Are hair dryers appliances?

[spiralactivator]

I hope they are, because I just bought a vintage blow dryer and I have questions. It's a 1970s Vornado Slim-Line 1200, and it works great, but when I unplug it the prongs are HOT. Is this anything I should worry about?

 

[maytagbear]

I would

call a hair dryer an appliance. Small appliance, but still.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[bethann]

Hair dryer

I have probably 15 or 20 dryers. All of them get hot! Is it just the prongs? Does the cord also get hot? Make sure the screen in the back of the dryer is clean, if it doesn't get proper air flow it will fry! Also check and make sure it was made in the US. If it came from Germany or somewhere like that it could be possible that it runs on a different current!

 

[kenmore1978]

hot prongs

Check the wattage draw. If it's around 1,000 watts or more, the plug is going to get pretty warm no matter what. Make sure the plug fits tightly into the outlet. Old outlets do get loose after so many years of use and don't make good contact anymore. Also, the plug prongs can be spread a litle if they are the type that consist of a piece of metal folded over rather than the solid metal some of the newer plugs have. If the plug has been replaced sometime in the past, make sure the screws inside that retain the wires are tight.

 

[alr2903]

hot prongs, STRANGE TIMES, the 70's

Not sure about the hot prongs. But wasn't there an asbestos issue with some of those blow dryers. Not sure of brands etc. Spriral no intent to diminish your find.. Somebody here will post about this that knows for sure. Was mainly thinking of your personal safety. There was still hexachlorophene in some bar soaps in the 70's. Late 70's seems we got on a real public protection awareness kinda thing.alr2903

 

[geoff]

Oh Bethannnnnn???

Being a hairdresser I presume, you must have had experience with tons of dryers. I personally have a Solano X Tronic and a plain Solano Model 130. You would absolutely have to pry them from my cold, dead hands. I would never use another brand and for what I payed, I better still have them when I'm 50 LOL. What is your take on Solano products?? I absolutely love them as long as you can find them at a good price. Now, The CHI ceramic Turbo. That is supposed to be THE dryer. but the price gives me a nosebleed. Any thoughts on that brand?? Andis?? Solis? Elchim?? Babylis?

 

[spiralactivator]

Bethann, it's funny you should mention other countries, because my Vornado was made in Asia and has a Kawasaki cord. The prongs get hot and the plug itself gets a bit warm. I assume it's because the wattage is high and it has a "regular" plug, as opposed to the big "box" plugs on new dryers.

 

[bethann]

As far as brand. Chi is the best. From what I have found any dryer that is Ionic is worth the money! It does dry the hair much faster. The main thing about the Ionic is it doesn't damage the hair near as much! If you have long or chemically treated hair it is the best! That is a fact! As far as irons are concerned Chi is the way to go also. BaByliss has great ceramic straighter that's not as pricey. Another one is a dryer that is Ionic made by Premiere. It runs around 85.00 at my cost.
As far as voltage, It would probably only be a concern if it's vintage. I know Germany runs on 220 or something like that. I don't know if the plug would be set up different. I know if you take a dryer from here and go there to visit it would fry it. I don't know about the other way around! I'm sure it would effect it though.

 

[kenmore1978]

Big Box

That "Big Box" on the end of some new hair dryers is a GFI switch, has nothing to do with prongs getting hot.

 

[bethann]

GFI

I thought GFI was only effected by water. When our dryers get hot they will blow! I could be wrong! I guess it would do the same thing for over load.

 

[partscounterman]

The old hairdryer

When I met Dennis he had this wonderful old Clairol blowdryer. It had two dials on it-one for the fan and one for heat and they were both infinitly adjustable. He said he got it in about 1971

Sadly, we gave it to the thrift store when we went on our big Airstream travel trailer adventure-no room for a hairdryer and Kyan on "Queer Eye" sez they are bad for your hair. (On the other hand Kyan says we should be spending the better part of an hour each day applying various creams and potions to our faces-that aint NEVER gonna happen!)