Dec 30 2007
Does It Smell Like Smoke In Here?
Yes, yes it does. Because if I’m in here, it smells like smoke.
Sigh. I swear this stuff happens to me just so that I can blog about it.
So… this morning, I was getting ready for church. I jumped out of the shower, got dressed, and started blowing my hair dry.
Suddenly, I noticed a weird patch of hair—a very strange, orange-colored horizontal stripe about three inches long in my black hair. “What on earth is that from?” thought I. And then POOF! Right along that stripe, my hair begins to smoke and suddenly a huge chunk of my hair FALLS. OUT.
The house smells like a rat died and was then set on fire. I, of course, freak out, and then run and show the clump of burnt hair to Hubby, who thinks it’s the most hilarious thing ever.
We’re almost late for church, so ruined-burned-melted-sizzled-frayed hair or not, I just have to figure out a way to pin it all back and get out the door.
Throughout the meeting, Hubby keeps looking at me and busting up laughing. He would lean towards me and say, “do you smell fire?” and so on. (And yes, I stank of rotten smoke all day— I still do, in fact.)
Fluffy then went to Primary (which I was observing today) and from the moment the meeting began, she was raising her hand. When the teacher finally called on her, she announced to the whole group, in very serious tones, that her mommy’s hair had caught on fire and fallen out. The children all looked at me in wonder, the teachers all looked at me with a mix of pity and laughter. No one ever asked me to actually explain what happened…
Then again, what would I have said? How DOES such a thing happen? It’s not like my hair dryer is exceptionally hot, nor is my hair exceptionally dry or damaged or anything. Ummmm? HOW DOES ONE’S HAIR SUDDENLY START SMOKING AND FALL OFF????
So… yeah. I have no idea what to do with it now. Bic it? Sure! I could totally do the Sinead O’Rebellion look…
Please tell me that that one scene from Empire Records just popped into your head! I was about to describe the scene to you, but then I found this mini-clip—seriously, mini. 27 seconds! So here goes. (And yeah, I was actually told many times in my youth that I look a lot like this chick, so maybe I can just be a now-aged and rounder version of her…)
Oh My….. I swear….. I did not laugh when I read this. No, I didn’t. My sister didn’t either when I read it to her. I slipped off my chair onto the floor.. I didn’t fall off laughing.
Now, seriously…. that is terrible ! What are you going to do? Is it a big chunk?? Do you own a wig? Or how about wearing a bandana. You might set a new trend there in your area.
But, the real question is….. how did this happen?
Well…its one for your journal anyway. I am suddenly happy to keep letting my hair air dry.
Oy!
Back in the 80s, I burned a patch of my bangs off, which sucks because I have an enormous forehead. I too was running late (for school) and I stunk all day long.
I feel your pain.
Is there any way to arrange your hair to cover the lost chunk?
Oh, Sweetie! I am so sorry!! That would be horrifying! Just more proof of what strong woman you are - because I would have FREAKED. And cried. DEFINITELY cried!
It will grow back, but maybe you should pop into a hair place (I bet even SuperCuts or whatever would help) and ask them what they think did it. Bring all your hair products that you use. That way, it hopefully won’t ever happen again.
(And..what is this??? Amy commenting on a NEW post?! Not a month late?! Could she possibly be…CAUGHT UP?!)
Wow. That is just…odd.
That is too funny. I’m sorry, but I can’t help laughing hysterically. And especially when your kid announces it to the room. Gotta love the little ones.
Oh, Brillig, NOT fair. I hope you’re doing better today. The Brillig family, also, is owed a wonderful 2008. It’s time. Happy New Year!
Brill, honey. I’m so sorry. I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt. What a mess.
Speaking of public disclosure, they were going to sing “Silent Night” in Primary last week, and Hope raised her hand and said, “My mom hates this song. Except for when John Denver or Mariah Carey sing it.” Thanks, babe.
Oh, honey, you KNOW you wanted the excuse to shave it all off!
Oh, wait, maybe that’s me who has been looking for that excuse… Whatever.
I am sure a ponytail will suffice for fashion for what, like 18 months or so until the patch grows back?
I love you brilly button baldy patch!
You are so not going to believe this but I swear it’s true.
So, I’m sitting here reading this post, chuckling and commiserating because I’ve burnt my hair with a hair dryer before as well, when I start to think, “Wow, I feel like I can actually smell the burning!”
Um, yeah doofus…you put pizza in the oven to warm up for lunch and your very dirty oven is burning off leftover crumbs from previous baking sessions. So, yes indeed, it does smell like smoke in here!
Have you ever seen Roxane (Steve Martin) where everyone is warned from looking at his BIG, HONKING nose yet noone can resist looking at it? Well, that describes my wife perfectly. Whenever I’d smell wifie’s burnt hair I couldn’t help but to look at it as well.
When it’s not burning, it’s shedding into places like the shower, our food (fluff complained about that the other day - it was hilarious!!), etc.
Anyway - wifie, please “take hair” of yourself. She’s been a good sport.
HAHAHAH you had a Kateastrophe! I burned off a huge chunk of my hair on my tenth birtday (woah, that’s exactly 17 years ago today! Weird) and I LOVE Empire Records. And I love you. And I’m sorry about your hair.
And I’ll see you later today! EEEEE!
So, so sorry! Hair is weird. I knew a lady who, when pregnant with her last child, her hair grew in bright pink and smelled like wet dog. For seven straight months. As soon as she had the baby it grew in normal again. Yup. Hair is weird. I’d buy a new hair dryer just to be safe though.
Holy Moly! That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. I’d air dry from now on.lol
can I say it? Holy SMOKES!
Sometimes blow dryers spit sparks (cords sometimes do to). I hope it grows back fast and really, I’m glad you are okay.
I’m not sure whether to snort with laughter or cry with you.
Poor thing!
Happy New Year Brillig ! May you and your family have a wonderful 2008. (((HUGS)))
Holy crap! You have legitimate grounds for divorce!
I think the same way you do, Brillig. When something strikes me as funny, annoying, ironic, catastrophic, etc., the first thing I think is that I’ve got to post about it. I think it’s good for us, because we find out we’re not alone.
I am, for example, the world’s worst BBQ operator. That gene (along with the car mechanic gene) skipped me entirely. This leads to me needing to rescue various pieces of what was once something tasty before it becomes something completely fossilized, which leads to me reaching haphazardly across the grill, which leads to me burning all of the hair on my hands off.
So, you see, I too am a veteran of the self-inflicted hair ignition wars. Welcome to the club! I’ll show you the secret handshake if you come to our next meeting.
Really now was your first concern for your future coiffures? Or did you think, “What a great blog entry”?
very funny, but I’m sure only because it was NOT my hair! You poor dear. Well you have a new year coming that will I hope be full of wonderful happenings that you can blog for us.
That happenned to me a couple months ago…only I didn’t get the chunks of hair falling out until I was SITTING IN TEMPLE. I was sitting there, smelling that icky burned hair odor, and when I ran my fingers thru my hair, out came a little clump! And then another! I was so freaked out and disgusted at the same time and, frankly, my hair is SO thin anyway I was imagining myself standing up and people pointing at me, the baldy.
But all’s well that ends well, thank goodness. I don’t hold the hair dryer so close anymore!
So glad you survived this mishap! Yikes! Hope your hair grows fast!
You could pull off bald.
Just don’t burn it off, no one can pull off intentional burn victim.
Twas Brilling….
You are being a good sport about it, and it does make for a good story! Here’s to happy hair growing!
It isn’t even 5 A.M. here in Virginia, and I am having my first (of what I hope will be many) belly laughs!
I’m sorry about your hair, but I love the story.
GF
Oh, my… That was tragically funny. Poor you! Hope everything is okay and this wasn’t some prelude to spontaneous human combustion or something. That would really be bad. We’d miss you!
It’s amazing how bad burnt hair can smell. And of course, kids like to share this kind of thing with others. lol
Opss … feeling so sad for you. but honestly i like the way of your writing
I’m so sorry. I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt. Hope your hair grows fast!
Unbelievable. And now I will be forever afraid to blowdry my hair!!
Oh my heavens. I think I’d have panicked majorly if my hair were on fire.
And I have to agree, there is NOTHING that smells like hair that has burned–nothing! I am relieved you’re OK–and I know it will grow back, but I’d can that hairdryer.
You know I’ve always worried that something like that would happen to me! Here’s to it growing back quickly in this new year!
Yikes….. ya gotta love how kids find a way to announce anything that is really embarrassing eh?? LOL
Hope your hair feels better soon…Happy New Year!!
Brill, it could only happen to you. I laughed a little bit, I am so sorry. But I hope you are ok.
Happy New Year.
Maybe it’s a case of mini spontaneous combustion?
I can’t believe you still went to church! That’s some dedication.
Here’s to a happy and flame-retardant new year!
Um ok, your hair dryer scares the beejeebus outta me.
Something for you at mine today…
Wow…definitely time for a new hair dryer!
I haven’t been around cre8 much…just couldn’t keep up. I’ll be checking on you here now!
Is there any way you could claim that stress has caused partial spontaneous combustion? It sounds a heck of a lot better than a dreary old faulty hair dryer? Laughed a lot, needless to say. Happy New Year.
OMG! feeling sorry for you. but i like the way of your writing
Hai man i will say it needs guts to share something like this to others. Though i am feeling sorry for you, still i will say just to carry on because future is always ahead of you.
Very interesting and great post. Thanks for shearing this great one.
Hi, found your story by searching for ‘burned by hair dryer’ stories. I got branded on the neck by a hair dryer when it slipped out of my hand and barely brushed my neck. But it was hot enough to burn my skin and it looks like a gang sign or some crazy thing. I hope your hair has grown back by now.
Liked the post really a great read. The comments are rather strange though..