In Canada’s Yukon territory every year, tourists visit the Takhini Hot Pools for a chance to win the Hair Freezing Contest. What is the Hair Freezing Contest, you ask? Exactly that.
From December through March, tourists are welcomed into the hot springs to compete in their contest with the incentive of a grand prize of CAD$2,000. All they have to do is take a photo!
Of course, the photo has to be taken when it’s -20°C (-4°F) outside. At most.
Don’t worry, the waters themselves temp out around 96.8° to 107°F! Competitors dip themselves below the surface of the springs, submerging their whole heads, and then pop out and wait, contorting their hair into wacky hairdos while their hair freezes. Eventually, even eyebrows and eyelashes (and chest hair, if you’re brave enough to stand) will freeze.
Once tourists are ready, staff at the Hot Pools will come and take your photo, and at the end of the entry window, the best photos will be chosen for their Best Male, Best Female, Best Group, Nongshim's People's Choice and Tim Horton's Most Creative categories.
This year’s winners are impressive, to say the least.
"We like to think that this contest will bring some joy to viewers around the world -- even if just for a few moments," Andrew Umbrich, owner and operator of Takhini Hot Pools, told CNN Travel.
I mean, this certainly brings me a certain level of joy. This stuff is hilarious, especially knowing that these people had to stand around in hot water while they waited for their hair to literally freeze.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but while we’ll have to wait until at least the end of the year to make a trip to Yukon ourselves (a hike, at that), I can’t help but be inspired by the Takhini Hot Pool’s idea. People are coming up with new and hilarious “challenges” across the internet every day -- TikTok has become our one place of contentment -- so why can’t this be one?
Of course, you can’t very well go stand outside in sub-zero temperatures and let your hair freeze (unless you live in Yukon and have a hot tub, I guess?), but have some fun with it. Go hop in the shower and use shampoo to give yourself a weird-looking ‘do, or hairspray the heck out of your hair like you’re Cindy Lou Who. Go a step farther and get the kids involved; let one of them judge! You already have the categories in place. Better yet, come up with your own categories that fit your family.
Hey, it’s not like we don’t have the time.
Not a member of Dailybreak yet? By registering, you gain access to lots of perks, like the opportunity to earn points by simply reading what’s new this month on Netflix or learning a new recipe from your favorite brand. Once you register, you can use your points to enter to win prizes ranging from a $25 Amazon gift card to a Fire HD 8 Tablet. So what are you waiting for? Sign up!