Spikes, Spirals, and Steam: The Winners of Canada's Annual Hair Freezing Contest Are Here

Where Hot Springs Meet Arctic Air

In the frosty wilderness of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, a bizarre and brilliant competition has crowned its latest champions. The annual Hair Freezing Contest, a quirky tradition at the Takhini Hot Pools since 2011, just announced the five winners from a pool of 288 contenders whose frozen hairdos defied both gravity and the cold.

This year's contest featured five categories: Best Male, Best Female, Best Group, Most Creative, and the People's Choice Award. According to organizers, each winner walked away with a prize of C$2,000 (about US$1,411), along with free passes to soak in the famous hot springs.

From Humble Beginnings to a Viral Sensation

Andrew Umbrich, the owner of Takhini Hot Pools, explained that the contest's growth has been explosive. "The contest started in 2011. It was a very small contest with maybe 10 submissions a year, until 2015 when the contest went viral," he said. The prize money has grown accordingly, from just C$150 in 2015 to today's significant sum.

The magic happens thanks to a unique combination of factors. Participants soak in the balmy 42°C (107.6°F) water while the outside air temperature plummets below -20°C (-4°F). This allows them to sculpt their wet hair into fantastical shapes as it freezes solid in the frigid air.

"We are one of the only accessible hot springs in a very cold climate in the world," Umbrich noted. "People like it because it's a unique wintertime activity and kinda crazy for most of the world." His advice for future competitors is simple:

More Than Just a Quirky Contest

The event is not only growing in popularity but also in purpose. This year, for every entry, organizers donated packs of instant noodles to the local food bank, adding a layer of community support to the fun. Umbrich hopes to increase the prize money to C$5,000 per category next year with the help of new sponsors.