Do you dream of having that shampoo ad, perfect silky hair, but somehow always end up with a mess of flyaways?
You might have fallen into the trap of mistaking it for frizzy hair, spending hours reading about taming the frizz, and spending a fortune on frizz-fighting products. While it does look frizzy, it might not be. It could be hair static — and there’s a big difference between frizzy and static hair.
You might remember this viral image of Taylor Swift’s hair standing on end during her Era’s tour. While this is the exaggerated version that looks like she’s rubbed a balloon against her head, it is indeed static hair.
Well, it’s comforting to know that if it can happen to Tay Tay it can happen to anyone, right?!
But listen up Miss Swift, and anyone else affected by annoying static hair. We can tell you what you need to know about how to get rid of static hair.
Follow these key tips, and you might just get cast in the next Head and Shoulders commercial!
What Causes Static in Hair?
Have you ever caught a glimpse of your chaotic hair in a mirror and wondered, “Why is my hair static all of a sudden?”
The short version is that it’s become charged with electricity.
But if you’re curious to know the actual science behind what causes static in hair, it’s essentially caused when there is some kind of friction against your hair — like brushing it or wearing a hat — and some of the negative electrons from your hair rub off. This leaves your hair positively charged with electricity.
Remember playing with magnets in science class and how they have a positive and a negative end? And how positive and negative attract, but positive repels positive and negative repels negative? Well, what’s happening in your hair is that you’re left with all these positive electrons, and the hair strands are literally repelling each other.
Kinda cool, huh?
You might notice that your hair is more prone to static on some days than others. Those days are probably when the air is dry. That’s because moisture is a natural conductor of electricity, so on a humid day, any positive charge in your hair will just conduct itself away.
How to Get Rid of Static Hair: Quick Fixes
Now that we know what causes static in hair, let’s jump into how to remove static electricity from hair.
Use a Leave-In Conditioner or Hair Oil
Remember what we just said about humid air helping to electrically conduct away static in hair? The right hair products can create the same effect. A leave-in conditioner or hair oil can help keep your hair moisturized, neutralize static, and fix flyaways.
Anti-Static Dryer Sheet
If you’re in a static mess just before leaving the house, grab a dryer sheet and run it over the top of your head. It’s a proven trick to neutralize static in hair fast! You could also run them over your pillow and hair brush to prevent future static attacks.
We just wouldn’t recommend using them all the time because they can contain harsh chemicals. If you love the dryer sheet trick, consider investing in anti-static sheets specifically designed for hair.
Switch to Silk Accessories
Remember when you asked, “Why is my hair staticky?” and we talked about friction? Silk accessories — like silk scrunchies or pillowcases — help reduce friction because of their naturally smooth texture.
Just think of it this way, silky accessories = silky hair!
Finish with Hairspray
Hairspray helps keep those flyaways locked into place, so give your finished hairstyle a spritz of hairspray to keep the static at bay. Another neat little trick is to spray a little into your comb or hairbrush. This helps work the spray right into the strands that might otherwise get missed.
Tame Flyaways with a Gentle Hair Clip
When you’re out and about, you probably won’t have quick access to a laundry dryer sheet, hair spray, leave-in conditioner, and so on.
So, when you’re on the go, your best option is to carry around a soft hair clip. A soft clip can help hold your flyaways in place and disguise any static instantly.
Why Is My Hair Static? Preventive Measures
Rather than trying to fix static in hair when it starts, you’re probably better off learning how to prevent static hair in the first place. Forgive the pun, but you need to address the root of the problem to stop static hair before it starts. Here’s how to do it.
Avoid Synthetic Materials
Synthetic fibers hold electrical charges really well. On the other hand, natural fibers tend to let them go better.
So, avoid nylon and polyester, which are likely to send your hair sky high, and instead opt for materials like silk, cotton, or wool. This applies to everything from hats and beanies to tops and hoodies. If your hair is down or in a ponytail, it can rub against your top and charge up.
If only we could capture all this electricity and use it to charge our phones, huh?
Protect Hair with a Stylish Headband
Flyaways don’t just ruin your look. They can also ruin your whole mood. There’s nothing worse than standing trying to flatten your hair all day or struggling to unruly stands out of your face.
Save yourself the vibe killer by wearing a cute headband instead. You’ll look and feel good.
Wash less often
If you wash your hair every day, you may be stripping it of its natural oils that lock in moisture. The best thing to do is to avoid washing too often!
We get it. Greasy hair is not the vibe. But there are plenty of greasy hair day hairstyles to choose from. You could tie it back into a slick back bun or ponytail, using a pretty silk scrunchie to dress it up. If it’s just the front of your hair that’s greasy, an easy fix is to clip it back with a snap clip.
How to Prevent Static Hair in Winter
You might be wondering, why is my hair static so much more in the winter? The answer is a combination of drier hair in the colder weather and wearing more hats and scarves to stay warm. Here’s how to get static out of hair in the winter.
Use a Wide-Tooth Comb Instead of a Brush
Using a wide-tooth comb can help reduce friction and therefore static in your hair.
For extra points, use a wooden or metal comb. Plastic doesn’t conduct electricity, so plastic combs and brushes can charge your hair and create static. Metal and wood combs can help conduct the electricity away from your hair, removing the static.
Style Hair with Heatless Techniques
For years, we’ve been told that styling with heat can damage our hair, and the same is true when it comes to managing static.
Frequently using hot tools like blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons can dry out your hair, making it hard for it to retain moisture.
And what does dry hair lead to? You’ve got it, static!
If possible, let your hair air dry. But we know that’s not always possible in the winter, so you might want to try out an ionic hair dryer instead. These clever gadgets emit ions to break down water molecules instead of evaporating them, making them a gentler alternative to traditional hair dryers. Plus, the ions help to neutralize positive charges in your hair, making them a double win for static-less hair.
Then, when it comes to styling, there are plenty of heatless hair styling techniques out there. One of our favorites is the overnight heatless curls method, which has just three simple steps!
Get a humidifier
If you’ve tried some of these tricks and you’re still stuck trying to figure out how to get rid of static hair, it might be worth investing in a humidifier. Humidifiers help prevent the air in your home from drying out, which as we know, leads to staticky hair. They’re also great for keeping your skin from drying out — a true winter lifesaver!
Say Goodbye to Static Hair
So, today, we’ve learned how to get rid of static hair. Now you know that it’s literal electricity in your hair, caused by friction and dryness. That means the best way to get rid of static in hair is to reduce friction with silk accessories, conduct the electric charge away with natural fibers, and keep your hair moisturized.
We also know that sometimes it’s best to have headbands or hair clips on hand to keep the flyaways out of your face — out of sight, out of mind!
And don’t forget, prevention is key! Look after your hair and your hair will look after you.
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