Hair tools in Oxford?
Jun 19, 23, 11:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Hair tools in Oxford?
I can't seem to find a dual voltage option of my favorite hair tool (a revlon drying brush) so figure I'll buy a 220v option when I get to England. Is Boots the best/only option in Oxford? There is a Boots ~10 minute walk from our hotel, so no problem there, but I don't know what other store options there are for hair tool shopping around. Thank you for suggestions! (I bought a 220v hair dryer and curling iron in Belgium in 1992 that still work and I've still been known to travel with, so....this isn't unheard of for me ;-)
Jun 19, 23, 11:50 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
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I have no clue about hair tools in general, and I doubt whether anything you buy today will last as long as something you bought in the 90s.
But as for somewhere to satisfy a craving for hair stuff, Argos is worth a look. https://www.argos.co.uk/search/revlo...:revlon:revlon
But as for somewhere to satisfy a craving for hair stuff, Argos is worth a look. https://www.argos.co.uk/search/revlo...:revlon:revlon
Last edited by plunet; Jun 19, 23 at 12:21 pm
Jun 19, 23, 12:14 pm
#3
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I don't truly expect anything to last decades, but I don't mind buying something I can travel with vs just buying something for this specific trip or doing without. Thank you for teaching me about Argos! Looks good, and there are a couple of those in & around Oxford as well!
Jun 19, 23, 2:25 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2015
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You could consider this travel voltage converter, available from Amazon in the US.
Jun 19, 23, 4:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
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In the city centre, you options are Boots and Robert Dyas near Cornmarket, and Superdrug + John Lewis in the Westgate shopping mall. We no longer have an Argos in the centre, you'll need to bus/taxi/bike it out to the ringroad to one of the big Sainsburys for an Argos. Or buy online to one of the newsagent that do click+collect
Jun 19, 23, 5:31 pm
#6
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I won't use converters with hair tools - only correct voltage 
Hopefully one of the local options will have it, or I foresee many French twists on the trip 
Thanks all for the input!
Hopefully one of the local options will have it, or I foresee many French twists on the trip Thanks all for the input!
Jun 20, 23, 4:40 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
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60Hz was great back in the day because it could be used to sync electric clocks.
Jun 21, 23, 12:56 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
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Yes, 50Hz was used for clocks and in the UK it was very accurate too. When reducing the supply frequency there can be issues with devices that have a real wound power transformer. Converters never change the frequency. Frequency would not be an issue for heating devices like hair straighteners. Frequency may also be a problem for devices with a motor as they will run slower on a 50Hz supply. It is true that the actual voltage from UK sockets is 240V and can be a few volts higher, despite being declared at 230V. That can shorten the life of devices designed for 220/230V.
Jun 21, 23, 2:27 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2016
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Depends how the device achieves temperature control - with modern electronics you really can't make any assumptions unless you can see and understand the internals of the device, or the rating plate/label confirms it's safe for multi frequency use. Especially if you're holding the device in your hand and close to you whilst using it, you really don't want any unexpected outcomes.
Jun 21, 23, 5:57 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Depends how the device achieves temperature control - with modern electronics you really can't make any assumptions unless you can see and understand the internals of the device, or the rating plate/label confirms it's safe for multi frequency use. Especially if you're holding the device in your hand and close to you whilst using it, you really don't want any unexpected outcomes.
Jun 21, 23, 3:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2013
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I was indeed referring to clocks, though it also applies to gramophone turntables and anything else using a synchronous motor. I seem to recall that the main advantage of 60Hz is that you need slightly less iron in the transformers.
Jun 22, 23, 12:44 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
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Yes, and that iron issue is why some products designed for the US market would fail in other countries even with the correct voltage conversion.
Jun 23, 23, 1:16 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I can't seem to find a dual voltage option of my favorite hair tool (a revlon drying brush) so figure I'll buy a 220v option when I get to England. Is Boots the best/only option in Oxford? There is a Boots ~10 minute walk from our hotel, so no problem there, but I don't know what other store options there are for hair tool shopping around. Thank you for suggestions! (I bought a 220v hair dryer and curling iron in Belgium in 1992 that still work and I've still been known to travel with, so....this isn't unheard of for me ;-)
