What Causes Hair Static? Plus, 9 Hairstylist Tips To Get Rid Of Upright Strands

Wonder no more. Ahead, top hairstylists explain why your hair gets staticky and how to smooth down the upright strands. 

Add some friction to an already dry environment (hats and scarves, vigorous brushing, towel-drying, etc.), and you can easily find yourself in a hair-raising situation. 

Here's how to keep the hairs from standing up in the first place:

An equally moisturizing conditioner can then help seal down the cuticle and add nutrients back to the strand. "Think of when you add softener to your clothes after washing them," hair expert and consultant Sarah Roberts says of the product category. Just as a softener can eliminate static cling from clothing, a conditioner lubricates the strands and makes them less likely to create friction as they rub against each other. 

For extra moisture, especially during the dry winter months, a deep conditioning treatment is key. These are like three-course meals for your tresses, supplying the strands with nourishing oils, butters, and protein-rich ingredients. Slot in one of these hydrating hair masks weekly (or more often, depending on your level of dryness), or try your hand at a DIY treatment. 

Traditional terry-cloth towels can roughen up the cuticle and cause friction on your strands, which can lead to increased hair static. "It has a sandpaper-like effect," hairstylist and founder of Hair Rules, Anthony Dickey once told mbg about towel-drying. Consider this your sign to invest in a soft microfiber cloth or use a T-shirt to remove excess water from the hair. 

On a similar detangling note, Fitzsimons also recommends using gentle strokes when brushing through your locks. A sound tip for general hair health, of course, but aggressive brushing can not only cause physical stress but more friction and static, too.

"Sleep with a silk or satin pillowcase, headscarf, or cap, which allows hair to slide as you toss and turn while sleeping. Silk and satin prevent friction (which leads to hair pulling, tugging, stretching, and tangling), and these smooth fabrics help retain the hair's natural oils," Branch says regarding the fabric. So the fabric doesn't just stop the friction that leads to static; it also helps keep the strands more moisturized, which can prevent the electric charge. 

Arid air exacerbates hair static, as it lacks the moisture and humidity needed to repel electric charges. Humidifiers add moisture back into the air, bringing your indoor levels back to an ideal range, which can keep your hair (and skin) happily hydrated. Find our best picks here, or check out these DIY options to combat dry air in the home.  

So you've pulled out all the stops this winter, only to find your hair standing upright before heading out the door. No fear: These quick tips will soften your mane.  

"I always tell my clients to keep a dryer sheet handy, as rubbing your hair with it will eliminate static and immediately tame those pesky flyaway strands," Fitzsimons notes. We highly suggest making the swap to reusable wool dryer balls if you can, but this hack at least lets you squeeze some more use out of each sheet.  

You could even use lotion in a pinch—just make sure it has hair-healthy ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter). Many lotions contain overlapping ingredients to leave-ins and hair serums, anyway, so they can function similarly on the hair if you're in a bind.

"Another quick fix is to put some water on your fingers and smooth them over your hair to restore the positive and negative charge balance," says Fitzsimons. Again, electric charges don't flow through water, so a quick spritz can help lay down any pesky hairs. 

Hair static happens when your strands accumulate electrons from friction, which makes the strands repel each other and causes their standing ovation. As a general rule, keeping the hair hydrated is the key to preventing the static (since it's exacerbated by dry weather), but you can always smooth down the hairs in a pinch with these tips above.