Can I take hair wax and styling products on a plane in Japan?

What the rule says

Japan follows the international rules on dangerous goods, set out by the Civil Aviation Bureau.

Before you get to the checkpoint

• On an international flight every container of liquid must be 100ml or less, inside one transparent re-sealable bag of 1 litre or less.
• Domestic flights inside Japan have no liquid limit at all.
• Medicine, baby milk and special dietary food are exempt — carry them separately and tell the officer.
• Take the bag out of your luggage and put it in its own tray.

Why the rule is what it is

It is neither dangerous goods nor something that could be used as a weapon, so neither rule applies to it.

If it is refused

You cannot go back and check it in once you are at the screening point. It is taken from you and disposed of, and there is no compensation. Some Japanese airports have a post counter before security where you can mail it to yourself.

Who decides

The officer at the checkpoint, applying the national rules and your airline's own conditions. Where the airline is stricter, the airline wins.

You can buy this in Japan

Where to buy it

Drugstores and convenience stores

Worth weighing against the space it takes in your bag. Most of this is cheaper in Japan than the excess baggage fee, and hundred-yen shops carry the everyday version of almost everything.

Hair products and the liquid limit

Hair products count as cosmetics under the Japanese rules.

• Shampoo, wax, spray and dye all count towards the same 2 litre personal total.
• Aerosols need the nozzle capped or otherwise protected so it cannot go off in the hold.
• Anything with a heating element and a battery has its own rule — see hair straighteners.
• Japan runs on 100V. Appliances made for 220–240V can overheat here, and hotels supply dryers anyway.

Related items

• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hairspray
• Hair dye and colouring
• Hair tonic and hair growth products
• Hair straighteners and curlers
• Hair dryer