should i buy flat iron here in in the United States or in the Philippines when I arrive?

The same thing. They are made in China.

They used to make dual-voltage flat irons and hair dryers for travelers. Just flip a switch to select 110 or 220 volts. They're probably still available. The differences in cycles won't affect the iron at all, and the blow dryer very little.

Voltage converters (transformers) go bad very often....usually because the owner tries to run a 1200 watt iron on a small converter rated for 500 watts or less. The converter can't handle the load, and cooks internally.

In the Philippines, because:

1) It is a lot cheaper in the Philippines.

2) It is a lot more durable - flat irons in the Philippines can be used as hair driers because of the way they were built - a lot of Filipinos use them here in place of the hair dryer.

3) There are differences between voltages in the Philippines and USA and stuff from there often break down once used in the Philippines.

4) You'll help the local economy of your adopted country.

5) It is much less of a hassle.

Acquire your set of Flat Iron and Blow Dryer here coz they are designed to be used here. No need for Step Up Transformers or Voltage Selector Switches.

I just talked to my filipina friend and she said that if you buy it in the philipines it would be better because if you strighten your hair with the flat irons that you buy in the philipines it will keep it straight for a long time even if you have to straighten it everday it will stay naturally straight.......th average cost for a flat iron that will give you these results would cost 2000 pesos but in american money it would be about 75-100$....XD

You'll beef a very big transformer for those electric appliances, better buy it here, really cheap and give it away when you leave.

buy them in the philippines. the difference in price is not much.

Items that cheap you should buy here. Even if it is 115v. There is a cycle difference that burns American articles up very soon with use.

for your own convenience, just go buy them in the Philippines...

just buy your appliances in the philippines,let headache.