How Does
How Does Hair Collect Static?
Static Electricity
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As the weather changes from warm to cold and the air becomes dryer, there is a lot of static electricity in the air that is collected by certain types of materials. Static electricity is caused by a separation of positive and negative charges which exist in the molecules of everyday items throughout the world. A static charge usually occurs when two like charges (two positives or two negatives) meet and repel each other.
How Hair Collects Static
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Hair is a silky material that collects static easily, particularly in the winter. Hair's interaction with other materials such as wool is one of the ways in which it collects static. For example, if a person wears a wool hat in the winter and then takes it off when coming home, which causes electrons to move from the person's hair to the hat. Thus, a static charge builds up and causes all of the hairs to have the same charge. As with all things that have the same charge, the hairs repel each other and stand up straight, trying to get as far away from each other as possible. Other materials that cause hair to collect static include carpets and rugs. As a person walks, the electrons move from the rug to the body, causing the same effect as with the wool hat.
How to Get Rid of Static in the Hair
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One way to get rid of static electricity in the hair is to wash it less during the colder months as this causes it to become extremely dry and more prone to static. It also helps to rub some oil-based product into the hair to neutralize the static charge and smooth down the flyaways. Use essential oils to smooth down and tame the static charged hair by putting a few drops into your hair when rinsing it in the shower. Finally, use a rich moisturizing conditioner to keep hair from overdrying, which makes it more prone to collecting static.
eHow Article: How Does Hair Collect Static?
