All electrical appliances and devices have a safety risk, especially those with a heating element.
This includes hair dryers. This is why proper care and precaution should be exercised when using these devices, especially ones with a heating element.
Using hair dryers as prescribed is very important for your safety:
Here is Why it is Important to Use a Hair Dryer safely:
Hair dryers have a heating element. It means that these devices can produce heat from electricity. It is important to use hair dryers safely because they tend to overhead and can even catch fire when not used properly. This is the risk of using these types of electric devices.
What is the Proper Way to Use a Hair Dryer?
Since it is very important to use hair dryers safely, you should know how to use them properly to reduce any safety hazards that can lead to burns, injuries, and even fire incidents.
Here is the proper way to use your hair dryer:
- After using the hair dryer, unplug it right away from the electrical socket and let it cool. When allowing your hair dryer to cool, it is ideal that you place it on a heat-resistant surface.
- Do not use the hair dryer in the bathtub or shower, near a sink with running water or a sink filled with water.
- Always ensure your hands are dry before you plug in the hair dryer and start using it.
- If the hair dryer gets wet or falls in a sink or tub full of water while in use, unplug it immediately, then remove it from the water. Please do not attempt to use it right away. Allow it to dry first completely.
- Regularly check the cord of your hair dryer if there are any signs of damage. If you see any, replace them right away.
- When not being used, keep the hair dryer turned off and unplugged.
- While using the hair dryer, please do not leave it unattended. If you need to pause for a bit to do something, turn off and unplug the hair dryer.
- When using the hair dryer, ensure the cord or the plug does not get wet. If it does, stop using it and let it dry before using it again.
- Do not put the hair dryer, cord, or plug near heated surfaces.
- Regularly clean the hair dryer to ensure no dirt, hair, or debris is stuck in the filters. You can easily remove hair dryer filters for cleaning. A dirty hair dryer can quickly overheat.
Do Hair Dryers Have Safety Features?
Since devices with a heating element are a fire hazard, most have safety features. This applies to hair dryers too.
Hair dryers, especially the modern-day ones, are packed with safety features to reduce the risk of heat or fire-related incidents.
Here are the safety features that you can find in all modern-day hair dryers:
Front Grill
The front grill of the hair dryer is designed for the user’s safety while still allowing a good amount of air to be released.
This safety feature prevents the user from contacting the device’s internal components. This is a great feature, especially if younger household members use the hair dryer.
Protective Screen
It is common for lint to build up after using the hair dryer for quite some time.
Lint build-up can block airflow, which can cause the hair dryer to overheat. The protective screen acts as a barrier to prevent lint from building up on the inside of the device and, in turn, prevents the device from overheating.
Insulation
Hair dryers have insulating material. This includes the plastic casing that it comes in.
This feature of the hair dryer prevents its body from getting too hot.
Without insulation, the exterior of the hair dryer can become extremely hot to touch, which can even burn your hand.
Thermal Fuse
This feature adds further protection from overheating and possibly catching fire.
The thermal fuse will blow and break the circuit when an abnormally high temperature is detected. This prevents the hair dryer from overheating.
Bimetallic Strip
This feature is made out of two metal sheets that expand when heated.
When the temperature gets too hot inside the hair dryer, one sheet bends as the other one grows larger. This will trip a switch that cuts off the power, so the hair dryer stops working.
Cutting off the power prevents the hair dryer from overheating any further.
Safety Cut-Off Switch
Your scalp can get burned when the temperature is over 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
The safety cut-off switch ensures this never happens by tripping the circuit and shutting off the motor when the temperature starts to get too hot.
What Should You NEVER Do With Your Hair Dryer?
To make sure that your hair dryer does not overheat or put you at any risk, there are things that you should NEVER do with your hairdryer.
It is important to keep these things in mind, so you do not risk getting injured or burned by your hair dryer.
- Never let your hair dryer get wet while using it. If it gets wet, stop using it and unplug it right away. Make sure it is completely dry before using it again.
- Never use your hair dryer while you are in the bath. This can result in you being electrocuted.
- Never use your hair dryer if there is damage to the cord or the plug. If you spot any damage on the cord or the plug, replace the cord right away.
- Never leave your hair dryer unattended when it is turned on. If you are using your hair dryer and need to pause for any reason, turn it off. Only turn it on when you resume drying your hair.
- Never use your hair dryer if the filter is filled with dirt or debris. Clean your hair dryer first and ensure the filter is free from dirt and debris before using it.
- Never use your hair dryer if there is a rattling sound coming from the inside. It signifies a loose or broken component, which means you should replace your hair dryer.
- Never use your hair dryer if it is making an unusually loud noise.
- Never keep it plugged when not in use. It can still draw electric current when plugged in even if it is turned off.
Should You Unplug Your Hair Dryer?
Electric appliances or devices with a heating element can still draw electric currents if plugged in, even if they are not powered on.
Given this, you should always unplug your hair dryer after using it and keep it unplugged when not in use.
Or better yet, store your hair dryer in a safe place after unplugging it, especially if you have children in the house. This is to prevent them from playing with it.
You do not want those tiny hands getting a hold of your hair dryer and plugging it in, which can be a safety risk.
Can Hair Dryers Spark?
Hair dryers can spark like most electrical appliances and devices with a heating element.
In several places, fires have even been caused by hair dryers, hair irons, and other hair styling tools that generate heat.
When not used properly, hair dryers can catch fire and give the user electrical shocks. Hundreds of reports have been about hair dryers overheating, melting, exploding, or even catching fire while being used.
All hair dryers and other electrical devices pose a safety risk. This is why you always have to be careful when using them and know the dos and don’ts in safely and properly using these devices.