Picture this: You wake up on one of the coldest winter mornings, and you get ready to start the day. You pop on a hat before walking out the door, only the reveal staticy, puffy strands the moment you finally reach your office. Or, you pass a flat iron over your hair, and your once flyaway-free strands turn into a dry, frizzy mess. If static hair has ever ruined your perfectly good hair day, rest assured, you’re not the only one!
While some hair woes come and go as the seasons change, static hair sticks around all year long. If you deal with static hair 24/7, we’re here to help! We’re breaking down everything you need to know about static hair including why it happens, how to get rid of it, and the products you need in your daily routine to prevent it from ruining your look.
What does it mean when you have static in your hair?
Flyaways are small bits of hair that become electrically charged with static, causing them to stick out. An array of things can lead to static hair including a lack of moisture, the weather transitioning, or your choice of hair accessories. Almost everyone experiences static hair for one reason or another.
How do I get rid of static in my hair after straightening it?
While you’re straightening your hair, you might see flyway strands pop up out of the blue. Flat ironing your mane can give you a smooth, sleek look, but the heat from the iron can also damage and dry out your strands—which can quickly lead to static hair.
If you notice static after heat styling, here’s a quick way to minimize the chances of it happening. Before you reach for your iron, add a few spritzes of hairspray like Matrix StyleLink Style Fixer Finishing Hairspray. throughout your strands and wait for it to completely dry before applying heat. The product works as a shield to protect the hair from static charge.
Need a few expert tips on how to tackle static hair once and for all? Keep scrolling.
Hydrate your mane.
It’s a known fact that static and dry hair go hand in hand, so how exactly do you fix that! By keeping your mane hydrated, of course! Step one? Start by filling your hair care routine with products specially formulated for dry hair.
The foundation of any great hair care routine is a quality shampoo and conditioner system. We recommend investing in a moisturizing system like Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo and Conditioner. This system cleanses and conditions to help optimize moisture levels for healthier-looking hair.
If your strands seem like they need an extra bit of moisture, your shampoo and conditioner alone won’t cut it. That’s why you’ll need to add a weekly hair mask like Redken’s All Soft Mega Deep Conditioning Treatment Mask. This two-in-one hair mask is both an intense conditioner and care extender designed specifically for your dry, brittle hair.
Be extra cautious of how you brush your hair.
After years of brushing your hair, the basic styling ritual seems kind of like a no brainer, right? When you’re concerned about flyaways, however, you should be extra wary of how you brush and which tools you choose to detangle your mane.
If your locks are feeling particularly brittle, it’s best to avoid using a bristle brush altogether. Instead, opt for a wide-tooth comb. Wide-tooth combs have larger gaps in between each of the teeth, allowing you to detangle your hair with potentially less friction—hence, less breakage.
Never brush wet hair because your strands are most fragile when they’re soaking wet. Instead, wait until your hair is dry before running a brush through it.
Skip out on heat styling.
You might not realize it, but your curling wand can be the biggest culprit that leads to static hair. That’s why we recommend air-drying your hair as often as you possibly can.
Whenever you do decide to heat style, be sure to apply a few spritzes of heat protectant spray like the Redken Iron Shape 11 Thermal Holding Spray throughout your hair. This lightweight, thermal heat protection hairspray is perfect for use with flat irons and curling irons up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to protect your hair, add shine, and reduce frizz.
Avoid washing your hair too frequently.
The debate around how often you should wash your hair still rages on, but if static hair is your concern, we suggest skipping a wash day or two. Washing your hair too often can lead to serious over-drying and strip your hair of its natural oils.
If your hair becomes oily quickly (fine haired girls, we’re talking to you), washing your hair less frequently might seem impossible. Luckily, all you need is a salon-quality dry shampoo to stretch your time in between washes just a bit longer. Pureology’s Style + Protect Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo Spray refreshes your hair from root to scalp for that lightweight, clean feeling.
Apply a leave-in conditioner daily.
We have leave-in conditioners to thank for helping us tame frizz, moisturize our strands, and make our hair look and feel better overall. A daily leave-in conditioner is also a must if you’re experiencing flyaway hair.
On the lookout for a leave-in conditioner? Mizani’s 25 Miracle Milk is our go-to. The product boasts 25 hair benefits including controlling frizz, adding smoothness, and helping shield against external aggressors.
Use accessories to hide your flyaways.
If even the best quality products leave you feeling helpless in your fight against static, turn to hair accessories. Strategically placing a few bobby pins, popping on a hat, or wrapping a headband or hair scarf around your head can quickly conceal your flyways. While this won’t eliminate your flyaways for good, the quick trick is ideal to cover them up before a night out.
Now that you’ve read through all our tips and tricks, congrats! You’re equipped with all there is to know for getting rid of flyaway hair. If you’re still looking for products to keep your mane static-free, keep scrolling for more of our favorites.
Read more about the best products to combat static hair here.