Traveling often means spending time with people who are not your own. This can be amazing fun and gives you the chance to meet new people and engage in exciting conversations. But it can also lead you to neglect certain aspects of your life that you usually pay close attention to.
There are many who overreact to the idea of their hair getting damaged by going on holiday. They want to look good, but a few hours after stepping out of the plane, they complain about how tired and stressed their hair feels. The point is well-taken, especially if you have a profession that requires your hair looking in tip-top shape all the time. This includes meeting up with clients, attending business meetings, or even hanging out with friends after work.
Our hair is one of the key factors in our beauty. Haircare is a big deal whether it is highlighted with color, styled, or worn naturally. Haircare can be pretty tricky, especially when you are on the run, trying to fit everything you need into your carry-on luggage. We then want to make sure our hairstyle and hair health is top-notch at all times.
When it comes to looking good, your hair can be a stress point in your daily routine if you don’t have the right tips on how to take care of it while traveling.
- Practical & comfortable hairstyles
The key to a successful hairstyle during travel is comfort and practicality. Hair pulled back in a tight ponytail or bun can cause damage to your hair follicles and scalp, which may result in thinning hair or even bald spots. If you have long hair, consider wearing it loose. Pull it back into a loose ponytail with a scarf or soft band to protect it from breakage if it is too long. Shorter hair can also be worn loose but looks best when pulled back off the face with clips or pins as needed.
- Moisturize your hair before and during your flight
If you’re going on a long-haul flight, moisturizing your hair is a must. The air on planes is extremely dry and can cause breakage, split ends, and even dandruff if you don’t keep your scalp hydrated. Use a deep conditioner and lather it onto your hair to stay moisturized during the flight.
- Don’t wash your hair too much
You might have heard that it’s best not to wash your hair every day. Well, when traveling, you should only wash your hair as often as you need to. This is also because of the different types of water in different places and how they will affect your hair. If you do wash your hair, use a gentle shampoo that won’t strip it of its natural oils. Then rinse and apply a leave-in conditioner after towel drying. This will keep your hair soft and frizz-free all day long.
- Block the Sun rays
If you’ve got an extended summer vacation planned, protect your hair from the sun. Sun-damaged hair is dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage. Use a conditioner or leave-in treatment with a sunscreen ingredient such as SPF 30 before you step out. Wear a hat or scarf to block out those harmful rays.
- Always pack your own shampoo and conditioner.
It’s always better for your hair when you use products formulated for your specific hair type. Hotel shampoo and conditioner is not designed to be good for your hair but rather to work in any type of water.
- Pack hair accessories
Ponytails, braids, and buns are versatile hairstyles that will keep frizz at bay. They also take less than 10 seconds to complete. If you own any of these items, pack them for your trip:
- Hair ties
- Bobby pins
- Headbands
- Clips
- Pack what you really need
Before you pack any hair care products or accessories, think about how many days you’ll be gone and how many different styles you plan to rock on your trip. Then, pack only the minimum amount of products needed and bring backup hair accessories in case you lose or break something.
- Protect your hair from pool or saltwater
- Rinse your hair with fresh water before swimming in a pool or the ocean.
- Wear your hair in a braid or bun to keep it from getting tangled and being exposed to chlorine and saltwater.
- If you’re going to be lounging by the pool, wear a hat to protect your hair from the sun’s rays and keep it from drying out.
- If you’re swimming in saltwater (at the beach), wash your hair as soon as possible after leaving the water. Saltwater dries out hair quickly, which can lead to breakage.
- Apply a leave-in conditioner before swimming in the pool or ocean. The conditioner will coat your hair, making it harder for chlorine or salt to penetrate the hair shaft.
- Stay hydrated
Water is the source of life, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Since plane air is dry, you’ll need to get more fluids than usual. While traveling to different destinations with different weather conditions, drinking water can keep your hair and skin moist, reduce water loss, and maintain your overall health.
For the convenience of traveling, you will need to put up with a lot of preparation. However, if you think hard enough, there are indeed some solutions to problems related to traveling. These solutions help you maintain your hairstyle and keep it looking great every time you step out of the house. And though these solutions may require some work and maintenance, they ensure you don’t look haphazard or have ruffled hair when going to appointments or parties.
It’s simple—make sure you know what products you’ll need weeks before your trip, and stick to a daily routine. Your hair will thank you!
