A hair specialist has issued a stark warning to hotel guests about avoiding one particular item during their stay. Jacqui McIntosh has urged all holidaymakers to pack their own hair dryer this summer, as the trichologist – an expert in diagnosing and treating hair and scalp disorders – cautions that the hair dryer lurking in your hotel room could be the filthiest item you encounter.

Research has shown that hotel room hair dryers are frequently neglected by cleaning staff, transforming them into hotbeds for bacteria and germs. Jacqui, who serves as Bellissima hair ambassador and specialises in hair texture management, explained: “Using a hair dryer riddled with bacteria and germs does pose health risks and can be detrimental to your hair health.” She highlighted bacterial and fungal infections as major concerns linked to contaminated hair dryers, reports MirrorOnline.

“Let’s talk about the dirty truth of hair dryers left unclean. They become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi. When these pesky microorganisms find their way onto your hair and scalp, they can spark infections and irritations, disrupting your hair follicles and slowing down healthy growth,” she warned.

“Dust, mould, and other unseen culprits lurking in neglected hair dryers aren’t just unhygienic-they’re troublemakers for your scalp. Brace yourself for irritation, dandruff, and a flurry of other hair woes such as dullness, frizz and even hair loss.”

Hotel hair dryers can be a hotbed of issues, warns Jacqui, who cautions guests about the potential dangers. She explained: “Blocked vents mean heat distribution goes haywire. Some parts of your hair get blasted with too much heat, leading to dryness, brittleness, and split ends.

“Neglected hair dryers are time bombs waiting to go off. Debris buildup inside the device spells overheating, increasing the risk of singeing your hair or scalp.”

For those considering bringing their own hair dryer on holiday, Bellissima’s new B-Travel hair dryer is a lightweight option at just 370g.

Another common gripe among hotel-goers is the often frustrating room temperature controls, which typically require a room key to operate and shut off once you leave. This can lead to returning to a room that’s uncomfortably hot or cold.

However, a clever TikTok tip from Jord Bernard could change all that, offering a way to maintain the perfect room temperature during hotel stays without any additional cost – all you need is one crucial item.

Jord disclosed a nifty hotel room tip for travellers: any card can be used to activate the electricity in your room, not just the room key. It’s wise to avoid using your bank card for this purpose; instead, consider carrying a less important card like a library card, a loyalty card from a shop or supermarket, or a public transport Oyster card when you’re on holiday.

In his enlightening video, Jord revealed: “For anyone who doesn’t already know, you can put any card in the slot in your hotel room, which means you can leave the AC on when you go to dinner and come back to a perfectly chilled room.”