Canada’s Hilarious Hair-Freezing Contest Brings Wacky Winter Fun

At Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs in Yukon, Canada, bathers eagerly await Arctic temperatures to participate in the annual hair-freezing contest. Launched in 2012, this quirky competition has become a winter favorite, producing hilariously frozen hairstyles.

Participants soak in the hot springs, allowing their wet hair to freeze into wild shapes in temperatures below -4°F (-20°C). Categories include best female, male, group, facial hair, and a people’s choice award, with each winner receiving $2,000.

Last year, warmer temperatures postponed the event, but organizers are hopeful for a chillier winter in 2024 to continue the contest’s 12-year tradition.

To enter, participants freeze their hair, eyebrows, and even eyelashes, then ring a bell for a photo. The colder it gets, the better the results—ideal temperatures are -22°C (-7°F) or lower.

As climate changes challenge Yukon’s cold winters, enthusiasts remain optimistic for more frosty fun and unforgettable frozen hairstyles this year.