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Original poster

How to get a decent blow dry in North America?

14 replies

brimfull · 08/03/2011 18:32

When I was in Canada a few months ago my hair looked atrocious cos my mum's hairdyer was so pathetic..akin to a bad hotel one in it's power. It said it was 1800 watts so not low but I am assuming it's because their electricity is lower wattage .
How do I get a decent power blow dry over there , shall I take my 2000 watt dryer . How do you lot who live in NAmerica get a decent blow dry?

OP posts:
ZZZenAgain · 08/03/2011 18:33

when we were in Florida , I just used my normal hairdryer and it was fine

Original poster
brimfull · 08/03/2011 18:36

really?
american wattage is the same as canadian isn't it?

maybe my dryer will work as well there as it does here ...hope so

OP posts:
ZZZenAgain · 08/03/2011 18:38

didn't cross my mind to check the voltage. We rented a house and I think there were also dryers in the bathrooms although I packed my own travel one. Maybe I just used the ones that were in the house come to think of it. Sorry

5DollarShake · 08/03/2011 19:06

Same thing with GHDs - was never able to use mine when in the States. Very annoying.

coastgirl · 08/03/2011 19:14

I bought curling tongs in Canada and they were still mega crap.

Original poster
brimfull · 08/03/2011 19:16

have googled and apparently will need a high power voltage adapter or summat
or buy a dryer there..but it will be crap

OP posts:
Original poster
brimfull · 09/03/2011 21:29

bumping for evening crowd

OP posts:
MadamDeathstare · 09/03/2011 21:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
brimfull · 09/03/2011 21:40

I know it will work with an adapter but will it be as powerful there as it is here?

My mum's dryer was 1800watt and pathetic which makes me wonder if mine will be almost as pathetic .

OP posts:
GwendolineMaryLacey · 09/03/2011 21:42

Had the thing in New York last summer with my hairdryer and straighteners. Hairdryer usually blasts the hair off my head, over there it was like a mouse fart and the straighteners were a disaster.

Original poster
brimfull · 09/03/2011 21:57

how do they cope over there with their pathetic electricity voltage?

OP posts:
WheeshtWillYe · 10/03/2011 05:10

If you want to use your UK dryer with full power you will need to run it through a converter rather than an adapter. I use a converter so my UK sewing machine works here & I'm hoping it'll also give a BabyBliss Big Hair enough power. My mum is stocking up on goodies from the mumsnet S&B shopping list for me for her next visit Grin.

TBH your best bet is to buy a dryer over here but our dryers, straighteners etc are nowhere near as good as in Europe.

withagoat · 10/03/2011 06:39

Ghds don't work in th USA

Original poster
brimfull · 10/03/2011 08:39

no point buying one as my mum has a supposedly good on already

so will this converter make mine work as powerfully there as it does here?

OP posts:
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