Hat hair and winter static: keeping your style in the cold

Hat hair is flat, dented roots caused by pressure and trapped warmth, and winter static is an electric charge that builds when dry hair rubs against wool or synthetic fabric. Both are fixable, and most of the fix happens before the hat goes on. Dry your hair completely, put a little moisture into the lengths, and pick a hat that is kind to your hair.

Every November my chair fills up with the same complaint. Someone has had a lovely blow dry, walked to the car in a beanie, and by lunchtime the roots are flat and the ends are floating. Here is what I tell them.

The short version

Never put a hat on damp hair, it sets the dent in.

Static comes from dry hair plus friction from wool or synthetic hats.

A silk or satin lined hat cuts down both flattening and static.

A drop of leave-in conditioner or serum on the ends calms flyaways.

Revive flat roots with your fingers and warm air, not a brush.

Why do you get hat hair?

Hat hair is mostly about moisture and pressure. Your head warms up under a hat, a little sweat or leftover dampness softens the roots, and the band presses them flat. When you take the hat off, the hair cools and sets in that shape, which is why you get the ridge across the back.

Fine hair shows it most because it has less body to push back. Thick hair tends to get the ridge but usually keeps some lift on top.

What causes winter static?

Static is friction plus dry air. Cold air outside and central heating inside both pull moisture out of your hair, and dry hair holds an electric charge more easily. Pull off a wool or acrylic hat and every strand picks up the same charge, so they push away from each other and stand up.

Hair that is already dry or damaged gets it worst. Bleached ends and hair that sees the straighteners every day are usually the first to fly away.

How to stop hat hair before it happens

Dry your hair fully, roots first. Most people dry the lengths and leave the roots slightly damp, and that is exactly the part the hat flattens. Even ten extra minutes of drying before you head out makes a difference.

Choose the hat with your hair in mind. A loose beanie or a slouchy knit sits lighter than a tight band, and one with a silk or satin lining reduces the dent and the static. You can buy satin liners on their own and stitch one into a hat you already love.

Wear it a little further back if you can, and switch your parting to the other side before you put it on. When the hat comes off, flip the parting back and the roots lift straight away.

Calming static in the cold

Moisture is the fix. Use conditioner after every wash, and the American Academy of Dermatology suggests putting it through the whole length if your hair is dry or curly.

Before you go out, smooth a pea-sized amount of leave-in conditioner or a light serum over the ends. Keep it off the roots, or you swap flat hair for greasy flat hair.

Swap a plastic brush for a wooden or boar bristle one, as plastic adds to the charge. If you get caught out, rub a tiny bit of hand cream between your palms and smooth it over the flyaways. It works in a pinch.

If your scalp is flaky and itchy as well, that can be dandruff rather than the weather. The NHS page on dandruff explains which shampoo ingredients to look for.

Rescuing your style after the hat comes off

Do not brush flat roots, it only presses them down more. Flip your head upside down, rough up the roots with your fingers, and if there is a hairdryer to hand give them 30 seconds of warm air. A little dry shampoo at the crown adds grip and lifts the hair off the scalp.

For the ridge, dampen your hands slightly, smooth over it, and let it dry with your fingers in it. Through winter I keep a small brush, a mini dry shampoo and a scrunchie in my bag. If all else fails, a low bun looks deliberate.

Making a winter blow dry last

A salon blow dry holds up under a hat better than you would think, because the roots are dried properly and set with the brush. A blow dry with us is £28 to £35, and a curly blow dry is £30 to £38. Every price is on our pricing list.

If you have a night out, ask for a bit more volume at the roots than you think you need. It drops a little in the cold, so starting higher means you finish the night where you wanted to be. We are open until 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, which helps if you are fitting it in after work.

Call us on 01582 730381 or book online. You will find us at Shop 660, Jansel House, Hitchin Rd, Stopsley, Luton LU2 7XH.