Hair straightener safety at home

Hair straighteners are among the hottest appliances most of us use every day. ghds heat to around 185°C, and many other straighteners go higher. That's hot enough to scorch fabric, start a fire and cause a nasty burn.

The London Fire Brigade has warned about this more than once. For example, it reported that a 2023 flat fire in Waterloo was believed to have been caused accidentally by hair straighteners on bedding.

Everyday habits

• Switch off at the wall. The Brigade advises turning straighteners off at the plug, not just at the switch, once you've finished.
• Cool them on a heatproof surface. A heat resistant mat or pouch is ideal. Never leave them on a bed, sofa, carpet or pile of clothes while they're hot.
• Keep them out of reach. Hot plates and dangling cables are a real burn risk for children and pets. Put them somewhere high while they cool.
• Don't rely on auto shut-off. Sleep mode is a useful backup, but it only kicks in after a period of no use.
• Keep them away from water. Don't use them near a full sink or bath, and never use them on wet hair.

Warning signs to act on

Stop using your straighteners and unplug them if you notice any of these:

• Buzzing, crackling or a burning smell
• A damaged, kinked or scorched cable, or one that only works when it's held in a certain position
• Cracked casing or a loose plate
• Plates that seem much hotter than usual

These can all point to an electrical fault, and a fault in a mains powered appliance that runs this hot isn't something to put up with. Our troubleshooting guide explains the common causes.

Repairs

We safety check every pair of ghds we repair before it goes back to its owner. If yours are showing any of the signs above, book them in and we'll take a look.