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As a youngster, you probably learned about static electricity and the fun experiment where you rub a balloon against your hair and your hair stands up! While you probably enjoyed this scientific project as a youngster, static hair has become the bane of our existence, especially during the winter.
What Is Static Hair?
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"Why is my hair so static-prone?" you may be wondering as you read this article. In simple words, static hair occurs when it becomes charged with electricity.
The more technical answer is that friction or a change in the humidity can cause your strands to gain electrons and accumulate an electric charge. Two positive charges repel each other if you remember anything from science class. As a result, when your hair becomes charged, the strands rise up and away from one another.
Because your hair is made up of electrons, it is an excellent conductor of static electricity. When hair rubs against another substance, such as wool or a balloon, it loses its electrons and is left with a positive charge, causing all of the hair strands to fly apart.
This happens frequently in the winter because the dry air lacks humidity and moisture, leading electrons to charge up. Furthermore, all of those adorable scarves, hooded jackets, and winter outfits might cause your hair to lose electrons and go crazy.
What's the Difference Between Frizz and Static Hair?
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Although they have a similar appearance — unruly, uncontrollable strands – static hair and frizz are not the same. Frizz occurs when dry, damaged hair absorbs humidity from the air, bending and curling the hair. Static, on the other hand, occurs when the humidity level is low and the hair is dry and damaged. That's why, in the summer (when the weather is humid), you're more likely to have frizz, although static hair is more frequent in the winter (when the weather is dry).
What's the good news? You'll also learn how to reduce frizz in the summer if you understand how to stop static hair in the winter.
How Do I Get Rid of Static Hair?
Here are a few fast remedies for smoothing down those flyaways when static strikes.
1) Use Dryer Sheets
If you have dryer sheets on hand, use one to wipe down your hair as static hairs start to appear. You may also wipe down your brushes and combs with a dryer sheet to help prevent static.
Dryer sheets can be used to line the drawer where you keep your brushes, or you can put one under your pillow at night to help avoid static.
There are also anti-static sheets created exclusively for removing static from your hair.
2) Use an Ionic Hair Dryer
Ionic hair dryers dry your hair faster and inflict less damage to your hair than traditional blow dryers. Negative ions are emitted by these styling tools, which break down water molecules into smaller particles, allowing for speedier evaporation. The negatively charged ions cling to their positively charged counterparts, neutralizing the electrons in your hair. This reduces friction and eliminates static in your hair.
3) Cut Down on Brushing
Static cling could be caused in part by your brush. Brushing creates static electricity by causing friction between your hair and the bristles.
Plastic brushes are more likely to cause your hair to stand on end because they generate more static electricity. To prevent static, replace your plastic brush with wood or a natural-bristled one if possible. Alternatively, a static guard can be sprayed over your brush; but, a heavy covering will make your hair greasy.
4) Hairspray, Leave-In Conditioner, or Hair Oil Are All Good Options
To combat static hair, bring a travel-size hairspray spray, leave-in conditioner, or hair oil with you.
Sometimes the natural oils in our hair are not enough to make our hair static-free. So we need to depend on hair oils. Buy specially prepared static hair products for your hair type in stores. Don't overdo it with the application; a little goes a long way.
Choose an alcohol-free hairspray because alcohol can cause hair to dry out. To decrease static hair and control flyaways, spritz hairspray onto your comb and evenly distribute it down your hair shaft.
5) Keep Hair Moisturized
Static electricity is more vulnerable to dry hair because it attracts a more positive electric charge. Use a moisturizing shampoo to keep static out of your hair.
Use a silicon-free shampoo option that cleans without stripping hair of its natural protective barrier to maintain ideal moisture levels. Avoid a silicone-based conditioner in order to avoid static buildup.
6) Alter Your Washing Routine
Consider reducing your wash days if you shampoo your hair every day. Shampooing your hair too frequently might dry it out and make it more susceptible to static electricity. Wash your hair no more than two to three times every week to avoid static hair.
Also, always wash your hair with lukewarm water rather than hot water. Showering in hot water may feel great, but it might dry out your hair and make it more susceptible to static electricity.
7) Swap for Natural Fibers
To decrease static electricity, change into garments made of natural fibers. Synthetic materials are far more prone to pick up a charge, resulting in a lot of static. You'll have less static in your hair if you wear clothing composed of fibers like cotton, silk, or wool.
To protect your hair from static, consider sleeping with your hair tied in a silk scarf or sleeping with a silk pillowcase. Avoid synthetic textiles such as polyester and nylon.
8) Braid Your Hair
For long hair, this is a straightforward solution. Before retiring to bed, slick your hair back into a bun or braid it. This keeps the hair strands from rubbing against the pillow in the morning, reducing the risk of static accumulation. Use anti-static serums to secure the buns for optimum results.
9) Ditch the Hot Tools
Heat styling your hair can dry out your tresses and cause static electricity. Choose heat-free hairstyles wherever possible. If you do decide to use heat to style your hair, make sure you use a high-quality heat protectant first.
10) Use a Little Lotion
If you don't have any of the products specified above, use any ordinary lotion you have on hand for a temporary remedy. Place a dime-sized dollop in your hands and rub it about in your palms before massaging it evenly and completely into your hair.
Only apply a small amount of lotion to your hair. Too much can cause your hair to look greasy. So, if you have fine hair, be cautious.
Summary
These are some quick fixes to prevent static hair. Static hair is a hair-raising experience that everyone hates. By following this guide, your hair is sure to be static-free.
