We have always talked about our beauty products being environmentally damaging. But what about our beauty electrical appliances? From hair straighteners, epilators, and cleansing devices – the list is non-exhaustive. However, in today’s blog, let’s take a look at our hair dryers.
The global hair dryer market size was valued at USD 7.09 billion in 2018 and is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% from 2019 to 2025 (Grand View Research, 2021). Whether it be hair salon chains are investing in their products or changing lifestyles of consumers, the increasing demand for hairdryers contributes to their emissions. According to National Geographic, it is estimated that hair dryers emit an average of 57 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere on an annual basis.
While these emissions may not seem as significant as other major sources of emissions, technological innovations are in place to minimise their emissions. For example, LightCare is a light-centered energy-efficient technology that uses light instead of heat to dry hair (McQuarrie, 2022). Similar to the natural process of air-drying one’s hair in the sun, Lightcare replicates the process by delivering heat directly onto one’s hair surface, except it is done so at a much faster rate. according to internal testing, this technology can help hair retain 109% more internal hair moisture and hold dye 57% longer than a traditional hairdryer, all while reducing energy usage by 60% (Scianna, 2022).
Besides technological innovations, consumers can choose to make lifestyle changes to reduce their impacts when it comes to hair drying. One way is to ditch the hairdryer completely, which is what I personally practise. Not only am I able to cut down on emissions, but it also saves my hair from unnecessary overheating as well. If omitting the use of hair dryer is not feasible, consider purchasing a second-hand dryer instead. Doing so helps to reduce the demand for new hairdryers being manufactured. Let’s start making more mindful choices!
References
Grand View Research. (2021). Hair dryer market- worldwide industry analysis, size, share, growth analysis, trends by grand view research research—Issuu. https://issuu.com/jitendra.magar1590/docs/hair_dryer_market
McQuarrie, L. (2022). Light energy hair dryers. TrendHunter.Com. https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zuvi-halo
Scianna, T. (2022, January 10). Zuvi launches nature-based hair dryer. Cosmetics & Toiletries. https://www.gcimagazine.com/brands-products/hair-care/news/21992692/zuvi-launches-naturebased-hair-dryer