How To Get Rid Of Winter Static In Your Hair

In winter when the air is dry both indoors and out, static in your hair can become a bit of a nuisance. Static electricity in your hair can contribute to damage, so learning to get rid of it will help keep your hair in healthier, shinier condition. In this article you will learn how static is formed in your hair and ways to manage or even prevent it.

Static electricity is created when two different materials with odd numbers of electrons come into such close contact that the unpaired electrons temporarily escape. So a winter muffler or hat that has been covering your hair is taken off. Your hair picks up the escaped electrons, temporarily giving the individual hair strands the same electrical charge, and they repel each other.

To get rid of the static electricity in your hair, all you need to do is earth the rogue electrons with a conducting material, the most conductive being steel, copper or water. So the next time you walk into a shop or work and static electricity is making your hair stand on end, you just need to run your keys or a few pennies through your hair to get rid of the static.

Or you can simply wet your hands and run your damp fingers along your hair. That's it. Only a tiny amount of water is needed to attract the electrons that are causing the problem.

If you often have a problem with static forming in your hair, there are chemicals that diffuse static which you can find in tumble dryer softening sheets. These also have chemicals that are used in normal hair conditioners.

Run one of these sheets over your hair when it is dry along the places where static tends to be a problem for you, like at your hairline or ends.

If that is too weird or the softening sheets make you smell like a laundrette, experiment with using a leave-in conditioner just at your usual trouble spots. Many of these main brand products contain an anti-static agent in them.

Good quality hair clips can help too, of course. Look for barrettes and hair clips made in France, as these use steel mechanisms, which places an earthing material next to your hair. Also, the simple act of putting your hair up so that the ends are protected will preserve moisture around your head and minimise static.