Airplane travel with hairsticks? hairpins?

[banglaminerva]

Just wondering if folks have had any experience flying on airplanes with hairstick on? I'm flying on Thursday and have started wearing my hair up all the time, usually with a hairstick. I'm wondering if I should find another way at least for the travel days. Has hairpins given anyone problems? I figure that in knitting needles are ok, so should hairsticks.

Or maybe I should just go buy some small knitting needles for my hair?;)

[may1em]

I had no problems with metal hairpins in my hair on a domestic flight I took a few months ago. I had some hairsticks with me that I put (along with a crochet hook) in my pencil case - nobody complained. I also bought a metal hairstick while in the other city and brought it back without any issues.

You might want to wear your hair in a braid instead, though, if for no other reason than that you're probably going to want to lean your head back, and buns make that difficult.

[Tornerose]

Metal hairsticks might set off the metaldetectors depending on how sensitive they are. But I've managed to go through some with coins in my pockets, and others not. So if you're gonna use one, wood might be best option. That way you don't have to take it out all the time.

But like may1em says, you're probably gonna want to lean your head backwards so braids might be a better alrnative anyway.

[EchoAudra]

Airport security didn't give me any trouble about my hairstick (wood). I've also went through security with hairpins and it has never set off the metal detector or been a problem. I agree with the other posters that a braid is probably more comfortable for flying. I ended up taking out my hairstick about halfway through my travel day so there was nothing poking me in the back of the head while I tried to sleep.

[OhioLisa]

Not only do I always fly in hairsticks, but my carry-on contains my entire hairtoy collection as well. I have had my bag searched, but never had a problem. Fear not. ;)

[may1em]

I should also mention that in 2003, I set off a metal detector with a barrette. I had to get taken aside and wanded . If you really want to wear a metal stick or pins, throw it in your purse before you go through the metal detector. Then you can put it (back) in after you're through.

[Nocturnal]

I second braiding and putting pins into carry on.

[kdaniels8811]

I was going to post about this! I have been wearing my flexi-8 daily and hate to give it up, it holds my hair so well and I can even sleep in it. But I am terrified of it being taken away. After reading this, I may put it into my purse. We are not checking luggage, just taking a carry on bag (for TWO WEEKS vacation!!) to visit my brother in the Marshall islands and my liquids- which you are limited to take in once quart size bag, max 3 ounces - include coconut oil, mega tek, smt, catnip tea... smile!!! I do have solid shampoo so that helped limit the liquids needed. Wish me luck getting through security.

[banglaminerva]

I too have gotten very possessive about my hair sticks. I wear a low bun and have fallen asleep wearing it. I braid my hair at night, but have yet to wear it in public. Just not my do ;) I'll probably just hope for the best, but if they take my sticks, I'll cry like a baby.

[Magdalene]

A Flexi-8 seems less likely to be considered a weapon than a hair dagger from Bronze Jewelers...

That said, I travel with wooden sticks, but metal hair claws.

[Mishka_84]

I actually wore my hair down the last time I flew, and carried a pony tail holder and a pair of hairsticks in my purse. I didn't want to have my hair in a style that would be uncomfortable for a 9 hour flight, so I decided I'd wait to see how I felt on the plane, and style my hair once seated. I ended up just doing a loose braid, so it was out of my way.

[harpgal]

When I fly, I do not wear any metal in my hair. I braid it and wrap it around a very inexpensive hairstick just in case it is taken away from me. I pack all of my valuable sticks in my suitcase.

Another good tip is to always bring along a padded, self-addressed envelope. If anything of value is taken away, it can be put inside the envelope and mailed back to yourself.

[SimplyLonghair]

When I fly, I do not wear any metal in my hair. I braid it and wrap it around a very inexpensive hairstick just in case it is taken away from me. I pack all of my valuable sticks in my suitcase.

Another good tip is to always bring along a padded, self-addressed envelope. If anything of value is taken away, it can be put inside the envelope and mailed back to yourself.
Oh Harpgal, what a wonderful suggestion! I will remember that next time I fly!

[Islandgrrl]

I flew to California and back just a few months ago and I was also worried about what kind of havoc my hairtoys might cause. My flight was just a couple of hours, so I wasn't worried about laying back on my head.

I wore a Willowthewisp hairfork (wood) on the way down and I swear the thing could be a deadly weapon. It's huge, has 6 or 7 prongs and is as big as my hand, easily. Not a word.

On the way back, not being as concerned, I wore my silver Pat Arieas hairfork. All they did was make me take it out to go through security. I put it right back in and went on my way. Seriously, they were more concerned about my portable nebulizer (what, I might knock someone upside the head with it?), than the sharp pointy metal thing I was wearing in my hair.

[Denebi]

The last intercontinental flight I took, I wore a dutch braid, put up with a flexi-8. Went through security (several times!) without producing any noise ;) So, you are probably safe with flexis. Braids are much more comfortable for sleeping, anyways. So, if you are in doubt, just braid your hair and you will not have any problems.

[fishwich]

I fly kinda....eh, a lot, and while I've never tempted fate with a metal hairstick I've had no problem going through with wood sticks, acrylic sticks, or bone sticks, some of which were sharper and more dangerous than the metal ones in my bag. (they came through fine too.) I've never set off the detector not matter how many hairpins I've got in, either.

The only problem I've ever had was when I was visiting a federal courthouse two years ago. Got through the metal detector no problem, was walking toward the elevator when one of the guards yells for me to stop and comes running up to apologetically confiscate my wooden hairfork. I understand why it could have been considered a weapon in theory, but I suspect that he might just have been trying ti mpress his supervisor or something. Anyway, I got it back and all was well.

[carinkla]

I always travel with a braid. Dont want to take any risks with metal detectors or the risk that it wil be seen as a potential weapon ;)

[Sarahmoon]

I think the security won't be much of a problem, but for your own comfort, if you have to travel for many hours, you might want to sit back of even sleep a bit and then it will probably be more comfortable to wear a braid or put the hair up with something less "pointy".

It's probably a good idea to bring a scrunchie or something like that in your hand luggage so you can wear your hair differently when it turns out the hair sticks are a problem for some reason.

[Pumpkin3826]

There is literally everything on LHC!! I am so happy to have came across this thread. I am going on vacation in a few months and have been wearing my hair is a lazy wrap bun everyday but after reading this I will opt for French braid pigtails instead for the flight. I was worried if they saw a wooden hair stick in my bag it would be considered a weapon, I think I will bring my flexi clips instead. :o

[Upside Down]

I have traveled with wooden and metal pins and forks a lot. Quattro 4p and 2p are the most “weapon like” of them all.

I have never had issues. Once I was beeping and the security asked me to take it out. Turned out it was my shoes beeping. :)

I have never gone to USA with hairtoys in my head nor would I because I remember the security they had upon entering the states. Maybe it is more relaxed for flights withing US.

The only thing they took from me at security was a swiss knife (forgot I had it on me) and a zippo lighter (same).

[Kat]

I wear my hair in two braids for comfort (because then I can lean back without one braid digging into my back or anything. I take no chances when it comes to comfort, especially on long-haul flights-- I'll be uncomfortable enough and find it hard enough to sleep as it is!

However, one braid or two, usually security will want to pat down my back underneath the braid. Do they think I have a sword concealed in there or something??

I've never flown in hairsticks for the reasons others have mentioned, as well as the possibility of having it taken away. (I'm not even sure I would count on being allowed to leave the security line to mail something to myself, or to have time to leave the line, find a place to mail it, then go back through the line.) If I did, they would be cheap plastic hairsticks, or cheap disposable chopsticks, or I'd put my hair up with pencils or something! I wouldn't risk metal, or anything wood that I liked and didn't want to lose.

Do yourself a favor and bring extra hair ties in your carryon or your pocket. I have had two separate flights where I've had one or both rubber bands break or fall off and then I'm spending the rest of my flight(s) with hair coming loose and constantly re-braiding! (and it's usually on the plane or waiting at the gate, so it's not like I can run buy some at one of the stores.)

[Sarahlabyrinth]

On my last flight from New Zealand to France I wore my hair in a bunned braid held with two claw clips, had no problem. I had my good hairtoys in my checked luggage.

[Bill D.]

One caution about a braid. DW flew out to see me back when she was still just a friend, and she unknowingly was sitting on her braid for much of the flight. The ends were not in good shape when she arrived although some TLC with oil helped.


Another good tip is to always bring along a padded, self-addressed [and stamped!] envelope. If anything of value is taken away, it can be put inside the envelope and mailed back to yourself.

I've done this for many years, and I actually used it once when I found as I approached the security line that I'd forgotten to put my Swiss Army Knife in my checked luggage. Fortunately this was before I was actually in the security line. I still have that knife, thanks to packing the envelope in my carry-on for every trip so it was there when needed. Keep in mind that there may not be an obvious mailbox - you may need to ask around to find where things can be mailed. Slap on some extra stamps when you prepare the envelope at home to cover future postage increases and unexpected weight since you may be mailing more than just hairsticks.

I have no idea whether TSA (or security personnel in other countries) will let you do this sort of thing at the security checkpoint. I'd be worried about the envelope actually getting mailed. You might have to leave the line and start over after mailing the envelope.

Bill D.

[Amelia777]

Good thread! It is great that I've found it as I'm going to visit my relatives soon and I'll travel by air. Frankly speaking, I didn't think about wearing hairpins while traveling before. So, thanks for sharing your experience, I'll keep your info in mind. By the way, when I was looking for some useful info on the topic, I found a collection of helpful travel sites (https://travelsites.com/helpful-travel-sites/). They allow to find answers on many questions about traveling by plane. Maybe this source will be useful for someone.

[Entangled]

I’ve had my bun and braid patted down because the body scanner registers a hard or dense object. I’ve heard of some getting confiscated before so I tend to braid my hair. Small airports are much more likely to confiscate and care than large international ones in my experience.

[Spikey]

Agreed ^^^ tiny airports are power-hungry. They're compensating for size or something. After using major city airports for most of my life, I was shocked when the airport in Junea, which is tiny, confiscated people's foods despite the flight being domestic, asked the kids in line extensive security check questions while staring them down, pulled a good fourth of the bags out of the scanner to check them by hand, and led one lady out of the airport in an arm-lock when she walked into a restricted zone. All over the course of just half an hour.