Static hair is no one’s best friend. We have all had this hair-raising experience when the strands stick straight up and you look like you have been electrified.
Don’t worry, you can fight the vexing issue with just a few tips and tricks. Understanding what causes static in your hair and how to tame the annoying flyaways will sure save you from having a bad hair day every now and then.
Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charge. It is essentially what’s behind static hair. It occurs when your hair builds up an electric charge from friction causing all the hair strands to repel from each other. Perfect example would be rubbing a balloon against your hair: it creates static and as you pull the balloon away, the hair is attracted to the balloon.
Static usually happens when the air is dry, which causes the static electricity to build up. This is especially common during the winter when the temperature is often low or has no humidity. A few things that can contribute to static hair are:
While you may address some of the causes and minimize the damage to your hair, you cannot control the weather and cancel winter time. This is why, get ready to fix the problem with proper hair care routine and useful hacks. Here are 10 simple steps I actually use that will sure help you tame your static hair too.
Dry hair equals static hair. Keeping your hair moisturized is the easiest way to fight frizz. Make sure your shampoo is very hydrating. Also, stop washing your hair every day! Washing hair less frequently keeps your strands from being stripped from moisture and natural oils.
After shampoo, follow up with a hydrating conditioner. Do not skip this step: conditioner is a must! Hydrating silicone-based conditioners can improve the quality of your hair and help get rid of static hair in the long run. Make sure it doesn’t contain drying ingredients like alcohol.
Standard cotton towel creates too much friction. Microfiber towels are made with smaller fibers which absorb water faster without drying out the hair and do not tug on the hair. This is why this is the only type of towel to use for damage-free hair drying.
A leave-in conditioner helps protect the hair and eliminate existing static. Don’t apply too much product, or it will weigh down the hair and will work the opposite way.
A brush tends to cause friction and plastic generates more static electricity. Thus, you should use a wood comb or natural-bristle brush instead of plastic ones to reduce static. In addition, there are some anti-static combs or brushes on the market now. A nice trick is also rubbing a dryer sheet over your comb or brush to remove static.
High heat can over dry your hair and will cause static. When your hair is 70%-80% dry, use a cool setting to finish drying the rest of the hair. Cold air helps cool down the strands. Make sure to point the dryer downwards to seal the cuticle of the hair shaft and help lock the moisture. If you blow dry upwards, you’re opening the cuticles and contribute to frizz and flyaways.
I like to apply a good-quality hair serum after blow drying to tame down any flyaways. Don’t use too much though, as this might give you an oily look. A few drops applied to the dry ends will be enough to smooth the strands.
Tying your hair helps keep your hair in place and retain moisture while you’re asleep. The silken hair tie doesn’t tug or break your hair, and silk pillowcases are great for your face and hair. It helps maintain the natural oils in your hair and puts less friction on your hair when you toss and turn at night.
Dry air creates static. Turning on the humidifier will help add moisture to the air, prevent static electricity from building up, and improve your hair at large.
All the steps will help you wake up to static-free hair. However, dry air can attack your hair in the street or at your office, so it’s best to pack a couple of dryer sheets in your purse. Dryer sheets are best for removing static. Gently rub or stroke your hair with a sheet and it will tame the mane instantly. If you’re planning to wear a hat, tap the hat with a dryer sheet from the inside to avoid frizzy hair after wearing it. When you don’t have any dryer sheets, wet your hands with water then smooth it over your hair. Static hair can be annoying and frustrating, but a little TLC will help keep it under control.
If static hair is haunting you, adding these products to your hair care routine will also be a great idea. Here are my faves to use:
I hope you find this helpful and useful. Please follow my Instagram @tee.hair for more hair how-tos.
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