How To Cope With Winter Hair Static

Our Customers Asked:

Why is there static in my hair in the winter? How can I control it?

 

Our Experts Answered:

Sure, if you rub a balloon on your hair during the summer you’ll probably trigger some static. But static seems almost inevitable during the winter. What gives? To understand hair static, we need to briefly walk down memory lane—back to chemistry class. Remember electrons? They’re the parts of atoms that act as the transporter of electricity. All you need to know for now is that when something loses electrons, it becomes positively charged; when it gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged. Damaged and dry hair doesn’t handle electricity very well. When winter comes around along with its cold air, wind and low humidity, electrons fly off your hair, leaving it positively charged. Since the environment doesn’t contain as much moisture, the positive charges accumulate instead of dissipating. This causes your hairs to resist each other, similarly to when you attempt to put the same sides of two magnets together. You just can’t. Hats and sweaters are also more frequently used during the winter. Those, too, facilitate all this electron-swapping, causing hair strands to fly around with a life of its own. While there isn’t a definite way to prevent hair static for good, there are some active measures you can take to significantly reduce the severity.

Keep your hair moisturized and healthy

Dry air and winds strip the hair cuticle, the outermost layer, which is what causes dehydrated, brittle and damaged hair. Static is a lot less likely to happen when hair is conditioned and nourished, as the moisture helps your tresses conduct electricity more effectively. During the winter, use a hair mask once a week and use a conditioner every time you shower. If you can handle it, try not to shampoo your hair every day so your natural oils can help keep your mane balanced and healthy. This is the closest you can get to targeting the issue at its root!

Use hair treatments that target static

This one is obvious, but many people actually don’t realize there are styling and leave-in formulas that specifically target static. (Just because a hair treatment is moisturizing doesn’t mean it will help with flyaways.) TIP: If you’re especially prone to hair static, use these products when your hair is damp to really seal in the anti-frizz ingredients.

Best anti-static Hair treatment for STYLING

There’s no need for your hairstyle to suffer because of static! PHILIP B CRÈME OF THE CROP hair finishing creme delivers gorgeous shine to your crowning glory while keeping a nice hold, whether your hair is straight or curly. While it’s acting as a conditioning finisher, this soft cream also smooths out frizz and calms those wayward strands thanks to a complex of Carrot extract, Vanilla, Silk Protein, Sesame Seed oil, Apricot oil, Keratin and Soy proteins.

BEST HAIR SPRAY TO CONTROL STATIC AND FRIZZ

You can use R+CO - FOIL FRIZZ + STATIC CONTROL SPRAY at home during or after styling, keep it on your desk or transfer some into a travel-size spray bottle to keep in your purse. This nurturing formula specifically targets static, which is bound to pop up at any time. Vitamin E, Argan oil and Jojoba oil all soften and nourish hair while maintaining moisture to minimize the potential for flyaways and making it easier to manage, while boosting the luster of hair. Thermal Polymer seals in moisture (this is key for static prevention!) and provides protection against heat-styling tools. A special anti-static agent provides further flyaway control.

BEST ON-THE-GO REMEDY TO ELIMINATE FLYAWAYS

We love NUNZIO SAVIANO - ANTI-FRIZZ SHEETS for always being prepared to combat static. Applied at the hairline and directly onto flyaways, Anti-Frizz Sheets are enriched with non-sticky polymers to provide a touch of hold and enriched with Coconut Oil for its natural moisturizing benefits and healthy shine. Individually packaged to deliver the ideal amount of product, each sheet is super lightweight, instantly smooths, eliminates frizz, controls static and tames flyaways. • Use a type of brush or comb that works with your mane: Due to its ability to conduct electricity more efficiently, metal brushes create less static than their plastic counterparts. If you don't like either, try a wooden brush. Even better, use your fingers! Remember no matter what works for you, you also want to distribute your natural oils all throughout since they help with controlling frizz. • Give an ionic blow dryer a try: Ionic blow dryers release negatively charged ions to counterbalance positively charged hair. This doesn’t necessarily work for everyone, but many people do see a change in static levels. Plus, even if static isn’t an issue ionic dryers are known to help prevent dryness and boost shine, so it might be something you’d want to consider either way. • Avoid synthetic fibers: Polyester and nylon are more likely to cause the positive charge in your hair, while silk and wool are less likely to. If you’re really bothered by the flyaways, start with 100% natural cotton and see what happens.

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