# I set my hair on fire yesterday.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [August 24, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498 "2009-08-24T14:11:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/1 "2009-08-24T14:11:25Z")
No, really.
Here’s a little PSA for those of you that have charcoal grills. If you’ve been lax about cleaning out the grease and crud from the bottom of the grill, and therefore when you start the fire, it’s flaring up pretty badly? Don’t just close the lid and the top vent “to tamp it down a bit” and then walk away. Because then when you come back with a plate full of burgers to put on the grill, and you open the lid, it will make a WHOOMP sound and you will think, “JEEZ, that was HOT” and you will hear this sizzling sound race past your left ear, and then you will smell something that smells like bad home perm, and then you will run into the house and find your husband and announce that you just had a Michael Jackson moment in the back yard, and get a :dubious: for your trouble, and then you will be all :rolleyes: and explain that you meant the Pepsi commercial kind of Michael Jackson moment.
Yes, it will all happen just like that.
Anyway, I’m fine. It turns out that hair burns pretty quickly (who knew?!) so I didn’t singe my skin or anything. And, the burned part is pretty small and I had a layered hairstyle anyway, so it’s not noticeable.
I’m leaving MrWhatsit in charge of the grill for awhile, though.
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### Author:  [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/2 "2009-08-24T14:21:12Z")
You’re supposed to clean out the grease and crud from the bottom of the grill?
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/3 "2009-08-24T14:25:42Z")
Glad to hear you are OK. I go out to eat for this very reason.
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### Author:  [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/4 "2009-08-24T14:31:32Z")
A lot of ladies on this board seem to be setting their hair ablaze. If I ever attend a Doper Shindig, a “No Candles” rule will be strictly enforced.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/5 "2009-08-24T14:48:56Z")
I hear conflagrations are in order.
Predictions could give the Celebrity Death Pool a run for the money.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/6 "2009-08-24T15:04:14Z")
head hair burns quickly when loose. tying it back or wearing a hat is a good precaution when working with an open flame, also a hat (or other covering) will extinguish flames (don’t fan it). that’s why chefs started wearing those goofy hats so they would just loose their eyebrows.
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/7 "2009-08-24T22:10:52Z")
cooking is dangerous. much easier to eat cereal.
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/8 "2009-08-24T22:13:31Z")
So when all was said and done, did you relax by drinking a Pepsi?
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [August 24, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/9 "2009-08-24T23:12:05Z")
My sister did this, she also got her hair caught in the vacuum cleaner too.
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### Author:  [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/10 "2009-08-25T00:14:21Z")
We sang, “Set My Soul Afire” at church last night. That’s an old hymn. I’ve never heard your version, “Set My Hair Afire.” 😃
Seriously: glad you’re okay!
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### Author:  [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/11 "2009-08-25T01:29:06Z")
I’m glad you’re all right!
I also feel comparatively less inept about occasionally having food light up on the grill.
Fireball! Fireball! Fireball! /revenge of the nerds
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### Author:  [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/12 "2009-08-25T01:40:25Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#):
>
> No, really.
>
> Here’s a little PSA for those of you that have charcoal grills. If you’ve been lax about cleaning out the grease and crud from the bottom of the grill, and therefore when you start the fire, it’s flaring up pretty badly?
We’re supposed to clean it? That’s where the flavor comes from.
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### Author:  [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/13 "2009-08-25T02:02:02Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> cooking is dangerous. much easier to eat cereal.
Brilliant!
> [@Clothahump](#):
>
> We’re supposed to clean it? That’s where the flavor comes from.
I thought the heat of the coals just burned this off after you start the fire?
**MsWhatsit** : are you the clumsy, accident prone sort? Just asking because this kind of weird stuff happens to me all the time.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/14 "2009-08-25T07:10:47Z")
Did you do this in memory of Michael Jackson?
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/15 "2009-08-25T16:28:51Z")
> [@Rack-a-Bones](#):
>
> I thought the heat of the coals just burned this off after you start the fire?
Well, apparently yes, that is what is supposed to happen. The problem is that I saw these giant flames coming out and very stupidly decided to close the lid. And then even more stupidly came out a few minutes later and leaned over the grill to open the lid. I will reiterate, you should definitely not do this.
> [@](#):
>
> **MsWhatsit** : are you the clumsy, accident prone sort? Just asking because this kind of weird stuff happens to me all the time.
Not usually, no, but later the same day that I caught my hair on fire, I managed to knock a full jar of sweet pickles off the dining room table and onto the floor, spraying pickle juice all over my shorts and the carpet.
I stayed away from major appliances and sharp knives for the rest of the evening.
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/16 "2009-08-25T16:56:48Z")
Have you ever sprayed flavoring spray on food cooking on a grill that has heated to cooking temperature? The mesquite flavored spray said to spray the meat when you barbecue. They really needed to rephrase that and put a flammability warning on the product. The meat needs to be sprayed while on a plate because the flavoring spray was flammable and the can becomes a flame thrower. I’m sure they have a warning by now. I reread the can and it didn’t say the product was flammable.
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/17 "2009-08-25T16:57:49Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#):
>
> Have you ever sprayed flavoring spray on food cooking on a grill that has heated to cooking temperature? The mesquite flavored spray said to spray the meat when you barbecue. They really needed to rephrase that and put a flammability warning on the product. The meat needs to be sprayed while on a plate because the flavoring spray was flammable and the can becomes a flame thrower. I’m sure they have a warning by now. I reread the can and it didn’t say the product was flammable.
Are you missing an eyebrow?
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/18 "2009-08-25T17:01:51Z")
I hope someone had the presence of mind to channel Jim Morrison and start singing _I see your hair is burning…_
And now… [A little Gerry Anderson action for you](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXGGuqXB8h4).
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/19 "2009-08-25T17:16:10Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#):
>
> Are you missing an eyebrow?
It was a long time ago. I only had a little singed hand hair. I had enough presence of mind to stop spraying before running back. The scariest part was flames starting at the can nozzle. The thing was I figured it must be a water based spray flavoring, because they said to spray the meat on a barbecue.
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-set-my-hair-on-fire-yesterday/507498/20 "2009-08-25T18:13:08Z")
The automatic ignition was broken on my dad’s grill when my boyfriend and I were at his beach house for the 4th of July. We tried to make hot dogs. My boyfriend has a luxuriant handlebar mustache. Do you see where this is going?
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