Hair goes haywire with static. But this time of year, static hair is inevitable. Your hair becomes naturally dryer due to the colder temps and gusty winds — not to mention the artificial indoor heat. Static is caused by static electricity and is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive electrical charges that build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be discharged. So say this imbalance of negative and positive charges build up on your sweater: any friction, such as brushing your hair or taking off your hat, can transfer those charges to your hair. Because objects with the same charge (like your hair) repel each other, static is created and you’re left with your least favorite friend, static hair. The cold weather exacerbates this because of the extra winter gear and drier strands, but hair static can be an issue at any time of the year.

Here are the hair care hacks and beauty products that you need to get rid of static hair. 

Dry hair and static flyaways go hand-in-hand, so make sure you’re adding moisture back into your hair every time you wash. Try to wash your hair less than normal (whatever that means for you) if you’re dealing with static hair but when you do, use a hydrating shampoo and nourishing conditioner to compensate for the lack of moisture in the air.

Add a powerful shot of hydration into your dry hair with a moisturizing hair mask once a week. Apply your hair mask to clean and damp lengths and ends. Leave it on for 5 minutes, then comb and rinse it out thoroughly.

Photo by @karlibobarley

Running hair oil over just the ends will give your dry hair the pick me up it needs to fight any lingering static.

Most hair woes can be tamed with a frizz control spray and static hair is no exception. A few spritzes and static doesn’t stand a chance.

Overusing hot tools can dry out your hair causing it to frizz, but if you absolutely can’t do without your flat-iron, at least use a heat protection hair primer first.

Rough drying your hair with a bath towel pulls apart your strands, disrupting the hair shaft and creating what we see as frizz. Try using a cotton tee shirt or microfibre hair towel to absorb any excess water, leaving the moisture you’d otherwise strip by rough drying with a harsh towel, and ultimately creating frizz.

Try to let your hair air-dry as often as you can, but if you most use heat to dry your hair use an ionic blow dryer. These dryers emit negatively-charged ions that attach themselves to the positive electric charged hair for a neutralizing effect. These ionic molecules are even thought to break down the water molecule rather than evaporate it, meaning less depletion of moisture. The less dry your hair, the less of a chance for static.

Bobby pins are the multitaskers of the beauty tool world. In this case, use them to stop static hair from clinging to your face, so cut your losses and pin back the most bothersome hairs framing your face with a simple set of bobby pins.

Running a plastic comb over dry hair causes friction that leads to static. Use a metal comb to reduce the amount of static present in your hair: a metal comb causes the electric charges building in your hair to discharge.

By now you’ve probably heard about this tip, but you haven’t tried it yet — it works! Or as an alternative, you can rub the dryer sheets on your pillow before going to sleep at night.

Pulling your locks into a low maintenance, chic style not only minimize static, but it’s a great chance to rock one of these easy braids.

Spray your comb with a medium hold hairspray to tame flyaways. Mist your comb and then run it through your hair to tame any loose flyaways and seal your hair into place, reducing the risk for friction.

Spray a moisturizing spray onto your palms, rub them together and rake your fingers through your hair from root to tip to set your strands in place and tame flyaways. Do this throughout the day as needed to combat static hair.

Add moisture to the air around you while you get your beauty sleep. Keep a humidifier in your bedroom and run it at night to put moisture into the air, and your strands, eliminating static.

In a pinch, find yourself a sink (or water fountain!) and smooth your static-y strands down with water.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor

cover photo by @karlibobarley