Static Hair and Flyaways: Why Your Hair Is Static and How to Stop It

Updated November 2026. Prices are our live online prices.

Wānaka winters are made for static. Dry alpine air outside, heat pumps on all day inside, merino beanies, puffer jackets. By July we have clients whose hair lifts off their shoulders as soon as they take a hat off. It's annoying, but it's one of the easier hair problems to fix.

Why is my hair static?

Static builds up when two things rub together and one ends up with extra charge. Hair is very good at picking it up, especially when it's dry. Each strand ends up with the same charge, so they push away from each other and stand up. What makes it worse:

• Dry air. Cold weather and indoor heating both pull moisture out of the air, and dry hair holds charge.
• Friction. Wool hats, scarves, synthetic jumpers and car headrests.
• Plastic brushes and lots of brushing on dry hair.
• Dry, porous hair. Lightened or heat-styled hair has a rougher surface and dries out faster.
• Over-washing with a strong shampoo and skipping conditioner.

Static hair vs frizz: what's the difference?

Frizz is hair swelling with moisture from humid air, so it looks puffy and loses its shape. Static is the opposite: dry hair, dry air, strands that float and stick to your face. They can happen on the same head, though, and the fix overlaps: smooth the surface and keep moisture in. If yours is more puff than float, see our frizzy hair guide or fluffy hair guide.

How to stop static hair

1. Condition every wash. Mid-lengths to ends, a full minute. Sebastian Hydre Conditioner ($50.12) or Kérastase Lait Vital ($65.52) for dry hair.
2. Add a leave-in on damp hair. Potion 9 Lite for fine hair, Potion 9 Leave-In Cream ($60.35) for thicker hair.
3. Finish with a drop of oil. Rub one or two drops between your palms until they're nearly dry, then smooth over the surface. That's usually all it takes.
4. Swap the brush. A boar-bristle or wide-tooth comb causes less static than cheap plastic.
5. Dry fully before you go out. Damp hair under a beanie flattens, then dries into static.
6. Silk or satin pillowcase for less friction overnight.

Two ways to fix it: Sebastian or Kérastase

Potion 9 Drops (from $60.35) or Kérastase Elixir Ultime ($105.00): same job, choose by budget. The drops are a little richer and very good on fluffy ends. Elixir Ultime is a light, fast-absorbing oil that suits most hair types and comes in a refill. If you love a scent that lingers, Dark Oil is the one people ask about.

Which flyaway hair products suit your hair?

• Fine or straight hair: a mist, not an oil. Potion 9 Lite on damp hair, then Dark Oil Silkening Mist over dry hair if it lifts during the day. Oil on fine hair goes lank fast.
• Medium hair: one pump of Dark Oil or Elixir Ultime through damp ends before the blow-dry, and a half-pump over the top once it's dry.
• Thick, coarse or curly hair: Potion 9 Leave-In Cream on damp hair and Potion 9 Drops to finish. Thick hair can take more product than you'd think.
• Lightened hair: it's drier and holds static more. Add a weekly mask and use the leave-in every wash, not just when it's playing up.

A note on hairspray: a light mist does hold flyaways down, but too much makes hair drier over time. Use it as a last step, sprayed onto a brush or your palm, rather than as the fix.

Does what you wear matter?

More than people expect. Wool and synthetic fleece build up more charge than cotton or silk. A silk scarf under a wool beanie, or a beanie with a satin lining, makes a real difference for people who walk or ski in a hat all day. Car seats and headrests do the same thing on the commute. Keep a little oil in the glovebox through winter.

Quick fixes for flyaways when you're out

• Mist Dark Oil Silkening Mist onto your brush, not your head, then brush over the top layer.
• Rub a tiny bit of hand cream between your palms and pat it over. Very little.
• Dampen your hands slightly and smooth the flyaways down.
• Keep a travel-size oil in your bag through winter.

Flyaway hair that isn't static

Sometimes flyaways are short new hairs growing in, or broken pieces. New growth is a good sign and settles as it gets longer; a smoothing cream or a spritz of hairspray on a toothbrush keeps it down. If the short bits are snapping off, that's breakage, which needs strengthening rather than smoothing. Our hair breakage guide explains the difference.

Can washing make static worse?

It can. Hot water and a strong shampoo every day leave hair drier and rougher, and rough, dry hair holds charge. If your hair goes static in winter, try washing every second or third day, rinse with cooler water at the end, and always follow with conditioner. A sulphate-free shampoo can help if your hair is dry or coloured. Our how often to wash your hair guide has more on finding the right gap.

Static in winter: the Wānaka routine

From May to September we tell clients to wash a little less often, swap to a richer conditioner and add a weekly mask. Our winter hair care guide has the full routine, and best hair oil guide compares every oil we stock, including the Kérastase oils and the Sebastian Dark Oil range. Shop the hair oils or smoothing products collections.

Questions we get asked

Why is my hair so static?

Dry hair in dry air picks up an electrical charge from friction with hats, scarves, jumpers and brushes. The strands carry the same charge, so they push apart and float. Winter makes it worse because cold air and indoor heating are both dry.

How do you get rid of static hair fast?

Rub one or two drops of hair oil between your palms until nearly dry and smooth them over the top layer. A light mist sprayed onto your brush, or slightly damp hands, also works in a pinch.

How do I stop my hair being static in winter?

Condition every wash, use a leave-in on damp hair, finish with a drop of oil, dry your hair fully before putting a hat on, and use a boar-bristle brush or wide-tooth comb instead of plastic.

What is the best product for flyaways?

A finishing oil or drops. We use Sebastian Potion 9 Super Luxe Drops or Kérastase Elixir Ultime. For fine hair, a light leave-in spray such as Potion 9 Lite won't weigh it down.

Is static the same as frizz?

No. Frizz is hair swelling with moisture from humid air. Static is dry hair holding a charge in dry air. The fixes overlap: keep moisture in and smooth the surface.

Does conditioner help static hair?

Yes. Conditioned hair has a smoother surface and holds less charge. Skipping conditioner is one of the most common reasons hair goes static.

Are flyaways a sign of damage?

Not always. Short flyaways can be healthy new growth. If the short pieces are snapping off at different lengths, that is breakage, and it needs strengthening rather than smoothing.

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