Question: why does electricity make hair static?

Will Reynolds answered on 20 Jun 2012:

Hi hloughrey! Great question! Electricity is made up of electrons that flow around a circuit made of materials that these electrons can move through. Electrons are negatively charged and just like magnets will attract things that are positively charged. Our bodies are good conductors of electricity, so electricity can flow through our bodies, either from static electricity which is harmless or an electric current, which wont hurt if the voltage is low enough. When this happens electrons can build up in some parts of the body, especially the hair, which gives hair a weak negative charge. This charge is attracted to positive charges in the air and is light enough to be pulled upwards and give us ‘static’ hair. Hope this helps!