Eu hairdryer ban: industry responds

The National Hairdressers Federation has condemned the proposed EU hairdryer ban, calling the proposal 'ludicrous' and 'ill-thought out'. The European Union is proposing to ban high-powered hairdryers as part of a drive to save energy, in a move which is also set to include vacuum cleaners. European Commission plans, still only at draft stage, could mean the power of hairdryers being reduced by as much as 30% in order to make them more eco-friendly with motors above 1,600 watts. Hairdryers can range in power from 900 watts to as much as 2,300 watts and the NHF fear that, if the EU follows the same guidlines, the many of the more powerful models favoured by salons would no longer be available. Former NHF president Mark Coray, who uses a 2,100-watt dryer in his Cardiff salon, warned the plans could be deeply damaging to the UK industry, and would not in fact reduce energy consumption as it would simply mean blow-drying a client's hair would take longer. "In a salon environment clients have time constraints," he comments. "For example they might be wanting their hair done while they’re on their lunch break. The more powerful, the faster the blow dry – it’s as simple as that. Stylist could also become more vulnerable to musculo-skeletal injuries, such as arm, wrist or back problems because it would take them longer to dry hair" NHF president Paul Curry, owner of Studio 12 in York, added: "We all want to do our bit for the environment but these ludicrous changes, if they do become law, are ill thought-out and could be potentially very damaging to our industry, not to mention the fact they won’t even achieve their goal of reducing energy consumption." Two years ago the NHF fought a similar battle with EU legislators over proposals to introduce tough new health and safety rules that, it was argued, could have cost the industry as much as £3m a year. On that occasion the commission decided to look again at the plans – and the NHF is very much hoping to achieve the same outcome this time. "We urge the EU to think again, and we will be forcefully explaining the industry’s position to European politicians and law-makers over the coming weeks and months," said Paul.