Some winter hairstyles require a hat. These ones seem to require their own weather forecast. In the Yukon photographs that circulated in 2015, damp hair and beards have become pale, sculptural shapes while bathers smile from the warm water below.
The archive associates the images with Takhini Hot Springs near Whitehorse. The tradition now has a current point of reference in Eclipse Nordic Hotsprings’ hair-freezing contest information. Consult the organiser’s own guidance for any present-day event or visit.
The fun is in the shape
A fan of hair becomes a halo; a ponytail becomes a small tower. The photographs work because the people’s expressions are as important as the ice. These are playful portraits, not just close-ups of an unusual physical effect.
The difference between the warm pool and cold air is central to the scene. Conditions vary, however, and the photographs do not establish one exact temperature for every participant or every frame.
Wet hair, colds and cold exposure
Does wet hair cause a cold? The CDC explains that common colds are caused by respiratory viruses. Wet hair itself does not cause that infection. Cold exposure is a separate concern, so follow the venue’s guidance and keep warmth and comfort ahead of getting the photograph.
Enjoy the gallery as an inventive winter tradition. If visiting a hot spring, follow its current age, health and facility guidance rather than trying to recreate a photograph through improvised exposure.
For another playful transformation of an everyday surface, explore Faust’s snow lettering. For winter’s own sculptural work on a much larger scale, see Niagara Falls surrounded by ice.
Frozen hairstyles as a winter photograph
The Takhini Hot Springs photographs contrast warm water with extremely cold air. Wet hair becomes a visible part of that contrast, producing upright shapes and white coatings that make the images memorable. The original account placed the episode in temperatures around minus thirty degrees, but that is the reported setting of the photographs, not a requirement or instruction for recreating them.
The portraits work through the relationship between a person and an improbable hairstyle. A fan, a spike or a frosted beard changes the outline of the face, while smiles make the scene deliberately playful. The pool supplies the setting, but each participant’s pose gives the photograph its own character.
Sources, photography and further reading
Original feature and image attributions:
- Imgur
- Weather
- Viral Nova
- Life In Canada Is So Much Different, And Colder, Than Life Anywhere Else.
- Evaporating Water in -30C. Must See!
- A Canadian Couple Blows Bubbles In -45 Celsius Weather
- Water Bubbles Freezing In The Air
- Crazy Russian Winter: What Happens To Boiling Water At -41C?
- These Photos of Frozen Bubbles and Crystals Are So Beautiful They’ll Blow Your Mind! STUNNING!
- Things To Do When It’s Really Cold Outside (-17°C)
- How Does -59°C (-74.2°F) Look Like?
- Original Imgur collection; individual photographers not identified
- Eclipse Nordic Hotsprings’ hair-freezing contest information
- The CDC explains that common colds are caused by respiratory viruses
- Faust’s snow lettering
- Niagara Falls surrounded by ice
This is fantastic! However I am cold now just by looking at these photographs.
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