How-To: Take Care of Your Hair When Traveling

Hair care and traveling don’t always mix — BUT, they can! How do you effectively take care of your hair when traveling?

There are many factors involved for maintaining beautiful, healthy hair while you’re vacationing. These factors will vary among each person.

What’s hair care routine like? What’s your hair type? What will the weather be like where you are visiting? Will you be flying on a plane? Are there any special occasions?

Depending on your answers to these questions, planning for and packing a hair care routine will be a much easier task.

In this post, we list 10 tips for taking care of your hair the next time you have a travel itinerary!

1. Know the traveling bottle size rules.

This tip really only applies if you are traveling via plane. If you do have a trip booked, prepare in advance by verifying the exact bottle and product sizes that are allowed onboard. The last thing you want is to get to security and have to leave behind your $50 bottle of shampoo!

While some high-quality hair care brands do offer travel size products, this is harder to come by than for instance, visiting the local supermarket to easily grab travel size bottles of TRESemmé® shampoo and conditioner.

Because high-quality hair care travel size bottles are not very convenient to purchase, the solution is to buy empty travel size bottles to hold your products. These bottles are often for sale nearby the travel size items for this purpose.

As far as non-liquid hair care products, if your favorite hair care brand does not offer a travel size option, there are options available at your local supermarket for basic hair care products, such as hairspray and dry shampoo.

2. Only pack the essentials.

You might think you need every hair care product you own on your trip, but this usually isn’t the case. Assess your hair routine and ask yourself what products you absolutely cannot go without. Next, ask yourself what products you could temporarily go without. Select which products you consider “essential” and pack accordingly.

If you’re struggling with making this decision, the common essentials include shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, a brush or comb, hair ties, and bobby pins.

3. Invest in a mini, detangling, paddle brush.

These brushes are miracle workers! They fit in your purse and can be used on dry or wet hair. Perfect for all hair types, having a mini, detangling, paddle brush will come in handy more often on vacation.

4. Wrap your hair ties or scrunchies around your hairbrush.

To save space when you’re packing, wrap as many hair ties and scrunchies around your mini brush. You’d be surprised at how many you can fit!

5. Only wash hair when needed.

To maintain those luscious locks and use the least amount of product, skip washes as frequently as you can manage. Skipping washes isn’t an option for certain hair types, but for others, this challenge will be a simple task or the norm.

6. Don’t forget dry shampoo.

Everyone can benefit from dry shampoo — especially when traveling! Be prepared to share, because this item is regularly forgotten. Dry shampoo absorbs oil and makes the hair appear less greasy, without the hassle of washing your hair. Any time saved on vacation is time well-spent!

7. If flying, keep the hair hydrated with a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or hair oil.

Another tip for plane travel is to protect your hair before your flight. Without added hydration, the atmosphere of a plane completely wipes out the moisture from your hair. This is why it is so imperative to apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to your hair prior to boarding.

8. Bring a hat.

Bad hair day? A hat can solve this dilemma. Pack at least one hat in case of a hair emergency. Aside from covering up your hair bad hair day, they can spice up any outfit and protect your skin from the sun. Hats are a win-win!

9. Pack your styling tools in your carry-on.

Styling tools, such as blow-dryers, straighteners, and curling irons, are allowed in your carry-on bag or checked bag. Packing them in your checked bag might make the most sense, but packing them in your carry-on bag is a great way to free up space in your checked bag for other items that are not allowed in your carry-on bag. Also, because you never know if your checked bag will be lost in translation, it’s nice to know you can still do your hair!

10. Rinse hair before swimming.

Let’s set the the scene… You’re from a landlocked state and you’re enjoying your first paid vacation at the beach with loved ones. You’ve just arrived to the beach and can’t wait to jump in the ocean. But FIRST, you rinse your hair in the fresh water shower before becoming one with the sea. This might seem like a ridiculous act of self-control, but you know your hair will thank you.

The hair can only hold a certain amount of water. Therefore, rinsing your hair in fresh water before swimming in a chlorinated pool or salt water will prevent your hair from absorbing the harsh chemicals and salt because it has already absorbed the fresh water.

What fun trips do you have planned for summer 2022?