Plus, what hairstylists really think of the dryer sheet hack.
As soon as winter arrives, I always feel like I’m dealing with a bunch of new beauty issues, like dry skin; chapped lips;
and flat, static hair that hovers around my head like Einstein’s. Each
of these beauty issues create their own frustrations, but static hair
can be especially annoying—sometimes, no matter what I do, I can't seem
to tame the fly-aways.
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The elements, lack of
moisture in the air, and heated indoor environments all play a part in
these hair and skin problems, especially static hair. For one, since
winter air often has low or no humidity, static electricity is often
worse during the season (water is a great conductor of energy, so the
higher the humidity, the less static is an issue). And those hats we
wear in winter to keep ourselves warm? Those are making static
electricity worse as well, creating friction and building static
electricity as we take them on and off throughout the day. Fine hair can be even more prone to static cling, says Tina Dizon, hairstylist and founder of the Private Room in Beverly Hills, California.
With
all this in mind, I asked a few professional stylists to share their
best tips for keeping hair smooth and static free. Read on for their 10
fixes for static hair.
1. Use moisturizing hair-care products.
Keeping your hair moisturized is the easiest way to ensure it’s armed with the hydration necessary to fight frizz,
static, and other pesky side effects of weather. Celebrity hairstylist
Deycke Heidorn recommends starting with a quality shampoo and
conditioner that caters to dry hair. “By using the right hair-care
products, your scalp keeps its natural balance of moisture and oils, and
your hair shaft stays flexible and nourished.” Her go-to: Mizani Moisturfusion Milk Bath + Silk Cream Shampoo and Conditioner.
2. Apply a leave-in product on the go.
Even
if you’re using top-notch hair products at home, the harsh weather
you’re exposed to during your commute and lunch break can ruin
everything. A quick fix is to carry a travel-size bottle of leave-in
conditioner or hair oil in your handbag. “Dissolve a small amount in the
palms of your hands and run your fingers through your hair,” advises
Heidorn. “The moisture in the product will eliminate the electric charge
that causes static, and that moisture and oil will allow your hair to
become manageable again.”
3. Stay away from products that contain drying ingredients.
Just
as you read nutrition labels to know what ingredients are in your food,
you should do the same when it comes to your hair products. Look out
for alcohol, which is often found in gels, styling foams, and dry
shampoos. It can remove moisture and oils from your scalp and hair.
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4. Try a different part to avoid staticky hat hair.
Hats
are a staple winter accessory—I mean, it’s so damn cold! But they can
leave your hair flat, dry, and all over the place. To combat hat hair,
try changing your part to the opposite side than what you’re used to
while you’re wearing your hat. This is a go-to move for Vanessa Ungaro,
cofounder of Lauren +Vanessa Hair and Beauty.
“When you take off your hat and flip your hair over to your usual part,
you’ll not only have static-free locks, but you’ll also have a ton of
volume,” she says.
5. Shampoo less often.
The
more you shampoo, the more you’re stripping the natural oils from your
hair. Instead of washing your hair every day, shampoo every other day.
If you’re someone who’s prone to greasy hair, this tip might not work
for you, but, chances are, you’re also not dealing with too much static
anyway.
6. Use a heat protector spray before you blow-dry.
Using
hot tools can also drain your hair of its moisture, which is why Ungaro
always uses a heat protector spray when styling all her clients. “A
heat protector spray, like Oribe’s Foundation Mist ($29) will help keep moisture locked into your hair,” she says. Or, try Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray for a drugstore option. Spray the heat protector on before blow-drying to add shine and lock in anti-static protection.
7. Pull your hair up and out of the way.
If your hair’s long enough, a bun or braid
is the perfect way to keep your strands from getting staticky. You
don’t have to rock the slicked back look the whole day or night. If you
like your hair to have a tousled look, Ungaro suggests braiding or
pulling it back into a tight bun and simply undoing it once you arrive
at your destination. Your hair will be wavy without having to use heat.
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8. Use natural brushes and combs.
Using
plastic combs and brushes on your hair can cause static electricity,
much like that old trick you did as a kid of making your hair stand up
by rubbing a plastic balloon on it. Instead, Heidorn recommends
investing in natural boar bristle brushes and wooden combs. She does
note that metal combs may be helpful in avoiding static, too, but they
can be harsh on the hair shaft and inevitably lead to breakage.
9. Wrap hair in a microfiber towel or T-shirt instead of terry cloth.
It’s
easy to toss your hair back in the same towel you use on your bod
post-shower, but experts recommend avoiding this habit. “Hair is most
fragile when wet, so it really deserves a quality treatment,” says
Heidorn. This means not rubbing it aggressively. Instead, wrap and
squeeze it with a hair-specific towel, like AQUIS Lisse Luxe Hair Turban, or use a cotton T-shirt to absorb excess water.
10. Try anti-frizz sheets, but not the ones you put in the laundry.
You
may have heard the hair hack that suggests using dryer sheets on your
hair to reduce static, but most hairstylists don’t recommend this simply
because laundry sheets are not made for use on hair and skin, and it
could cause irritation in sensitive skin. Instead she suggests rubbing anti-static sheets made for hair, like Nunzio Saviano Anti‑Frizz Sheets right along the hairline and directly onto flyaways. “They’re
enriched with non-sticky polymers and coconut oil, which provide a touch
of hold and a bit of shine.”
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