Static electricity can zap your fingertips, make your skirt cling to itself and stand your hair on end. Fine, dry hair is especially prone to collecting static charges, and dry winter days and indoor air can turn your sleek style into a flyaway mess, no matter what type of hair you have. Tame the frizzies and flyaways with simple home remedies for hair static that are probably hanging out in your pantry.
Preventive Care
Dry and damaged hair is most prone to static, so the trick is to keep hair healthy and moist. Shampoo hair every other day to avoid stripping its natural oils. Blot hair dry gently instead of rubbing it briskly, and wrap it in a towel to absorb the water. Skip the blow dryer if you can, but if you must blow-dry, use a cool setting.
Anti-Static Shampoo
Commercial conditioners contain harsh detergents, surfactants and other chemicals that strip natural oils from your hair. Shampoo made with simple, natural ingredients cleans gently without over-cleaning, says Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty for All Seasons." She offers a shampoo recipe for dry hair that will beat static before it starts. Mix together 1/2 cup liquid castile soap, 3/4 cup water, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil and 2 tblsp. jojoba oil. Add 1 tblsp. of honey to 1 tblsp. of basic shampoo when you're ready to lather up.
Emergency Static Fighters
Dry, winter days tend to bring out the static in your hair, no matter what you do. If you need to control flyaway hair in a hurry, try one of these methods. Wipe hair gently with a used dryer sheet, suggest the writers at the Apartment Therapy website. If you don't use dryer sheets--or would rather not wipe chemicals onto your hair--rub a dime-size dollop of hand cream between your palms, then run your fingers through your hair.
Homemade Anti-Static Hair Spray
Mix 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. lime juice and 1/2 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake well, and spray it on your hair to tame flyaway, frizzy hair. Store the bottle in the fridge so you always have it on hand for emergency use. If you use this, keep in mind that lemon is a natural hair lightener. If you don't want sun-dried, sun-streaked hair, stay out of the sun.
References
- "Natural Beauty for All Seasons"; Janice Cox; 1996
- Apartment Therapy: 20 Uses for Used (Yes, Used) Dryer Sheets
- "Lemon Magic: 200 Beauty and Household Uses for Lemons and Lemon Juice"; Patty Moosbrugger; 1999
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