Palestinian Barber Styles Clients' Hair Using a Blowtorch

In the city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, thrill-seekers can opt for a hardcore hair-straightening experience. As Reuters reports, local barber Ramadan Odwan styles his customers’ hair smooth using a blowtorch—and people are lining up to reap the benefits of its burn.

For 20 shekels (around $5), customers can receive a haircut and have their strands fire-straightened. "People have gone crazy about it,” Odwan told Reuters. “Many people are curious to go through the experience and they are not afraid. People here love adventures."

Odwan isn’t the only beauty professional to offer extreme salon services. One barber in Milan burns the ends of his patrons’ hair with candles; in Madrid, there's a barber who trims tresses with a samurai sword. Still, Odwan may be the only stylist in Gaza to use flames instead of a flat iron.

Odwan coats customers’ hair with a protective liquid (he won’t reveal what’s in it) and uses a blowtorch to apply fire in short intervals.

"I control how long I apply fire, I keep it on and off for 10 seconds or 15 seconds. It is completely safe and I have not encountered any accident since I started it two months ago," Odwan told Reuters. We’re crossing our fingers for him (and his intrepid customers).

Check out Reuters' story for more pictures of Odwan in action.