Why does my hair smell like smoke after being around smokers?

If you've ever wondered why you can't shake the cigarette smell after spending time in a smoke-filled room (or with a few heavy-puffing friends), it's because your hair acts like a paper towel - it's absorbent. And hair also often has a mild electric charge, particularly in very low humidity, and this can attract charged pollutant particles. So in a nutshell, your hair takes the stink from the air, and brings it home with you. This is a time to shampoo, as the toxins in smoke are harmful to your hair.