Winter is here (though in some places
in the country, you wouldn’t know it) and with it comes dry air,
overheated houses and the (literally) pain known as static
electricity. Our hair stands straight up, our clothes stick in
places we’d rather they not, and when we touch a doorknob, we get
zapped.
There are ways to cut down on the
nuisance, but first a quick look back to grade school science and
what causes static electricity?
Atoms make up all physical objects and
have inside of them electrons, protons and neutrons. Electrons carry
a negative charge, protons carry a positive charge and neutrons are
(as their name indicates) neutral. Opposite charges attract each
other (just like some men and women we know) and like charges repeal
each other. If all the charges are balanced, they become neutral.
Static electricity indicates that the
charges are unbalanced and they build up on the surface of an article
until they are discharged. One way that happens is by rubbing of
certain materials against another. That action can transfer the
charges --like if you rub your boot on a carpet, the extra electrons
collect on your body, waiting to be released, say when you touch your
doorknob or cat—then zap! You get shocked.
A cool way to demonstrate the
attraction part of the principle (and amaze young kids) is to start a
very thin stream of water flowing from a faucet. Run a plastic comb
through your clean hair 10 times and bring the comb (slowly) close to
the flowing water without actually touching it. The stream of water
will bend towards the comb—just like magic.
Taking off your hat in the winter often
causes your hair to stand straight up. Electrons get transferred from
the hat to your hair and since objects with the same charge repel
each other, your hairs are trying to back away from each other—that’s
why your hair stands on end.
Okay, so now you know why static
electricity happens, but what to do about it?
- Dry hair and skin adds to the problem. Come into Believe for a deep conditioning treatment at least once a month during this season when we are all heating our homes and offices.
- Use a daily conditioner like Iden Treatment to keep moisture in your hair. (Aestelance Butter can even be used on your dry skin—another catalyst for static electricity.)
- For a mid-winter treat, try a cup of heavy cream mixed with a teaspoon of lavender oil (tucked in a shower cap) as an overnight treatment.
- Switch from using plastic hair brushes to ones with natural bristles (we have a great selection at Believe.
- You may even want to spray a little anti-static spray on your hair brush before you blow dry (you can use the same spray on your clothes) like Aromatic Lotion Anti-Static Spray by Aestelance.
- In a pinch, wipe your hair (and the front and back of your panty hose) with a fabric softener dryer sheet.
- High quality hair sprays and gels like Iden Finish Spray and Hydrogel which we stock at Believe will help cut down on the problem.
- When it comes to your clothes—only dry them about 90% and then hang to dry.
- Sort natural materials from synthetics in your dryer or consider drying the synthetics entirely on a clothes rack.
- Try using vinegar in the rinse (the smell wears off as the clothes dry) but don’t mix it with bleach, else you might keel over from the fumes!)
Be sure to book that conditioning
treatment at Believe
right now to help make sure that your winter isn’t a
hair-raising one.