Whether it’s heat to curl, straighten, dry, or crimp your hair, it is essential to be aware of the health and safety risks when using heat on your hair. Without the necessary safety precautions, you run the risk of damaging, losing your hair, or even causing a fire that is life-threatening. Always follow the instructions and these general health and safety tips to minimise the risk of injury or hair damage.  

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions listed on the packaging or website, and their guidelines for the safe and proper use of hair tools. 
• To minimise the risk of damage or burns, use the tools at an appropriate temperature for your hair type. If unsure, visit a hair salon and ask them to test the tool on your hair. 

• Apply a generous amount of heat protectant before using any tool on your hair that uses heat. 
• Check the condition of the cord before plugging it in. Make sure to not leave tools plugged in with long cords trailing as this can pose a trip hazard.  
• Do not use heat styling tools on wet hair as it can damage your hair, always ensure hair is completely dry before styling.  
• Allow heated tools to cool down completely before storing them away to reduce the risk of damaged furniture, or even fires. 
• Regularly clean tools to avoid buildup of hair oils or products as this buildup can cause damage or cause the tool to fault. 

• Avoid sharing tools with others to ensure that lice are not spread, or other scalp infections. Properly sanitise between usage.  
• Keep hair tools out of reach of children and ensure they are not left plugged in. 

If a fire breaks out, call the emergency services immediately and follow normal fire safety precautions. If your hair seems to be damaged by heated tools, it is best to get a haircut to remove split ends and allow the hair to grow back healthier. 

iProtectU provides inspection forms and allows a user to create, edit and document a risk assessment in the workplace. 

iProtectU brings together the key resources and knowledge of three companies specialising in EHS software development, health and safety, business intelligence and data analytics. 

Our vision is to provide fully integrated, cost effective and simple to use health and safety software tools that enable our clients to engage their entire team.