could create an electrical fire hazard, blow a fuse or damage your hair straighteners. Travel hair straighteners typically have a switch to toggle between voltages, before using your straighteners ensure the switch is set to accept 230 volts for use in The Maldives - please refer to the owners manual for more details on where the switch is found.
2. You'll need to bring a Type G plug adapter ^[6] if the shape of plug on your hair straighteners isn't the same shape as the power outlet which is used in The Maldives. The plug adapter helps adapt plugs on appliances from other countries into an electrical outlet found in The Maldives simply by changing the shape of the plug, but it doesn't change the voltage of your hair straighteners to work with a 230 volt supply.
3. Start the process by taking the Type G plug adapter and inserting it in the wall outlet. You can recognise the wall supply by the 3 vertical rectangular slots in a triangular shape for live, neutral and ground pins.
4. Plug in the hair straighteners into the Type G plug adapter.
5. Switch on the Maldivian power outlet.
6. You can now switch on your straighteners in The Maldives. [AD]

How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives using a type J power adapter

How to power your hair straighteners in The Maldives using a Type J power adapter.

1. Check that the straighteners are either dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] or can work with a 230 volt power supply but if it doesn't then don't proceed as you might damage your hair straighteners, blow a fuse or create an electrical fire hazard. Before using a dual voltage travel hair straighteners ensure you have set it to accept 230 volts for use in The Maldives - refer to the user guide to find out where the switch is located.
2. You will need to bring a Type J plug adapter ^[8] if the shape of plug on your hair straighteners isn't the same type of power outlet used in The Maldives. The plug adapter will help adapt plugs on appliances from other countries into an electrical outlet used in The Maldives simply by changing the shape of the plug, but the adapter doesn't change the voltage of the hair straighteners to work with a 230 volt supply.
3. Start the process by taking the Type J plug adapter and inserting it in the Maldivian power outlet. You can identify the flattened hexagon shaped power outlet by three large holes in a flattened triangle configuration.
4. Then plug in your hair straighteners into the Type J plug adapter.
5. Switch on the Maldivian power outlet. You can now turn on your straighteners for use in The Maldives. [AD]

How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives using a type K power adapter

How to power your hair straighteners in The Maldives using a Type K power adapter.

1. Check that your straighteners are either dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] or works with a 230 volt power outlet but if not then do not attempt these instructions because you could create an electrical fire hazard, damage your straighteners or blow a fuse. Dual voltage hair straighteners usually have a switch to toggle between voltages, before using your hair straighteners ensure the switch is set to accept 230 volts to use in The Maldives, please refer to the owners manual for more information on where the switch is.
2. You'll need to buy a Type K plug adapter ^[10] if the shape of plug used on your hair straighteners isn't the same shape as the power outlet which is used in The Maldives. This Type K plug adapter will fit different plugs on appliances from other countries for an electrical outlet in The Maldives simply by changing the shape of the plug, however it doesn't change the voltage of your hair straighteners to work with a 230 volt supply.
3. Begin the process by taking the Type K plug adapter and plugging it into the power outlet. The plug supply (known as the Type K power outlet ^[9]) looks like 3 holes forming an upside-down triangle pattern for the live, neutral and ground.
4. Then plug in your hair straighteners into the Type K plug adapter.
5. Switch on the Maldivian power outlet. You can now turn on your straighteners for use in The Maldives. [AD]

How to use hair straighteners in The Maldives using a type L power adapter

How to power hair straighteners in The Maldives with a 3 pinned Type L power charger.

1. Please ensure that your hair straighteners are either dual voltage travel hair straighteners ^[2] or is compatible with a 230 volt power outlet; but if not then don't continue because you may create an electrical fire hazard, blow a fuse or damage your straighteners. Before using a dual voltage travel hair straighteners which can toggle between different voltages make sure the switch is set to the 230 volt setting; consult the instructions to find out how to do this.
2. If the plug on your hair straighteners isn't the same shape as the outlet which is used in The Maldives you will need to bring a Type L plug adapter ^[12]. This Type L plug adapter will help convert different plugs from other countries into a power outlet found in The Maldives by changing the shape of the plug, however the adapter doesn't change the frequency or voltage of your hair straighteners to work with a 230 volt outlet.
3. Firstly plug the Type L plug adapter in the Maldivian power outlet. This squashed hexagon shaped wall supply, technically called a Type L power outlet ^[11], looks like 3 round adjecent holes in a line. You'll find there are two different types of Type L wall outlet rated for 10 and 16 amps. A 10 amp plug outlet has 4mm round pins spaced 5.5mm apart, whilst a 16 amp version has slightly larger 5mm pins spaced 8mm apart.
4. After that plug in the hair straighteners into the Type L plug adapter.
5. Switch on the Maldivian power outlet. Your hair straighteners should now be ready to be used in The Maldives. [AD]

See also

• What can I connect to a Maldivian power outlet?
• What can I connect to hair straighteners?

External links

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1. Wikipedia - wikipedia page about Maldives
2. Amazon - dual voltage travel hair straighteners
3. iec.ch - Type D power outlet
4. Type D plug adapter - A BS-546 compliant, Type D electrical adapter featuring a grounded 3-prong plug, widely used in South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka..
5. iec.ch - Type G power outlet
6. Type G plug adapter - An earthed BS 1363 certified UK power adapter, featuring a fuse to protect against overload and consequent fire risks. Ideal for use in over 50 countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, and also in international cities like Dubai and Hong Kong..
7. iec.ch - Type J power outlet
8. Type J plug adapter - This 3-pin Type J travel adapter adheres to the Swiss SN 441011 standard, offering grounded connectivity for safe electrical use in Switzerland and Liechtenstein..
9. iec.ch - Type K power outlet
10. Type K plug adapter - A Type K travel adapter enables you to power your foreign devices through Denmark's grounded, 3-pin outlets, compliant with the Danish Plug Equipment Section 107-2-D1 Standard..
11. iec.ch - Type L power outlet
12. Type L plug adapter - A Type L travel adapter is compatible with Italy's 10A and 16A grounded outlets and can also be used in other countries like Chile and Uruguay which use the Italian standard CEI 23-50..
13. Power converter - Heavy-duty power converters are designed to convert voltage levels between different electrical standards, shifting between 110V/120V and 220V/240V with both 50Hz and 60Hz, often incorporating safety features such as fuse protection and circuit breakers..
14. Wikipedia - WikiPedia - Mains electricity by country - October 2017
15. iec.ch - IEC World Plugs by location - October 2017
16. Hard case for hot tools - Hard case designed for storing and protecting a flat irons, curling irons and hair straighteners.
17. Heat resistant mat pouch for hair straighteners and curling irons - Protects surfaces from hot hair irons and wraps around the appliance allowing instant packing into baggage.
18. tsa.gov - TSA guidelines for hair straighteners - October 2017
19. Hard carry on luggage - Example of hard cases, suitcases and luggage suitable for airline carry on.
20. Heat resistant gloves for hair styling - Heat resistant glove recommended to protect skin against the risk of heat from a curling iron, flat iron or hair dryer.
21. Heat protectant spray - Thermal protector spray used prior to styling with heated tools such as blow dryers and flat irons.
22. Energy saving outlet with timer - Automatic power shut down of a connected appliance after a preset length of time.
23. Flat iron hair straighteners which include a heat resistant bag - Example of hair straighteners with a protective bag suitable for travel.
24. Power outlet splitter - A power outlet splitter transforms a single wall outlet into multiple AC outlets which is a practical solution for using multiple appliances in locations with limited access to power outlets, such as hotels or airports..