How Freezing Hair Became A Canadian Winter Obsession

Winter in Canada doesn’t just bite, it styles. Hair turns into instant ice sculptures within seconds outdoors.

The competition doesn’t have any set dates. The only condition is that the weather has to be cold enough to let people’s hair freeze, which is usually below −4°F. For example, the current contest started on December 20, 2019. And people sent their photos in until March 8.

The first competitions were pretty humble. There were no more than a few dozen participants each year, with a prize of $100 for the most creative hairdo. This year, the winner will get $2,000.

The organizers suggest that participants periodically dip their ears in the water to keep them warm, while their hair slowly freezes.

There are 5 nominations — Best Male, Best Female, Most Creative, Best Group, and People’s Choice.

Here are the numbers of 5 finalists: 1, 5, 7, 9, 17.