Barber Who Uses Fire to Style Hair Calls It a 'Dangerous Art Form'

Getting a hair cut at this California salon could be a fire hazard, but that’s all part of the package.

Stylist JR D’Angeles, 54, covers his clients’ hair with accelerant before lighting it on fire.

“It’s a dangerous art form, but I have seen people do much more damage with a pair of scissors or curling irons,” he told SWNS.

D’Angeles, who has salons in both Santa Monica and Los Angeles, explained his method both shortens and seals the ends, while cutting with scissors causes breakage, additional split ends and drier hair.

“Setting the hair on fire seals these ends and bonds it together,” D’Angeles said. “When the hair doesn’t split, it keeps all the moisture inside.”

He starts by rubbing anti-burn cream on her clients’ neck and ears.

D’Angeles then rubs a moisturizing serum containing accelerant into the pieces of her hair that he wants shortened.

After wetting the hair, laying wet towels around the chair and making sure a bucket of water is nearby, he ignites the hair.

“It creates quite an offensive smell for the first few seconds,” he explained.

D’Angeles lets the hair burn for a couple seconds before brushing through and letting the lit strands fall to the floor.

The hairdresser of 30 years said he first learned of the hair styling method growing up in the Philippines, and hopes the unique art form will take hold.

“I’m not the first one to introduce it to the world but maybe I will be the one that brings it back,” he said.

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