Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    As it gets colder: Build-up of static electricity

10:00
9 January 2024

As it gets colder
Build-up of static electricity

If you're wondering why you're suddenly receiving an abundance of electric shocks accompanied by static, fly-away hair, we're here to explain why.

In the cold weather, your hair is often electrically charged. One main cause of this, is low humidity.

This is because cold air can absorb less moisture than warm air. The air in winter is not only drier outside than in summer, there is also low humidity in your heated homes.

When the body becomes electrically charged due to friction, this charge can flow off more poorly in winter, than when the air humidity is high in summer.

When brushing your hair for example, negatively charged electrons are transferred to the comb. Positive charge collects up to the tips of the hair and since like charges repel each other, the hair "flies" away from each other, and towards the comb.

The same effect can be observed when a hat is pulled off the head or a sweater is pulled over the head, which we are often doing during this time of the year!

Tips to help your static hair:

  • Slightly moisten your hands with water and hold them close to your head! The hair will discharge itself from the moisture, even if you don't directly touch it.
  • Stroke lightly over the electric hair with a make-up remover, cleaning cloth, or even tumble-drier sheet! The contained moisture helps the hair immediately.
  • Briefly touch your hair with hands after moisturising with hand cream.

In general, your hair and your skin should be given special care in winter, but particularly amidst the dry, cold weather we are currently seeing.

It is important to provide the skin with sufficient moisture in creams, in addition to applying sunscreen, drinking plenty of water and eating nutritious meals.

It's getting colder through the week, so you're likely to be experiencing more static electricity than usual, stay up to date on the TemperatureRadar!

Cold days and nights to come!
Cold days and nights to come!
6 tips for the coldread more
More on the topic
Yet another typhoon in the Pacific. Gusts of over 185 mph. . . Friday 3 July 2026
Wind forecast map of the western Pacific showing a powerful typhoon east of Guam with a well-defined eye, strong wind circulation, and a windsock warning icon.
Friday 3 July 2026

Gusts of over 185 mph

Yet another typhoon in the Pacific
Forest fires rage in southern Europe. Drought and wind. . . Monday 6 July 2026
Split screen. On the left, a weather map of France and Spain showing the plumes of smoke from the forest fires. On the right, a fire-fighting aircraft in action.
Monday 6 July 2026

Drought and wind

Forest fires rage in southern Europe
Lee waves flow over the UK and Ireland. On the WeatherRadar. . . Monday 6 July 2026
Satellite weather map of the UK and Ireland showing parallel bands of low cloud highlighted over southern Scotland and northern England, with additional cloud streets over Wales and western England circled in white.
Monday 6 July 2026

On the WeatherRadar

Lee waves flow over the UK and Ireland
All weather news
This might also interest you
Mixed conditions on an unsettled week. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 2 November 2025
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. 40 °C in July?. . . Tuesday 30 June 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 30 June 2026

40 °C in July?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList