With the three-one-one rule limiting what one can bring aboard planes to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, beauty items like makeup and perfume often also end up getting confiscated from travelers who did not realize that sunscreen or a semi-solid foundation above a certain size also need to go inside the bag one checks before boarding.
Over the last few months, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has also been drawing attention to other items that for one reason or another can also run afoul of its baggage rules and in turn lead to unnecessary disappointment when they ultimately get thrown out.
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‘Don’t let your razor slow you down’: TSA
At the start of August, the government agency has reiterated that cordless hair curling irons, straightening flatirons and other hair styling tours that rely on a lithium-ion battery for heat are banned from checked baggage and need to be kept near the traveler at all times in a carry-on bag so that any potential fires to which these types of batteries are more prone can be more easily spotted and put out)
Now, the TSA is also drawing attention to the razors that travelers of all genders bring with them on trips to get rid of unwanted body hair.
“Traveling soon? Don’t let your razor slow you down,” the TSA wrote in an Aug. 26 X post alongside a graphic showing that disposable razors and cartridges are “carry-on OK” while “loose blades & straight razors [go in] checked bags only.”
Related: One country is very close to fully scrapping the liquid rule at airports
The disposable razor with a plastic handle — as well as the fancier versions made of metal or wood — are the more common type of razor sold and used today. Some people still opt for the old-fashioned open blade or straight razor with a foldout blade; as those do not come with the same protective mechanisms as a disposable razor, they need to be kept away from the cabin in checked luggage.
‘Sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury’
“Any sharp objects in checked bags should be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage handlers and inspectors,” the TSA clarified further on a separate page on different types of razors.
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Most types of electric razors sold commercially also come with protective features that prevent major cuts and so are treated no differently from the disposable ones — they can be brought both in carry-on and checked luggage.
The three most common issues that could arise with the beauty and health items people bring with them on trips are the liquid rule for anything that could be classified as a non-solid, the restriction on open blades and the rules around lithium baggages needing to be kept with the traveler inside the cabin.
Other common beauty items and appliances that could face additional restrictions include makeup machines, light therapy masks, microcurrent massagers and electronic toothbrushes.
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Make a free appointment with TheStreet’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@postcardtravelplanning.com or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
