Why is a lady on my train setting her hair on fire?

[Sprogonthetyne]

She's sat with a lighter setting the ends of her long hair on fire, then putting it out. No idea why, is this a thing? The whole train stinks if burnt hair and I have exchanged puzzled looks with several other passengers.

Sorry, got to my station, then been too busy to report back. Luckily it was only a local train, so only had to stomach the smell for around 10 minutes until we both got off (newcastle metro, kind of a much smaller version of underground).

Glad to hear doing this for split ends is a thing, even if it really wasn't the time or place, that fits with what she seemed to be doing. It kind of had a feel of mental health issues or possible some kind of anxious tick?

The hair wasn't braded, just long loose blond hair.

But why on earth didn’t you say something?

People behave badly in public because there is no comeback.

Yeah I've known Christians who burn their hair because they're not allowed to cut it, but never on a train!

Because I didn't want to get into an argument with a potentially mentally ill person. She didn't seem right, even besides the obvious not rightness of setting your hair on fire. If anything I'm more worried about her then annoyed (even thoughit did smell), and kind of wish I'd checked on her, but had places to be and was worried about getting sucked into whatever drama she had going on.

Why post about it on Mumsnet asking if "this is a thing" and ignore all the responses which say it's definitely not a thing which should be done on a train, here's the details of BTP? I appreciate this is a chat forum, but someone deliberately burning their hair with a lighter on a busy train isn't like chatting about how annoying your in-laws are .

She must’ve been in her 70s we used to pay to get our hair singed. There was moral panic over the number of split ends a girl could have. They would light a taper and run it up and down your twisted hair.

It could be an extreme form of trichotillomania - the urge to pull out, cut, or bite your hair. It's a coping mechanism for other MH issues like anxiety.

The smell of burnt hair is appalling, though - that's quite antisocial. Impossible to know whether this was deliberate, or whether she was unaware, or whether she didn't notice it.

I was curious if there was a reason someone might do this. I'd never heard of people doing it for split ends before.

not what you asked and not the same thing but I accidentally managed to catch my hair on fire with the end of a lit incense stick

This. May if not be a MH issue but definitely is a fire risk. Text61016

ha you all just reminded me of my young daughter; she was about 5 and it was Christingle service at Church. We were sat watching all the sweet little children holding their Christingle oranges with candles when I suddenly realised my daughter had set her hair on fire fiddling with the candle! I broke all records leaping out my seat and running up to the Altar!

Good grief. That's bizarre. I've never heard of that before.

@sixtyandfabulousofcourse god that's dodgy giving 5 year olds candles! Bet you've never moved so quick!

a very trendy Vicar who decided cute kids would look really nice with candles. Bearing in my mind my daughter is the most clumsy accident prone child ever I was half prepared for an incident!!

As is so popular to say on MN 'use your words next time OP'
If you can find time to post about it you can get off your arse and find staff to help or text british transport police. It's not difficult.

i would be grabbing a fire extinguisher and dousing her with it, and just apologise and say you thought she was on fire.

Its for split ends - used to do it at lot and some specialist hair shops do it still.

A few years ago, the guy next to me on the train laid out some kitchen roll on the tray table and then proceeded to floss his teeth with a variety of interdental brushes. It was completely gross but not dangerous at least

Text 61016
british transport police
Include what train service, time. Next station and what carriage.

using a lighter on the train is problematic
I would be concerned by how this can escalate .

SAME! Are you late 40s by any chance?

SMS to 61016
is the way to communicate with British transport police.

You could have said if it sets the fire alarm off, the train would grind to a halt and we'd all get nowhere.

A little bit older. It was a stupid thing to do both smoking and burning hair. I don't even know where the split ends thing originated!

I don't bother examining mine, stops getting obsessed by it.

Don't think I'd be too happy with people burning their hair on public transport though