Do Blow Dryers Spread Germs In Hair Salons?

So many questions about what measures and guidelines will be in place for salons and barbers.  It's still too soon for them to open, however, once the green light is given- how will the experience go?

Here is what a couple of infectious diseases experts had to say about the questions around hair dryers!

(PLEASE NOTE...NO GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN GIVEN IN ONTARIO AS OF MAY 15TH)

Dr. Lechauncy D. Woodard, a professor at the University of Houston College of Medicine, told "Today" that there are similarities between hair dryers and hand dryers in bathrooms and the possibility of bacteria being transmitted from one person to another.

"Specific to blow dryers, there is concern that blow dryers may circulate pathogens or enable them to spread more quickly," Woodward said.

Dr. David M. Aronoff, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Division of Infectious Diseases, added that blow dryers could potentially spread germs, but the risk is not on the hair.

"Shampoo and water will remove any SARS-CoV-2 virus from hair. Drying clean hair poses minimal risk for aerosolizing or dispersing virus from the scalp or hair," Arnoff said.

To minimize spreading germs, employees at the salon can also point the blow dryer down at the floor rather than upward and stylists should never point the hair dryer at someone's mouth or nose. Another suggestion is running a blow dryer for a short period before using it on a customer.

"However, regardless of how services are provided, it is important that proper safety precautions, including social distancing, masks, physical barriers where possible and appropriate sanitation, are consistently used," Woodward added.