Why does hair stand on end on cold, dry days?

In dry weather like this, many people often get a "heart attack" when suddenly feeling an electric shock when accidentally touching a metal object, pulling a blanket, turning on a light switch... or just suddenly "touching" each other.

According to experts, this phenomenon is called static electricity . And the reason you got "electric shock" is because you got electrostatic shock.

Why do we get static electricity in winter?

Static electricity occurs due to an imbalance of electrical charges on the surface of a material.

Static electricity is a phenomenon that occurs due to an imbalance of electrical charges on the surface of a material. In fact, the charge accumulated on the surface of an object along with the resonance of the friction process can cause static electricity.

In fact, the charge accumulated on the surface of an object along with the resonance of the friction process can cause static electricity.

When two materials come into contact, charge transfers from one object to the other, resulting in an excess of positive charge on one object, and an excess of negative charge on the other.

People can feel the electrical imbalance when wearing or pulling on clothes, combing hair with a plastic comb, or some other rubbing action.

The human body is also a very special electrochemical machine, so it can generate a very small amount of electricity, enough to cause a slight tingling sensation when accidentally rubbing against an object.

That is also the reason why when you accidentally touch a metal door handle, the negative charge on your body will continue to increase until it is enough to produce a weak amount of electricity, allowing the charge between your hand and the door handle to suddenly flash sparks, causing a slight numbness in your hand.

Hair stands on end on dry days.

The weather temperature in winter and autumn is often very low humidity, leading to dryness and easy generation of static electricity. Moreover, hair does not have the ability to regenerate itself, it is made up of dead cells like fingernails, so when damaged, hair does not have the ability to maintain moisture and self-repair. When the moisture of the hair is lost, the dry climate causes the hair to generate static electricity.

According to researchers, water is a good conductor of electricity. Humidity in the air will help move electrons away from the human body before they accumulate too much, causing static electricity.

You may not expect it, but hair generating static electricity does not mean that static electricity is only generated in hair. Static electricity tends to be transmitted to small, confined spaces . Therefore, static electricity generated when clothes rub against each other will also be transmitted through the body to the hair.

According to researchers, static electricity mostly occurs in cold weather because the air at this time often lacks the humidity necessary for static electricity to maintain balance.

On the other hand, hot air holds more moisture, which is also why static shocks are less common in the summer.

In addition, some materials often cause static electricity such as rubber, nylon, synthetic fibers, hair, fur, metal, ...

How to prevent static hair in winter

Increase humidity in the air

In winter, the humidity in the air is quite low. Using a mist sprayer, humidifier... at home will help reduce static electricity, which explodes when there is friction between people and objects.

Pay attention to choosing clothing materials

Synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon can easily lead to static electricity. Therefore, people should use clothes made of natural fabrics such as cotton.

Apply moisturizer to your hands regularly.

Taking care of your skin, especially applying hand cream, will help your hands retain the proper moisture. Maintaining and increasing the moisture in your skin is a great way to avoid static electricity in dry weather conditions.

Use dryer sheet paper

This type of paper helps prevent electric charges from entering the body.

Dryer sheets have a similar design to tissue paper but are thinner. They soften fabric fibers, help balance electrical charges during the drying process, and prevent the buildup of electrical charges on the body.

Avoid wearing rubber shoes

Rubber shoes are strong insulators, increasing the chance of static electricity building up if you accidentally walk across a wool or nylon carpet. Leather shoes are more suitable in this weather.