Quirky Canadian contest has people taking a dip in icy water to create frosty hairdos

For many, winter might not seem like the ideal season for a dip, but one Canadian contest flips that idea on its frozen head. The Eclipse Hot Springs (@eclipsehotsprings on Instagram) in Yukon, Canada, hosts the annual Hair Freezing Contest—a quirky event that turns icy temperatures into a creative playground. Over the years, this unique winter attraction has gained popularity, drawing both locals and tourists eager to embrace the frosty fun.

Participants in the event are expected to shape their hair into quirky, frosty sculptures after taking a dip in the hot springs, according to My Modern Met. The cold air causes the hair to freeze, creating unique designs. The Hair Freezing Contest began in 2011, with only a few dozen participants in its first year and a small cash prize for the winner. Over the past decade, the contest has grown in popularity, and now winners in six categories receive $2,000 in prize money.

The event even earned a spot in the Guinness World Records in 2020 for hosting the "largest frozen hair competition," with 288 participants. To enter, participants must follow simple steps: take a dip in the hot springs, which reach temperatures up to 42°C, and then style their hair as creatively as possible, aiming for quirky and bizarre looks or even sculptures. A thin layer of frost forms around the hair as it makes contact with the cold air, completing the frozen effect.

"Hair freezing occurs naturally in hot springs," Andrew Umbrich, the general manager of Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, told the outlet. "The hair itself is not frozen solid and no one has ever damaged their hair in this contest." The contest is held once every year when the surrounding temperature reaches 20°C (about -4°F). If the temperature rises above that, it prevents the hair from freezing naturally. "If we could all predict the weather accurately, life would be much simpler," Umbrich mentioned. "There will always be a contest for hair freezing, but it may be affected by the number of available days to run it."

The unpredictable climate changes in Canada have affected this contest several times. "Climate change is certainly affecting Yukon," Umbrich shared. "It seems like our cold spells aren't lasting as long as when I was younger. These fluctuations result in scheduling challenges." He added that the contest is typically held in February, when the temperature is at its lowest and the weather is more predictable for hosting the event. Umbrich also explained how the contest winners are chosen.

"Winners are usually very obvious. They'll have put a lot of effort into making something unique, photogenic and gravity-defying. Some use small props. Often, winners get the winning photo from multiple attempts or a bit of planning," he said. Umbrich admitted that the best part of the whole event was watching people's reactions to the various intricate hairdos and welcoming people from all age groups. The contest, which has been running for years, faced a setback in 2023 and 2024 when it was canceled due to soaring temperatures. However, the staff at Eclipse Hot Springs remains hopeful about hosting the event again in 2025.