Chapter 7: Hair Dryers, Curling Irons, and Other Personal Care Heating Devices
Personal care appliances can also place considerable demands on electrical systems.
Hair dryers, in particular, often consume between approximately 1,000 and 2,000 watts, depending on their heating and airflow settings. Some models may require even more power.
Curling irons and hair straighteners generally use less electricity than many hair dryers, but they still generate high temperatures and require careful handling.
Connecting several personal care appliances to one ordinary power strip can create unnecessary electrical risks.
For example, someone might connect a hair dryer, straightener, and electric grooming device to a strip in the bathroom. If the hair dryer and another heating appliance operate simultaneously, the electrical demand can rise quickly.
Bathrooms also present an additional hazard because water, wet hands, and damp surfaces can increase the danger of electric shock.
Safer approach:
- Plug high-power hair dryers directly into a suitable wall outlet.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for straighteners, curling irons, and other heating devices.
- Keep electrical appliances away from sinks, bathtubs, showers, and wet surfaces.
- Never handle plugs or switches with wet hands.
- Use properly installed ground-fault protection, such as a GFCI outlet where required or appropriate under local electrical standards.
Do not assume that a power strip is safe simply because it has multiple sockets or an illuminated switch. Its electrical rating and the conditions in which it is used are far more important.
