Abstract: A improved portable electric hair dryer comprises a retractable power cord storage reel (25) which is placed intermediately between the inlet (22) and outlet (21) of the hair dryer with the median plane of the power cord reel (25) substantially normal to the axis of the barrel (20). The hair dryer is provided with a controller which protects the hair dryer from overheating due to blockage of the air-passageway between the inlet and outlet as a result of the loaded power cord reel. The controller causes the power supply to the hair dryer to be cut off when its sensing unit detects a amount of power cord (40) being carried on the cord reel (25) exceeds a safe limit. This hair dryer is also provided with a hand sensor (31) so that power supply will be cut of when an operating hair dryer is left un-attended. An ionizer is also provided on the hair dryer so that the blown dried hair has less affinity for dust.

Abstract: The present invention provides an UV light-emitting source in or adjacent to the styling portion of a hair and/or animal fur care or styling appliance.The present invention incorporates an UV light emitting source into the hair styling appliance so that as the hair is being styled, the hair, the scalp as well as the appliance itself can be disinfected. Accordingly, while styling hair and/or fur, the present invention can facilitate the killing of micro-organisms including spores, virus, fungus, bacteria and lice residing on hair and/or fur as well as on the appliance itself.