Three amazing phenomena of hair (and I could name many!) are its electrical properties, insulation potential and ability to change shape with the addition of heat and/or water. Sadly, however, these also mean the occurrence of static flyaways and horrendously frustrating hat hair. No one is immune, but from my many years of experience, both personally and from helping my clients, I have accumulated useful methods of minimizing their occurrence.

Static Hair

Hair is trybo-electric i.e. it generates electricity from rubbing or friction. In this way, strands can accumulate electricity over a period of time and eventually fly away from one another; similar to what happens when you try to push two magnets of the same charge together. The amount of charge your hair generates will depend on how clean your hair is, if it is wet or dry and also the climate around you. For instance, dry air and higher altitudes usually worsen it. The best way to reduce static is to keep your hair clean and to use a leave-in lightweight conditioning styling cream that clings to the hair shaft, reducing friction between the hairs and therefore the build-up of electricity. I in fact formulated both my Preen Cream (for finer hair) and Smooth Cream (for coarser hair) with this in mind, and they reduce fly-aways as well as add shine. Using an anti-static comb or brush will also go a long way in preventing rogue wisps.

Hat Hair

Hats cause your scalp to sweat, and the resulting moisture causes the hair underneath to change shape and then set in place. Depending on the shape and size of your hat, your hair’s natural form, and just how hot your head gets, this dishevelment can range from a few kinks to a full-blown bad hair day. Add static electricity to the mix and you have an even bigger issue. To deal with the fly-aways, use the methods I described above. Sadly, hat hair is never 100% avoidable, but there are some very good products you can use to quickly re-shape you hair into a more pleasing style. Carry around a good quality dry shampoo in your handbag and, when hat hair strikes, economically spray into your roots, leave for a few minutes and then brush through. This will remove excess moisture and will also re-vitalise body. I make one called One More Day that, as well as all the aforementioned benefits, soothes the scalp of itching. You can also use a weatherproof hairspray or froth or Daily Damage Defence before wearing a hat to minimize frizz.

Alternatively, and my daughter likes to do this, go for the Audrey Hepburn look and simply place your hair into a smooth bun, then set and add gloss with a finishing serum, such as Minimizer.

General Advice

In both cases, keeping your hair in good condition will improve how it fares during the winter. Hair that is snapping and damaged will always appear frizzier as the shorter, broken strands will stick out in varying places. Once a week, use a pre-shampoo conditioner, like Elasticizer, and apply a post-shampoo conditioner for your hair texture every time you shampoo.