So I got my first Etta Mae fork in the mail... My first ever hair fork, actually. I love it! Except for one teeny tiny detail:

That sucker has sharp, pointy ends! I scratched myself on the back of the neck a couple of times with it when leaned my head back while wearing it with the tines facing downwards. Then, while wearing it sideways yesterday, I almost blinded my SO when he managed to poke himself in the eye with it while giving me a hug... Poor thing scratched his cornea, and his eye was red and painful for the rest of the evening!

Is this usual for Etta Mae forks, or for forks in general? Could I sand down the tips a little bit without sacrificing the smoothness with which it slides in my hair?

Monkthemonk tends to make his forks on the pointy side as well, what I do is use a nail file or even better fine grade sandpaper, it's never caused damage. I actually use really find sand paper to smooth the front of my forks if they get scratched.

Why not just ask the maker of Etta Mae forks? I'm sure she'll be happy to explain your options for the ends. (As I recall, she's one of LHC's lovely and talented members... but likely best to ask through Etsy.)

Why not just ask the maker of Etta Mae forks? I'm sure she'll be happy to explain your options for the ends. (As I recall, she's one of LHC's lovely and talented members... but likely best to ask through Etsy.)

She is, and if I recall correctly, you are allowed to ask questions such as that on this site. I don't know how often she checks here, however, so you might was to ask on etsy instead.

I also have had to sand down a couple sticks/forks that I have received.

Sorry his about his eyeball, sounds like it hurt. :(

60thstreet's ends (the only forks that I have) aren't that pointy, but I think anything that gets poked in the eye can be dangerous there, and when wearing toys I am always careful and think about what can happen when my head gets jerked back suddenly (like when hit from behind in the car) and I simply don't wear them that way anymore; anything can become dangerous at high speeds, even when much more blunt.

I am pretty sure the maker when you contact her will solve this though! :)

Just to throw in the other side of the coin, though (and no, that analogy doesn't make ANY sense at ALL :lol:, but hopefully you know what I mean).... don't ignore the fact that the sharper the point, the better/easier it will slide through hair without catching any against the tip. Obviously you don't need a needle-sharp tip, but just don't rush to make them too blunt.... I know that for me, with my somewhat fine hair, I need quite pointy ends; many ends that others seems happy with, simply push against my hair and snap strands (even when I weave them through). I too recently received some Etta Mae forks and I agree, they are quite sharp... the difference being that to me, they are perfectly so (for my use).

You will know what works best for you, ultimately, but just don't be too hasty to sand them blunt; you may regret it later on. Even once sanded down a bit, they will still be somewhat dangerous to eyes... perhaps it is just a habit that you need to adjust (ie being aware when people hug you, etc)?

Hope you work out what works best for you, anyway. :flowers:

A bit of fine sandpaper can fix that easily. :) This might sound awful but I fix the tips of newly purchased hair fork/sticks about 50% of the time. Mine have to be exactly pointy but not sharp or my hair isn't happy about them. Sand away a little bit at a time and work until it feels OK when you poke it on your palm. Graydog stuff seem to have the same problem, too. I used to fix Monk's sticks as well because they're sharp. It seems he's been improving them and making rounded ends recently.

Just don't be too hasty to sand down the tips until you live with the fork for a while. I was not that thrilled with my EM fork until I really found out how to use it and how it worked best in my hair--which is in a half up since I ordered a too short size. But now I like it just fine, although the tines are very sharp, but they seem to have gotten a little less sharp as time has gone by. --either that or I've become more adept at handling them.

I figure they can double as a weapon if I get in a pinch. :D

Monkthemonk tends to make his forks on the pointy side as well, what I do is use a nail file or even better fine grade sandpaper, it's never caused damage. I actually use really find sand paper to smooth the front of my forks if they get scratched.

I have a couple of his sticks and you are right! I love them, but have to be very careful with the sharp ends. Luckily I have very thick hair, so not all that much sticks out.

I like the sharp ends, they are more hair safe! That said, I did blunt the ends of my ettamae fork a little bit as well-- I just used a glass nail file, and ran it over the tips a few times (it took like 30 seconds total) to keep them sharp, but not deadly. No harm done, and it still slips into my hair with ease.

I also sanded the points of my EM fork after I had worn it for a few months. Now I love it. I wasn't crazy about it when it constantly tore furrows in my scalp! I used a super fine finishing sandpaper and just gently slid the points over it until they felt safe.