Here are some things I have heard from the fire spinners that live on the floor above me... (Unfortunately, I don't have personal experience... yet.)

1) Wear natural fibers. They don't catch fire as quickly as the plastic synthetics that can melt and burn skin (synthetics are just plastics anyway...)

2) Tie your hair back and wrap it with a cotton or other natural fiber bandana. You don't want your hair going up in flames. This is especially vital if you have long hair.

3) And well, obviously, practice with your fire toy before lighting it. Be comfortable with your tools before lighting them.

4) Have fun.

I am so jealous of you. I should stop procrastinating and get around to making that fire hoop. The people on the floor above me said they would help.

--Synaesthesia

I just started fire hooping, so I dont have a ton of advice, but hope my insight helps a little.

I wet my hair, put it in a bun, and then spray it down with water again before I hoop, so far so good...

be really comfortable with your transitions before you do them with a fire hoop. All I did my first time was waist hooping, a lift, some above the head hooping, a pass around the back and chest hooping.

When you are just starting out only do what you are comfortable with. Look at it this way- you are dancing around with a hoop on fire going around your waist, it looks cool even if you dont do any tricks!

For your future, and mine, I have been told that the only way to get over your fear of the fire is to just try new tricks with it even if you dont feel that you are quite ready. If yo can do it really comfortably and consistantly with a regular hoop and with your fire hoop not lit, you should be able to do it on fire.

Congrats on the new hoop! I am still waiting for mine in the mail. Sometimes living on an island is a real drag.

Happy Hoopin!

Hey Megz!!
This is Hanna, we met forever ago at a spin jam!
I'm sure you have lit up already, but if you ever want to play around with it some more, you have my number!