The flammability of hair
Q: How flammable is hair? Does it catch fire immediately when it comes into contact with flames?
A: This is a very sensible question. Because hair doesn’t often catch fire, many people don’t realize how flammable it actually is. This can have serious consequences. We are careful with fire around our clothing, but often forget about the flammability of our (long) hair.
The speed at which hair ignites and burns depends on factors such as the thickness, dryness of the hair, and the presence of residue from hair products. Generally, hair starts burning within a second or two of exposure to fire.
Sometimes people don’t immediately notice their hair is on fire because the flames often start at the ends, away from the scalp. Hair has no nerves, so you don’t immediately feel that it’s burning. Often, you only realize it when you start to feel the heat or someone else sees it and raises the alarm.
If the fire isn’t quickly noticed and extinguished, the situation can worsen and potentially cause burns to the face, neck, or head. Therefore, it’s important to keep long hair away from candles or open flames, even in seemingly harmless situations like a birthday party.
Accidents can happen quickly! Imagine a girl with long hair bending over a birthday cake to blow out the candles. If even a single strand of hair touches a lit candle, the fire can almost immediately ignite the hair. The flame starts small but can spread along the long hair.
Burning hair is often described as self-extinguishing because of how it behaves. Hair ignites quickly when exposed to fire but, unlike materials like cotton or polyester, usually doesn’t continue burning indefinitely. It often shrinks into small, burned pieces instead of burning along its length. This halts the progression of the fire and limits further spread.
Strands of hair are thin and don’t provide a large fuel source. Once the hair is burned, there’s nothing left to sustain the flame, so the fire often goes out by itself. Hair often shrinks or curls away from the flame, reducing the amount of hair in direct contact with the flame and causing the fire to go out faster. However, with a large mass of hair, such as a thick ponytail, the fire can last longer because there’s more fuel available.
Hair treated with flammable hair products (like hairsprays, gels, oils) can burn more easily and for a longer time and may not extinguish as quickly on its own. Hairsprays often contain alcohol and other flammable ingredients, making hair more susceptible to flames. Many gels and mousses contain similar alcohol-based ingredients, increasing flammability. Fortunately, there are also non-flammable hair products designed to reduce fire risk.
As always, prevention is better than cure. Hair is flammable, but that’s no reason to cut it short. Just as you need to be careful with your clothing and other flammable items, you should also be cautious with your hair near fire. Always take necessary precautions to avoid surprises and accidents!
©Hairfinder.com
See also: The melting point fo hair