Canada's outlandish hair freezing contest offers much-needed laughs

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During these uncertain times, we'll take the laughs where we can get them.

Which is why this insanely silly series of images of tourists freezing their hair into gravity-defying styles couldn't have come at a better time.

The photos, featured in the above gallery, are the winners of the Hair Freezing Contest at the Takhini Hot Pools, an annual competition In Canada's Yukon territory.

Contestants are awarded in five categories: Best Male, Best Female, Best Group, Nongshim's People's Choice, and Tim Horton's Most Creative. (Names of the winners were not released.)

The winner for each category gets CAD$2,000 in addition to free hot springs passes.
The contest has been around since 2011, steadily gaining popularity over the years as the outlandish images began to get shared globally. This year's contest received 288 entries -- more than double what it got in 2011 -- according to management.
"We like to think that this contest will bring some joy to viewers around the world -- even if just for a few moments," says Andrew Umbrich, owner and operator of Takhini Hot Pools.

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Think you can come up with a style that will please the masses? To enter, you need to visit Takhini Hot Pools between December and March, on a day when the temperature is below -20°C (-4°F) -- certainly not rare in those parts.

There are few steps involved in achieving the perfect look. First, dip your head in the hot springs and wet your hair completely. (Freezing your hair won't damage it, they promise.)

Then, allow the cold air to slowly freeze your hair.
Staff advise visitors to keep their ears warm by periodically dipping them into the hot water. And you're going to have to be patient -- all that wet hair will eventually freeze -- eyebrows and eyelashes included.

Finally, once you're happy with your style, ring the bell near the pool entrance and staff will come take the photo.

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