# Can you strike a match on your face?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977 "2010-02-14T18:45:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977/21 "2010-02-16T00:45:21Z")

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My partner has the heaviest stubble I’ve ever seen (he’s Persian). He says he’s tried it and it can’t be done, at least not with safety matches. He’s never tried it with “strike-anywhere” matches . . . but we both agree that if anyone can do it, he can.

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**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977/22 "2010-02-16T19:12:08Z")

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> [@Lanzy](#):
>
> Did with my thunbnail back in the day, but gave it up the one time a bit of match head stuck under my thumb nail while burning.

I did this with cap strips when I was in middle school. I doubt you can even buy those anymore. My fingernail was brown and burned. Hurt like a SOB for a while too.

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**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977/23 "2010-02-16T19:25:28Z")

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> [@Lanzy](#):
>
> Did with my thunbnail back in the day, but gave it up the one time a bit of match head stuck under my thumb nail while burning.

Fred MacMurray does this frequently in _Double Indemnity_:

[They give you matches when you buy cigars, you know; all you have to do is ask for 'em.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouo5A22vUnM#t=04m22s)

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**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977/24 "2010-02-16T19:59:51Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
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> Scar tissue on the face might help, as well.

That’s what I was thinking. I can light a strike-anywhere fairly easily on the scaly calluses on me heel, and occasionally on my elbow.

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-strike-a-match-on-your-face/528977/25 "2010-02-16T21:46:45Z")

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> [@panache45](#):
>
> My partner has the heaviest stubble I’ve ever seen (he’s Persian). He says he’s tried it and it can’t be done, at least not with safety matches. He’s never tried it with “strike-anywhere” matches . . . but we both agree that if anyone can do it, he can.

Well of course it can’t be done with safety matches. Those require a chemical which is only present in the striking surface, and not in the stubble of even the swarthiest Persian.

Tell him (I assume he’s a he 😉 ) to try a strike-anywhere match and report back.

(FWIW yes I have tried and only succeeded in grazing my face…)

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