Tinnitus and hairdryers?: Hi all new here... - Tinnitus UK

Tinnitus UK

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Tinnitus and hairdryers?

37 Replies

Hi all new here

Wondering how you all dry your hair without annoying your Tinnitus as my audiologist has said hairdryers can be very loud and that I'm best air drying my hair which I've been doing but hair is flatter and my hairdresser ( she comes to the house I can't stand the noise in a salon) said leaving my hair to air dry is worser than a hairdryer , so then I asked my audiologist who said find one no louder than 70 decibels but this has proven impossible. I was going to use earplugs but he said the noise can still reach your ear through your skull

So how do you dry your hair with Tinnitus?

37 Replies
Happyrosie profile image
Happyrosie

I have to say this is a problem I’ve never thought about! I wash my hair every other day and dry with a hairdryer - but it only takes a minute or two and does not affect the T. I was going to say ‘earplugs’ but your Audio says NO.

I’ve had a little think and cannot come up with any suggestions - sorry!

in reply to Happyrosie

Hi , thanks for your reply, my ears have never reacted badly but he says if you have Tinnitus you shouldn't use a hairdryer but I wondered how accurate his advice is as you say your ok with drying your hair

PABLR profile image
PABLR in reply to

I have had tinnitus for nearly 20 years and use a hairdryer every other day. It has never affected my tinnitus. I do let my hair partially dry naturally and just use a hairdryer to finish it off - because I'm lazy not because of tinnitus. But that might help you cut down on the amount of drier time.

in reply to PABLR

Thanks for your advice, I only wash my hair 2-3 days a week and use a good dry shampoo all the other days as I work 12 hr shifts 4 days a week and haven't got the energy to wash my hair when I come in , I prefer to wash my hair on my days off , so since I don't wash it often I think my ears should be fine I'm really considering the Dyson which seems to be as quiet as travel hairdryers but with more power and drys with 10 mins for most people so not having it on long will help too and I was thinking of drying it about 70% and then letting it air dry

PABLR profile image
PABLR in reply to

My travel drier is noisy! I do it the other way around. Air dry it about 70% and finish off with the dryer to give shape.

Jig-saw profile image
Jig-saw

I would not use a hair dryer (in fact I dont) I dry with towel, but don't rub, luckily I have short hair, I sometimes use a silk sleep cap to keep it tame.

I checked out quietest hair dryers, Vaisaam 1875W which is 70 db about £60

Sounds at or below 70 db as you say are usually ok

Exposure to 85 (ongoing or repetetive) can cause hearing loss.

Good luck.

in reply to Jig-saw

Thanks at the moment I've been using a microfiber towel which does help dry it quicker than a normal towel but my hairdresser said it's bad to air dry your hair? I do prefer to air dry as theirs no risk to my Tinnitus

Jig-saw profile image
Jig-saw in reply to

Guess we're too used to technology these days, my grandchildren laugh at me when I tell them we had to queue to use the telephone box 😂😂

in reply to Jig-saw

I'm in my mid 20's but I often think we'll our ancestors never had hairdryers so it must have been ok

in reply to

I couldn't find the dryer you suggested for £60 but the Dyson is 79 decibels and they have told me that at high speed on low it's really quiet but still powerful and it drys hair really fast so thinking this could be a good choice and if I dry it to about 70% and then air dry it will be on even less, most dry their hair within 10mins which isnt a lot of time exposed especially with plugs in

Onedaymore1 profile image
Onedaymore1 in reply to

Hi, I have long hair & I wash & air dry every time unless it’s a rare occasion where it’s appropriate to try to make an effort 😆 I don’t know why I bother though as then I get so overwhelmed & upset by the heat & tinnitus I could give up & take myself off to bed! Any effort I made with my hair & makeup is ruined by the overheating/sweaty head & my grumpy demeanour 😩

rabbits65 profile image
rabbits65

I don’t use a hairdryer very often . It’s ok to use a hairdryer if you hold it away from the head /ears at long lengths

Beesmac profile image
Beesmac

Have you thought of using a small travel hairdryer ? I have very bad musical tinnitus but with a degree of deafness and I find on the low setting the heat gives me comfort especially after a hot steamy bath. My hairdryer is quite small. I can’t understand why using earplugs would be a problem but we are all different. Also if my hair was a mess that would make me miserable!! Hope you can find a suitable one x

Somedaysbetter profile image
Somedaysbetter

Hi thereI rarely use a hair dryer but when I do I use wax ear plugs and that seems to do the trick. Also when I vacuum I wear my noise cancelling headphones to protect my ears.

Hope that’s helpful. 😃

LoveActually01 profile image
LoveActually01

I leave my hair curly now. I have a Dyson not sure how many DBs that is but it dries quickly

in reply to LoveActually01

I was thinking of a Dyson as a lot of the quiet hairdryer lists have it on their lists , some say it's a lot quicker than a normal hairdryer how quicker is it? And some say it's high pitched others says it's not what has your experience been , it's 79 decibels apparently but I'm not sure if that's on high I'm assuming it's a lot quieter on low?

Hop38 profile image
Hop38

I haven't used a hairdryer since 2019...it was then that i got a major spike after being in the hairdressers. Was it a coincidence, i dont know but I'm not taking the risk again. I just let my hair dry naturally which doesn't take too long. One thing that's got me thinking tho....if your audiologist said that noise can still get to your ear through your skull, what is the point of wearing earplugs at all😫?

in reply to Hop38

Did the spike go down? Was it temporary? I use a Mobile hairdresser now who comes to my house after the same thing happened to me but it was temporary and as theirs only one hairdryer being used it's never bothered my Tinnitus so far as long as I wear earplugs and I don't see her very often either as it's only when I have my hair dyed

Hop38 profile image
Hop38 in reply to

Hi. It did go down thank god. I just havnt had the courage to go back into a hairdresser since then😫! I go to my friend's house if i need a colour or highlights and she doesn't use a hairdryer, i just let it air dry

beaverwood profile image
beaverwood

Hi, I am going to be the complete opposite here, I use a hairdryer every day and it actually calms my tinnitus day for a while, each day I have a bath in the morning and wet my hair whilst in the bath, I clean my teeth with a electric tooth brush, and then use a hairdryer, most days it helps. I find it strange that audiologists say these things but also cannot tell you what causes tinnitus?

in reply to beaverwood

I find it strange too , mine was caused by a bad cold and I've always been ok with plugs as long as my hairdryer drys quick the cheap ones can annoy my ear due to it taking longer. I think I'll be fine but thought I'll ask and check what others think

Spurdog1 profile image
Spurdog1

On average 50% of us are male, and 50% are retired. Like most men of that age my hair is cut short...LOL rub over with a towel, done in 5 seconds. Like the idea of a travel hairdryer though😜

Onedaymore1 profile image
Onedaymore1 in reply to Spurdog1

Occasionally🤪 there are some perks to being a Man 😃 🤪

Laura1325 profile image
Laura1325

Good morning Life! I have the same problem, the air, cold or hot, that comes out gives me vertigo😵so I tried to use it less and most of the time I use towels. C'est la vie with T. have a great day

bournville profile image
bournville

Hi I plug up if I need to use the hairdryer & it works well for me - can’t use it without. More often or not I stand under the quiet wall mounted blow heater in the bathroom and dry hair off slowly under there.

Suzysunday profile image
Suzysunday

I really can't see how noise can affect tinnitus through your skull but obviously I'm not an expert. I would think ear plugs would be okay. I dry my hair a bit with a dryer to get some water out, mainly because if the weather is cold I don't relish walking around with wet hair.

Laura1325 profile image
Laura1325 in reply to Suzysunday

Hi Suzy, actually it does and it is really annoying, We all are affected in a different way by T.

Suzysunday profile image
Suzysunday in reply to Laura1325

Thanks, that's really interesting as I'd never considered it before.

Hi. What a shame. What about a travel hairdryer? Could be less powerful... so maybe quieter? I'm ok with mine of the low setting but I don't like the noise when it is up high.

in reply to

I am fine with hairdryers provided I use plugs but it's just my audiologist not recommending them , a lot of quiet hairdryer lists have the Dyson at the top and it's drys quicker apparently. I'm looking into travel ones too

Hadn't heard that before..interesting.. Dyson is pretty powerful....I tried a different hairdresser in the summer and they had one. It was a bit too strong tho certainly quiet so could work for u.

I tend to wash my hair a lot less now...as bending to wash made me dizzy and I shower every 2nd day due to psoriasis! Oh the joys! I use dry shampoo and straighteners a lot. 💇‍♀️ and perfume!

in reply to

I use straights a lot and my curling wand from foxy locks.

The thing is my ENT Doctor said a complete different thing to my audiologist who said hairdryers are only an issue if they are on ages but he was the first one to advise me to go for Dyson as his wife has one and her GHD use to take 25 mins to dry her hair as she has thick hair like mine were the Dyson dried it in 10 mins and he said it tends to be quieter especially on low and he said go for the Dyson and wearing plugs is fine

Worth a try! It is nice taking care of appearance... I have days I can't be bothered but gives you a boost when you do. 💙

Suz_2 profile image
Suz_2

i wouldnt use hairdryer and let hair dry naturally -my hair is short style so its drys naturally fairly well but yes if its long, thats more difficult - or how about a shorter style

in reply to Suz_2

I like being long haired , my hairdresser said leaving your hair wet for hours is bad for your hair as mine takes hours to dry.

I'm thinking of getting the Dyson hairdryer as it's supposed to dry hair quicker and be quieter than other hairdryers

Suz_2 profile image
Suz_2

yes if u find a reduced sound hairdryer - that is best option for you

Thank you all for your reply's I'm seriously considering the Dyson as most travel hairdryers are similar in decibels to the Dyson but the Dyson has more power even on low speed were it'll be even more quiet and I've watched loads of video reviews and they all say it's quiet and it drys their hair within 10 mins so I think it may be the best choice

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