Winter Static Is the Worst—Here's How to Beat It

It's a chilly winter morning and you've finally washed your hair after, erm, how many days? You step outside and then all of the sudden... ZAP... there's an imbalance of electrical charges and your freshly-washed strands are all kinds of turnt up. Static electricity is the culprit and it's about time it stopped wreaking havoc on your coif. We asked pro hairstylist Kat Zemtsova to give us her expert tips on how to trounce cold weather static once and for all.

Avoid plastic hair tools. Plastic is an insulating material, thus aggravates static with its negative charges. "Stick to a brush with boar bristles, which will help spread your natural oils," advises Zemtsova. "You can also use metal or rubber combs."

Prep with a light moisturizing cream or serum. "This is what seals in the moisture that keeps static at bay," Zemtsova explains. We recommend Oribe Supershine Light Moisturizing Cream ($49) (opens in new tab) or Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum ($30).

Use anti-static spray. Static-Guard is a drug store staple that's not necessarily for hair—it can be used on fabric, carpet, and even electronics—but you should still keep it in your winter beauty stash. "Apply a small amount to your hair by spraying it into your brush or on your hands," says Zemtsova.

Run dryer sheets through your hair. Or better yet, try Kerastase Carré Lissant Hairstyle Touchup Sheets ($28 for a box of 50) (opens in new tab), which not only eliminate static and frizz, but also block humidity, tame flyaways, and combat dullness.

Use a humidifier at home. By raising the humidity level in your home, you'll have more moisture in the air, which will help to prevent static electricity from building up. If you don't have a humidifier, Zemtsova has another solution: "Sit in a steamed-out shower for a couple minutes as it will not only help get rid of static, but address the static-causing dryness that winter air creates."

Don't wear synthetic clothes or hats. Fabrics like nylon, polyester, and rayon will increase static. You can't go wrong by wearing cotton!

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