Why is my hair staticky? In addition to friction and humidity, things like dryness, hair damage and product build-up can leave your strands sticking straight up. We’re diving deep into the causes and effects of static hair ahead. Plus breaking down the best tips and products to save your hair from static and frizz this season.

Static hair can be a real buzz-kill to a good hair day. But it doesn’t have to be. Ending the ‘why is my hair staticky?’ saga starts with knowing the science and mechanics behind static electricity and understanding why hair can suddenly become staticky. Ready for a quick chemistry update? Here goes. All objects are made of atoms, which contain protons, electrons and neutrons. Protons are positively charged, electrons are negatively charged, and neutrons are neutral. Opposite charges attract (positive to negative) and like charges repel (negative to negative or positive to positive or). Most of the time an object’s charges are balanced. Static electricity is the result of an imbalance. So what causes this imbalance? In the case of your hair, things like friction and humidity can cause your strands to pick up extra electrons, changing their charge and repelling like magnets. This can leave your hair looking a straight-up mess and incredibly hard to manage.

Static hair is a bummer. But other than being annoying and difficult to style, is static hair bad? The good news is no. Static itself isn’t an indicator of hair damage or health issues, but it does mean your strands are dry. Which brings us to our next topic- static vs. frizz. Although static hair looks and acts like frizz, as well as co-exists with it, the two are not the same. Unlike static, which is caused by a positive or negative electric charge in the hair, frizz is caused by a lack of moisture in it. When hair lacks moisture, it absorbs it from the air, causing strands to swell or frizz.

Wondering how to prevent hair static in winter? With the right hair care products, styling routine and tricks. We asked our hairstylists to share their advice for keeping hair smooth and frizz free. Read on for their top tips to get rid of static hair this season.

Finally, let’s talk about our least favorite hair color option, box dye. Does box dye damage hair? You bet it does. Box dye tends to use more aggressive formulas with higher levels of ammonia. This can do even more damage to your strands. Besides this, box dye is a one-size-fits-all color, and there’s no guarantee you’ll end up with the color you’re really trying to get. Professional colorists go through thousands of hours of training to be able to give you exactly what you want, while keeping your hair as healthy as possible in the process.

Using a moisturizing shampoo in your routine is your first line of defense against static hair. Use a high quality, sulfate-free formula on your strands and follow with a hydrating conditioner. Conditioner helps to seal the cuticle- another line of defense against static.

Adding moisture back into your strands is the best way to keep them static- free. Use a leave-in conditioner to double down on your hair’s moisture intake and make your hair more manageable.

Using heat on your hair can permanently damage the cuticle making it extremely susceptible to static. Avoiding heat all together is the best way to evade damage. But that’s not always an option, so use heat protection spray anytime you heat style.

This tried and true hack is in every stylist’s bag of tricks to tame static hair. Dryer sheets are made to keep clothing fibers soft and frizz-free, and they do the same for your hair. If you’ve got static hair, run a dryer sheet down your strands from root to tip to neutralize the charge.

Especially if your hair is dry or damaged, using a conditioner and a leave-in treatment isn’t always enough to keep your hair hydrated enough to withstand dryness and static. Using a deep conditioning mask once or twice a week can help keep your strands static and frizz free.

This is a trick to banish the static that appears as a result of wearing a hat. Before you put your hair on, switch your part to the opposite side you plan to wear it. When you take your hat off and flip back to your usual part, you'll have static free strands.

Wearing your hair up and out of the way in a bun or braid is the ultimate hack for keeping it safe from static. You can rock it up all night (or day!) long, or use it as a way to avoid static hair on the way to your destination. Once you arrive, undo your braid or bun and shake out your strands for a tousled look that’s free of static.

The hair tools you use in your routine also have a huge impact on your hair’s susceptibility to static. Starting with what you use to brush. So if you find yourself asking ‘why is my hair staticky when I brush it?’, you’re likely using the wrong tool. Plastic generates the most static; and metal can be harsh, inevitably leading to breakage. Stay away from these materials and opt instead for boar-bristle brushes and wooden combs to make your hair shiny, smooth and tangle-free. Next up is your blow dryer. We’ve already discussed how heat isn’t good for your strands, or their likelihood for static. So if you must use heat to dry your hair, your best option is an ionic hair dryer. The ions neutralize static electricity, eliminating it and dying your hair faster.

You may be wondering how to get rid of static hair naturally. The best thing you can do to keep your strands frizz and static free is to add moisture to them every chance you get. Use hydrating shampoos and conditioners, and deep condition with a hair mask at least weekly. Shampoo less often- no more than a few times a week; and avoid chemicals and heat. Eat a hair-healthy diet, full of fruits, vegetables and lean protein. And most importantly, drink plenty of water- at least 8-10 glasses a day.

Wondering how to keep hair moisturized and eliminate static for good? In addition to the tips above, avoiding products with drying ingredients can help prevent static hair long-term. Stay away from products that contain ingredients like sulfates and alcohol. The former are chemicals in shampoos and conditioners that help clean your hair; and the latter can be found in gels, mousse, texture or salt sprays and dry shampoos. These ingredients have a drying effect on your hair and scalp. Another long-term solution for preventing static hair is not to wear synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, and rayon which will increase static. 

Static hair can cause some serious bad hair days, but it doesn’t have to. If you’ve been asking yourself, ‘why is my hair staticky?’, it's time to change up your routine and add some moisture back into your strands. Use a moisturizing shampoo, follow every wash with conditioner and up your hair’s hydration by using a leave-in conditioner and deep conditioning mask regularly. Avoid heat, chemicals and drying ingredients and use only high quality tools and products made from natural ingredients, like the ones from Davines.

Follow these tips and say goodbye to static hair this season, and beyond! Still have questions about your hair? Speak to a Davines professional at a salon near you for a consultation. And if you’ve tips for dealing with static hair we’d love to hear them so tell us about it in the comments!

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor