Travelers may want to rethink what they pack in their beauty kits, as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has introduced new rules regarding items with heating elements.
On Aug. 20, the TSA announced on social media that certain tools flagged by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for containing hazardous materials are no longer permitted in checked baggage, according to TheStreet.
Cordless curling irons, flat irons, and straighteners powered by lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal, or butane fuel are now prohibited from checked luggage. However, they may still be carried in a traveler’s hand luggage if they have a protective cover to prevent accidental activation. Spare gas cartridges remain fully banned from air travel.
“Any cordless curling irons containing gas cartridges (butane) discovered in a checked bag will be removed and turned over to the airline as a HAZMAT item,” the TSA stated.
Traditional plug-in hot tools are not affected by the change and can still be stored in checked baggage. Several popular brands, including Tymo and Conair, offer cordless models that fall under the new restrictions.
“The bottom line is simple,” TSA spokesperson Daniel Velez told the Florida Times-Union. “If these items can catch fire in the cargo hold where checked bags are transported, there’s no one there to put it out. That’s why they’re only allowed in carry-on bags.”
