not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
Hello
How do people stop their hair getting singed?
I have tried plaiting it, damping it down and tying a headscarf over it.
But the headscarf slides off, myhair driesand bits come out of the plait.
I always singe the fluffy bits around the edges.
What do other people do, and does it work?
And no. I'm not going to shave my head.
Hello
How do people stop their hair getting singed?
I have tried plaiting it, damping it down and tying a headscarf over it.
But the headscarf slides off, myhair driesand bits come out of the plait.
I always singe the fluffy bits around the edges.
What do other people do, and does it work?
And no. I'm not going to shave my head.
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
My hair is down to the tops of my thighs and I often have the same problem. The bulk and slickness of my hair makes bandannas slide off, it's hard enough finding a bandanna that will actually cover my hair in a bun.
I find that the best protection is one of those biker do-rag scarves as it can tie down a lot more securely then a bandana, but it leaves the hair at the base of my neck kind of exposed. I've been contemplating picking up a tight wool hat as you see a lot of people wearing them and the wool should resist the fire even better then a cotton bandanna.
Sometimes if its cool enough out I spin in a hoodie sweatshirt and just put up the hood, but it gets pretty warm and I prefer to spin with as little arm encumberance as possible.
My hair is down to the tops of my thighs and I often have the same problem. The bulk and slickness of my hair makes bandannas slide off, it's hard enough finding a bandanna that will actually cover my hair in a bun.
I find that the best protection is one of those biker do-rag scarves as it can tie down a lot more securely then a bandana, but it leaves the hair at the base of my neck kind of exposed. I've been contemplating picking up a tight wool hat as you see a lot of people wearing them and the wool should resist the fire even better then a cotton bandanna.
Sometimes if its cool enough out I spin in a hoodie sweatshirt and just put up the hood, but it gets pretty warm and I prefer to spin with as little arm encumberance as possible.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
Posted:
Try aiming for another part of the body... and use a woolly hat in case you mess up
Try aiming for another part of the body... and use a woolly hat in case you mess up
Cake or Death?
not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
Wow!
Down to your thighs?
Youve got nearly twice the problem I have!
Thanks for the tip, I will look out for a wooly hat, (I thought wool would burn, that's why I hadn't tried it)
Or if I can find it, one of those cute ones you showed me.
And I do aim for other bits of me, I still hit my head though.
Wow!
Down to your thighs?
Youve got nearly twice the problem I have!
Thanks for the tip, I will look out for a wooly hat, (I thought wool would burn, that's why I hadn't tried it)
Or if I can find it, one of those cute ones you showed me.
And I do aim for other bits of me, I still hit my head though.
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
Yah, it's not thick but the length adds a lot of bulk. And the work it took to get it to that length makes me REALLY wary of setting it on fire obviously.
Believe me I know all about bonking myself on the head and singeing the little flyaway hairs.
(It wasnt as dramatic as all that, but my friend has great timing with a camera and the chaos of the moment is rather apparent I think).
I like to call that one "Oops".
Wool is actually one of the better fibres for fire resistance. I'm not sure where it is but I know someone here (Pele I think?) did a test of how long it takes for different fabrics to go up and wool was definately one of the better ones. Thats why so many people use wool blankets as fire blankets.
As a seamstress one of the ways to find out exactly what a fabric is made of is to burn a little bit of it and compare the results to a burn test chart as each substance burns a bit differently.
As far as that goes:
Wool and other Protein Fibers : Burns, but does not melt. It shrinks from the flame. It has a strong odor of burning hair. The residue is a black, hollow irregular bead that can be easily crushed into a gritty black powder. It is self-extinguishing, i.e., it burns itself out . " (emphesis mine).
Densely woven silk (for example) will do the same. Actually, so would human hair if you wove it densely enough as they're basically the same thing.
Yah, it's not thick but the length adds a lot of bulk. And the work it took to get it to that length makes me REALLY wary of setting it on fire obviously.
Believe me I know all about bonking myself on the head and singeing the little flyaway hairs.
(It wasnt as dramatic as all that, but my friend has great timing with a camera and the chaos of the moment is rather apparent I think).
I like to call that one "Oops".
Wool is actually one of the better fibres for fire resistance. I'm not sure where it is but I know someone here (Pele I think?) did a test of how long it takes for different fabrics to go up and wool was definately one of the better ones. Thats why so many people use wool blankets as fire blankets.
As a seamstress one of the ways to find out exactly what a fabric is made of is to burn a little bit of it and compare the results to a burn test chart as each substance burns a bit differently.
As far as that goes:
Wool and other Protein Fibers : Burns, but does not melt. It shrinks from the flame. It has a strong odor of burning hair. The residue is a black, hollow irregular bead that can be easily crushed into a gritty black powder. It is self-extinguishing, i.e., it burns itself out . " (emphesis mine).
Densely woven silk (for example) will do the same. Actually, so would human hair if you wove it densely enough as they're basically the same thing.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
oops?!
ohmygod. oops is a bit of an understatement!
But what a photo! I can see your feet at the bottom.
I'm glad you survived.
I have checked all the 'wooly' hats that were hanging about the house, and as I suspected they are all polyester fake wool. I will have to look out for the real thing.
Cheers.
oops?!
ohmygod. oops is a bit of an understatement!
But what a photo! I can see your feet at the bottom.
I'm glad you survived.
I have checked all the 'wooly' hats that were hanging about the house, and as I suspected they are all polyester fake wool. I will have to look out for the real thing.
Cheers.
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
*chuckles* the poi tangled behind my back and bonked me on the back of the head as I was bringing them over my head. Then they arc'd (still tangled) down the whole front length of my body.
Since the camera was set to a slow shutter speed it captured the whole arc, so it looks like I was engulfed in fire, even though only the back of my head was hit.
I think I lost less hair from that then I normally would to a bad knot, so to me the picture is funny.
*chuckles* the poi tangled behind my back and bonked me on the back of the head as I was bringing them over my head. Then they arc'd (still tangled) down the whole front length of my body.
Since the camera was set to a slow shutter speed it captured the whole arc, so it looks like I was engulfed in fire, even though only the back of my head was hit.
I think I lost less hair from that then I normally would to a bad knot, so to me the picture is funny.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
The poi were tangled, eh?
*Lillie has a thought*
Call it a flaming hyperloop and everyone will be trying to do it!
The poi were tangled, eh?
*Lillie has a thought*
Call it a flaming hyperloop and everyone will be trying to do it!
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
Or would it be more properly a flaming hyperloop stall into fountain?
It is of course a natural progression from the rev btb weave and the rev 5 beat weave, nailing that head smack just right requires a lot of practice, and nothing will prepare you for head trauma like those two.
It'll start a whole new "set" of moves!
Now there will not only be the Jedi Set but I present to you the first definitive move of the "Jar Jar Binks set": moves so bad that they require willful incompetence and or personal injury to perform.
Or would it be more properly a flaming hyperloop stall into fountain?
It is of course a natural progression from the rev btb weave and the rev 5 beat weave, nailing that head smack just right requires a lot of practice, and nothing will prepare you for head trauma like those two.
It'll start a whole new "set" of moves!
Now there will not only be the Jedi Set but I present to you the first definitive move of the "Jar Jar Binks set": moves so bad that they require willful incompetence and or personal injury to perform.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
Posted:
Those poor defenseless sheep!
LOL, now that sounds like something I might have a chance at
It's no wonder you guys hit your head - I can only barely do btb weave with tennis balls - I'd be a human torch if I tried it with fire!!
Written by: Sterlingspider
I'm not sure where it is but I know someone here (Pele I think?) did a test of how long it takes for different fabrics to go up and wool was definately one of the better ones.
Those poor defenseless sheep!
Written by: Sterlingspider
Now there will not only be the Jedi Set but I present to you the first definitive move of the "Jar Jar Binks set": moves so bad that they require willful incompetence and or personal injury to perform.
LOL, now that sounds like something I might have a chance at
It's no wonder you guys hit your head - I can only barely do btb weave with tennis balls - I'd be a human torch if I tried it with fire!!
Cake or Death?
not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
And I havn't managed it yet with the tennis balls!
My arms don't seem to bend that way.
But i have perfected the move where the poi comes straight at my face and hits me hard on my nose.
Gets me in the exact same spot every time. I must have perfect aim.
And I havn't managed it yet with the tennis balls!
My arms don't seem to bend that way.
But i have perfected the move where the poi comes straight at my face and hits me hard on my nose.
Gets me in the exact same spot every time. I must have perfect aim.
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
SILVER Member
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Scientist!
578 posts
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Posted:
I have naturally 'poofy' hair...it's full of curls so it's fairly large...
My head's radius is about 3 inches larger in any direction cause of my hair,
but I've found wetting it down (dunking my head in a bucket of water) right before I perform cuts down on the amount of hair that gets singed.
For traces you should shave the area to be traced, before the performance, melting hair isn't fun :P
And for fire breathing, well, blowbacks happen sometimes, and I've lost an eyebrow or two before from a few close calls, but hair grows back Just remember to be safe with what you do, don't put in hair gel before you perform because alot of chemicals in it are flamable, and flaming hair is worse than melting hair (or equally bad, but either way, they are both very bad).
Make sure you check wind conditions before you perform/play so you don't get a sudden gust of fire to the face from a breeze of wind.
I have naturally 'poofy' hair...it's full of curls so it's fairly large...
My head's radius is about 3 inches larger in any direction cause of my hair,
but I've found wetting it down (dunking my head in a bucket of water) right before I perform cuts down on the amount of hair that gets singed.
For traces you should shave the area to be traced, before the performance, melting hair isn't fun :P
And for fire breathing, well, blowbacks happen sometimes, and I've lost an eyebrow or two before from a few close calls, but hair grows back
Just remember to be safe with what you do, don't put in hair gel before you perform because alot of chemicals in it are flamable, and flaming hair is worse than melting hair (or equally bad, but either way, they are both very bad).Make sure you check wind conditions before you perform/play so you don't get a sudden gust of fire to the face from a breeze of wind.
Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />
SILVER Member
Keeper of the Spitfire
2,317 posts
Location: Calgary Canada
Keeper of the Spitfire
2,317 posts
Location: Calgary Canada
Posted:
Actually, a lot of hair gels and stuff like that won't set on fire easily.
Just always test them first.
Spitfire and I were spinning at an event a while ago. We had our hair (which is short and kinda spiky anyway) twisted into tighter spikes. We used a fair amount of wax and gel to do it, then put blue wash in / wash out dye on the tips, and sprayed ourselves in glitter.
We didn't have problems with any of it.
We tested all our hair stuff for flamability on peices of material. We found that the control peice of denim burned easier than most of the peices with hair products on them.
Written by: ImmortalAngel
don't put in hair gel before you perform because alot of chemicals in it are flamable
Actually, a lot of hair gels and stuff like that won't set on fire easily.
Just always test them first.
Spitfire and I were spinning at an event a while ago. We had our hair (which is short and kinda spiky anyway) twisted into tighter spikes. We used a fair amount of wax and gel to do it, then put blue wash in / wash out dye on the tips, and sprayed ourselves in glitter.
We didn't have problems with any of it.
We tested all our hair stuff for flamability on peices of material. We found that the control peice of denim burned easier than most of the peices with hair products on them.
Lets steal a spaceship and head for the sun, and shoot the stars with a lemonade ray gun.
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
I once nailed a move that knocked the wind out of me so badly that I had to put away my poi and go sit down for the rest of the night. The very best is hitting my glasses. If you dont wear glasses you are missing a whole facet of the learning experience that is poi.
People ask me whether poi has any combat relevence and after some of the shots I have taken to my face, kidneys, and solar plexus I have to answer with a resounding yes.
Written by: Lillie Frog
But i have perfected the move where the poi comes straight at my face and hits me hard on my nose.
Gets me in the exact same spot every time. I must have perfect aim.
I once nailed a move that knocked the wind out of me so badly that I had to put away my poi and go sit down for the rest of the night. The very best is hitting my glasses. If you dont wear glasses you are missing a whole facet of the learning experience that is poi.
People ask me whether poi has any combat relevence and after some of the shots I have taken to my face, kidneys, and solar plexus I have to answer with a resounding yes.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
BRONZE Member
stick boy!
117 posts
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
stick boy!
117 posts
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Posted:
I have long hair and if i do staff neck wraps with my head uncovered, my hair will usually curl around my staff and and grab it which locks it around my neck near my face. What i usually do is put on one of those leather/cotton do rags that tie or a kinda wool/cotton stocking(?) cap that everyone is talking about or a kinda rasta looking hat that looks kinda like a flat beret that poofs out for the really long hair types or dread head types so you can fit all your locks in there. I have bonked myself in the head before with my poi/staff and it really does help. Wetting your hair does help as well. Hemp hats may help. Im not shaving my head either!! Maybe a big fishbowl on your head?!?!
I have long hair and if i do staff neck wraps with my head uncovered, my hair will usually curl around my staff and and grab it which locks it around my neck near my face. What i usually do is put on one of those leather/cotton do rags that tie or a kinda wool/cotton stocking(?) cap that everyone is talking about or a kinda rasta looking hat that looks kinda like a flat beret that poofs out for the really long hair types or dread head types so you can fit all your locks in there. I have bonked myself in the head before with my poi/staff and it really does help. Wetting your hair does help as well. Hemp hats may help. Im not shaving my head either!! Maybe a big fishbowl on your head?!?!
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
old hand
1,174 posts
Location: Great Malvern [UK]
Posted:
Maybe I'm just a wuss, but if I was doing moves that are relatively unpracticed, I'd used some softer poi. What the heck were you using Sterlingspider that winded you?!
Maybe I'm just a wuss, but if I was doing moves that are relatively unpracticed, I'd used some softer poi. What the heck were you using Sterlingspider that winded you?!
Cake or Death?
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
Took denim strips and folded them cathedral style, shoved pennies in the layers till they were about the same weight as my fire wicks, and then sewed them up into little bags.
They dont hurt quite the same way tennis balls do. Hurts more on soft tissues, but less against bone, I just dont like the bouncyness of the tennis balls.
I managed to get myself right above the kidney area hard enough to knock the wind out of myself.
It was... exciting.
Took denim strips and folded them cathedral style, shoved pennies in the layers till they were about the same weight as my fire wicks, and then sewed them up into little bags.
They dont hurt quite the same way tennis balls do. Hurts more on soft tissues, but less against bone, I just dont like the bouncyness of the tennis balls.
I managed to get myself right above the kidney area hard enough to knock the wind out of myself.
It was... exciting.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
PLATINUM Member
Hyperloops suck
595 posts
Location: USA
Hyperloops suck
595 posts
Location: USA
Posted:
All you folks with waist length hair: Ever tried braiding it and spinning poi with your hair? Might be fun
All you folks with waist length hair: Ever tried braiding it and spinning poi with your hair? Might be fun
Flaming Lesbian
181 posts
Location: Portland, Oregon
181 posts
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posted:
when i still had hair (shaved it intentionally, it wasn't the poi's fault), i wrapped my head in a bandana and never had a problem. why don't you get a nice long piece of silk, put your hair in a ponytail, wear the silk as a bandana, and wrap it around the ponytail? =]
it'll look good and you won't risk singing your lovely locks
=]
when i still had hair (shaved it intentionally, it wasn't the poi's fault), i wrapped my head in a bandana and never had a problem. why don't you get a nice long piece of silk, put your hair in a ponytail, wear the silk as a bandana, and wrap it around the ponytail? =]
it'll look good and you won't risk singing your lovely locks
=]
Lights dancing off my skin as chains wrap round it.
Pain is in a little box and I'm so glad I found it.
BRONZE Member
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Senator by day, Sith Lord by night.
128 posts
Location: Suffolk, New York, USA
Posted:
Alas(?) my hair is so silky and fine that silk doesn't have a hope of staying in my hair, especially not while fire dancing. I have enough trouble with cotton while spinning, not to mention the lovely green silk bandana I like to wear just ta but which never stays more then a couple of minutes.
Also, seriously, my hair at least is down to my thighs. If I leave my ponytail down the poi get tangled in it unless I am very careful to watch it. That would be rather problematic en fuego methinks as I just can't give that much attention to my hair.
Beyond all that, even materials which tend to resist burning will go up nice and quick when they're very finely woven. Silk might not melt into your hair like nylon, but it'll still go up quickly and probably get your hair going on its own before you get a chance to put it out.
I personally will stick with cotton or wool I think.
*grins* best "I'm bored and wearing pigtails" fun there is. Weirds people out mightily though.
Alas(?) my hair is so silky and fine that silk doesn't have a hope of staying in my hair, especially not while fire dancing. I have enough trouble with cotton while spinning, not to mention the lovely green silk bandana I like to wear just ta but which never stays more then a couple of minutes.
Also, seriously, my hair at least is down to my thighs. If I leave my ponytail down the poi get tangled in it unless I am very careful to watch it. That would be rather problematic en fuego methinks as I just can't give that much attention to my hair.
Beyond all that, even materials which tend to resist burning will go up nice and quick when they're very finely woven. Silk might not melt into your hair like nylon, but it'll still go up quickly and probably get your hair going on its own before you get a chance to put it out.
I personally will stick with cotton or wool I think.
Written by: MillenniuM
All you folks with waist length hair: Ever tried braiding it and spinning poi with your hair? Might be fun
*grins* best "I'm bored and wearing pigtails" fun there is. Weirds people out mightily though.
"If the human brain were simple enough for us to understand, we would be too simple to understand it"
-Emerson M Pugh
not a stranger
558 posts
Location: wales
558 posts
Location: wales
Posted:
Thanks for all the advice.
I think I'm going to try making something really nice.
Maybe some kind of leather hat.
I will also look out for a wooly hat made of real wool.
I'm afraid that I used to have glasses. Then I broke them had had to tape them up at the bridge. I wore them like that for 2 years, embarassing or what? The poi knocked them off, slammed them into my face, broke them in half again so many times!
The tape was no good though, and they fell apart all the time anyway. The last straw was when I was washing up and they fell in the bowl. I took the two bits out in a temper and flung them on the floor. That broke them so much that they couldn't be taped up.
That was months ago and I am sitting three inches from the computer screen so I can read it.
Head aches? Oh yes.
I must be stupid.
Thanks for all the advice.
I think I'm going to try making something really nice.
Maybe some kind of leather hat.
I will also look out for a wooly hat made of real wool.
I'm afraid that I used to have glasses. Then I broke them had had to tape them up at the bridge. I wore them like that for 2 years, embarassing or what? The poi knocked them off, slammed them into my face, broke them in half again so many times!
The tape was no good though, and they fell apart all the time anyway. The last straw was when I was washing up and they fell in the bowl. I took the two bits out in a temper and flung them on the floor. That broke them so much that they couldn't be taped up.
That was months ago and I am sitting three inches from the computer screen so I can read it.
Head aches? Oh yes.
I must be stupid.
Eat when you're hungry
Sleep where it's dry
No one is ever what they seem
Gabriel King - The Wild Road
BRONZE Member
Playing OldSchool Poi
593 posts
Location: amsterdam, Netherlands
Playing OldSchool Poi
593 posts
Location: amsterdam, Netherlands
Posted:
please read the HoP thread about fire safety.
I've seen mentioned here to wrap your hair in a wet cloth... DON'T !!!!!!
read [Old link] and then continue reading the rest of the thread...
please read the HoP thread about fire safety.
I've seen mentioned here to wrap your hair in a wet cloth... DON'T !!!!!!
read [Old link] and then continue reading the rest of the thread...
eRic.
I'm not normally a religious man, but if you're up there, save me, Superman!
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