Hair Dryer Recall: The Shocking Danger of Missing Immersion Protection

Did you know that a seemingly harmless hair dryer could pose a life-threatening risk? Recent recalls highlight a shocking danger: the absence of immersion protection in some hair dryers. In August 2025, Empower Brands recalled approximately 56,300 Remington hair dryers due to this critical safety flaw. Without immersion protection, these devices can cause serious injury or even death by electrocution if they fall into water while plugged in. This article delves into the importance of immersion protection, the risks associated with its absence, and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

The Silent Killer: Electrocution and Hair Dryers

Hair dryers are a staple in most households, used daily for styling and drying hair. However, their proximity to water sources in bathrooms makes them a potential electrocution hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that, prior to safety regulations, approximately 17 people were electrocuted each year in incidents involving hand-held hair dryers. Tragically, a significant number of these victims were children under the age of 10.

The danger arises when a plugged-in hair dryer comes into contact with water. Water conducts electricity, and if a person is also in contact with the water, the electrical current can pass through their body, leading to severe shock, burns, cardiac arrest, or even death.

Immersion Protection: A Lifesaving Feature

To combat this risk, safety standards have been implemented requiring hair dryers to have integral immersion protection. This feature is designed to prevent electrocution by cutting off the electrical current if the hair dryer falls into water.

How Immersion Protection Works:

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI): The most common type of immersion protection is a GFCI, integrated directly into the hair dryer’s plug. A GFCI constantly monitors the electricity flowing in a circuit. If it detects any loss of current, indicating a leakage, it quickly shuts off the power to the circuit, preventing a lethal dose of electricity.
Block-Shaped Plug: Hair dryers with integral immersion protection typically have a large, block-shaped plug that houses the GFCI. This plug is a visual indicator that the device is equipped with this essential safety feature.

The Devastating Consequences of Missing Immersion Protection

The recent Remington hair dryer recall underscores the critical importance of immersion protection. These recalled models, sold online between March 2024 and June 2025, lacked this vital safety component, posing a significant risk to consumers.

Why is the absence of immersion protection so dangerous?

Electrocution Risk: Without a GFCI, if the hair dryer falls into water while plugged in, there is nothing to stop the flow of electricity. This can lead to immediate and severe electrocution if someone is in contact with the water.
Increased Risk in Older Homes: While modern homes are typically equipped with GFCI outlets in bathrooms, older homes may not have this protection. In such cases, a hair dryer without integral immersion protection poses an even greater risk.

What to Do if You Own a Recalled Hair Dryer

If you own a Remington hair dryer model D3190DCDN, which is purple with black accents and was sold online at Walmart Marketplace, Target Marketplace, and Amazon between March 2024 and June 2025, take the following steps immediately:

Stop Using the Hair Dryer: Unplug the hair dryer immediately and discontinue use.
Contact Empower Brands: Contact Empower Brands to receive a full refund. You can reach them at 1-844-695-2134 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email HairdryerRecall@Spectrumbrands.com.
Submit a Photo: To receive your refund, you will need to submit a photo of the hair dryer with its power cord cut in half to the recall registration portal at https://www.remingtonproducts.com/product-recalls. Follow the disposal instructions provided on the website.

Protecting Yourself from Hair Dryer Electrocution

Even if you don’t own a recalled hair dryer, it’s essential to take precautions to prevent electrocution:

Check for GFCI Protection: Ensure that the outlets in your bathroom are GFCI-protected. You can test a GFCI outlet by pressing the “test” button on the outlet. If the outlet is working correctly, it will trip and cut off the power.
Unplug After Use: Always unplug your hair dryer immediately after use. A plugged-in hair dryer, even when switched off, still has electricity flowing to it, posing a risk if it comes into contact with water.
Keep Away from Water: Never use a hair dryer near a sink, bathtub, or shower.
Inspect the Cord: Regularly check the hair dryer’s cord for any signs of damage, such as fraying or cracks. A damaged cord can be a fire hazard and increase the risk of electric shock.
Register Your Appliances: Register your new hair dryer with the manufacturer so that you can be contacted if a safety notice or recall is required.
Consider an RCD Plug: If you don’t have RCD protection in your fuse box for your sockets, consider using an RCD plug to protect you and your property from serious appliance faults.

The Role of Safety Standards and Regulations

The reduction in hair dryer electrocutions over the years is largely due to the implementation of safety standards and regulations. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 859 requires hair dryers to have integral immersion protection. In 2011, the CPSC issued a rule deeming hand-supported hair dryers without integral immersion protection a substantial product hazard, giving the agency the authority to issue mandatory recalls of non-compliant devices.

These regulations have been highly effective. A study evaluating the impact of immersion protection requirements estimated that they reduced the rate of hair dryer immersion electrocution deaths by 96.6% between 1987 and 2007, preventing an estimated 280 deaths.

When Negligence Leads to Injury: Seeking Legal Help

While safety standards and regulations have significantly reduced the risk of hair dryer electrocutions, accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defective hair dryer or the negligence of a salon, you may be entitled to compensation.

Potential claims include:

Product Liability: If the hair dryer was defectively designed or manufactured, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
Negligence: If a salon employee was negligent in their use of a hair dryer, resulting in injury, you may have a negligence claim against the salon.

Compensation may be available for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options and protect your rights.

Stay Safe and Informed

The recent hair dryer recall serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety and vigilance. By understanding the risks associated with hair dryers, taking precautions, and staying informed about recalls, you can protect yourself and your family from the shocking danger of electrocution. Don’t let a seemingly harmless appliance become a silent killer.