8516.32.00 - Other hairdressing apparatus

This HTS category, 8516.32.00, encompasses electrothermic hairdressing apparatus other than hair dryers and hand-drying apparatus. It primarily covers devices designed for styling and shaping hair using heat, where these functions are not the sole purpose of the appliance, as is the case with hair dryers. The common thread among these items is their electrothermic nature and their application specifically to hairdressing.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings, 8516.31.00.00 (Hair dryers) and 8516.33.00.00 (Hand-drying apparatus), is crucial. While hair dryers are characterized by the expulsion of heated air to dry hair, and hand dryers by similar airflow to dry hands, this category focuses on appliances that apply heat directly or indirectly to manipulate hair structure. This includes, for instance, devices that curl or style hair through heated elements or rollers.

The subcategories within 8516.32.00 provide further refinement based on the specific hairdressing function. The ".20 Curlers" code is designated for electrothermic devices specifically designed to create curls in the hair, typically involving heated rods or rollers. The ".40 Other" subcategory serves as a residual provision for any other electrothermic hairdressing apparatus that does not fit the more specific "Curlers" classification, ensuring all qualifying items are appropriately categorized under this heading.