While a hotel stay may feel like a little slice of luxury, there’s one item you should be wary of, even in the most high-end establishments. While your room will have been cleaned, and you’ll likely have crisp, fresh sheets and a sparkling bathroom, hair experts are warning that the hotel hair dryer may be a huge harbourer of germs.

Dr Cinik, a hair restoration surgeon, has warned against using hotel hair dryers, claiming that they are often the ‘filthiest’ item in the room, and could wreak havoc on your hair and scalp. He says: “It may sound dramatic, but many hotel hair dryers are far from hygienic. They’re used by hundreds of people, often without ever being properly cleaned.”

“You wouldn’t share a hairbrush with a stranger, yet we happily blow hot air from a communal dryer directly onto our scalp,” said the expert.

Hotel hairdryers frequently harbour bacteria and fungi, with some studies suggest they cane sometimes hold more than toilet handles or remote controls.

“The heat and moisture create a perfect breeding ground for microorganisms,” explains Dr Cinik. “When these microbes come into contact with your scalp, they can cause irritation, dandruff, and in more serious cases, bacterial or fungal infections.”

This can, in turn, indirectly harm hair growth, as an inflamed and/or infected scalp can lead to hair follicles weakening, causing shedding, slowed growth or patchiness.

Instead of using your hotel hair dryer, consider packing your own, or investing in a travel-sized dryer if you want to travel light. Alternatively, if you’ve jetted off to a particularly humid climate, consider leaving your hair natural, as this is often the healthiest choice.

However, if you must use the hotel’s dryer, Dr Cinik has offered a few tell-tale signs to look out for that suggest it’s not the cleanest. 

“Always check the vent for dust or lint buildup, as that’s a clear indicator it hasn’t been cleaned. If it smells musty when you switch it on, that’s another red flag. And never hold it too close to your scalp or hair roots.

“If you must use it, run it for a few seconds before pointing it at yourself. That initial burst can expel some of the trapped dust and debris. But ideally, avoid it altogether.”