✋ Hand luggage
Electric models: permitted. Butane cordless models: one permitted with safety catch engaged.
🧳 Hold luggage
Electric models: permitted. Butane cordless models: prohibited in checked baggage.
Based on TSA guidance for United States. Official rules ↗
Hair straightener / flat iron rules by country
How carry-on and checked-bag rules for hair straightener / flat iron compare across the 14 countries we cover.
Hair straightener / flat iron
Airline-specific rules
Common questions
A standard electric hair straightener will be waved through without comment — it is fully permitted in carry-on baggage. A cordless butane (gas-powered) straightener is a different matter: if you bring one through without engaging the safety lock, a screener may confiscate it or require you to check it, because the gas canister is treated as a pressurised flammable.
No — cordless gas-powered straighteners are prohibited in checked baggage in all regions, not just the US. They must travel in carry-on only, with the safety catch engaged to prevent accidental ignition. Electric models face no such restriction and can go in either carry-on or checked baggage.
Officers are trained to look for the gas canister housing typical of butane cordless models, and X-ray images often reveal the pressurised cylinder. If stopped, be upfront about which type you have and show that the safety catch is engaged — this is the condition under which one butane unit is permitted in carry-on.
Pack the butane straightener in carry-on — never in checked baggage — and ensure the safety lock is engaged before you leave home. Carry only one unit per person, as the rules allow a maximum of one gas-powered straightener in carry-on baggage.
Related items
Browse all Electronics →Based on official United States security guidelines. Rules vary by airline and route — always verify with your carrier before travel. · Rules last verified May 2026.