Traveling to new and exotic places enriches your life in incalculable ways, but keeping up with your usual hair routine while also worrying about catching flights can be a real drag. It can be hard to know what to do with your hair while traveling, and oftentimes it might just feel easier to toss it all up into a messy bun and call it a day. For most people trying to develop a proper hair care routine that fits into their busy travel schedule, the challenge lies in finding a way to simplify the process in a way that’s sustainable. Luckily, there are a few tricks that can help you find the perfect travel hair care routine that works for you.
Understand Your Hair Type
The first step in developing any hair care routine is to understand how your hair works. It’s simple really; how can you care for your locks if you don’t know what they need? And each hair type has different needs. Straight hair tends to be more oily and requires a more frequent washing schedule, while curly hair is at risk of being too dry and requires products that lock in moisture. If your hair is thin and lacks volume, you probably want to prioritize lighter products that won’t weigh it down further, but if your hair is thicker it might be more important to find ways to manage frizz and dryness. Determining your hair texture and behavior is the first step towards developing a routine that works for you and achieving a perfect head of hair.
Find the Right Products for You
The right product can transform your hair, but if your goal is a routine you can manage during crazy weeks of living out of your suitcase then you probably won't want to invest in a multi-step hair care regimen. In this case, simplicity is key, which means paying especially close attention to the products you do bring.
When you’re deciding what to pack, prioritize your core basics: cleansing, conditioning, and styling. Seek out natural ingredients and avoid brands that include parabens and sulfates when possible. As an alternative, you might try an ozone shampoo or one designed for your specific hair texture. From there, you can customize based on your needs. Choose products that focus on the unique aspects of your hair type or address a specific issue you want to fix.
Avoid complicating things with too many products and instead try to check off the following:
- A shampoo designed for your hair type. Consider investing in a shampoo bar in order to minimize liquids you’re carrying with you onto the plane.
- Dry shampoo (for travel days when you don’t have the time for a full wash)
- Conditioner (especially if you have dryer hair or curls)
- A simple styling product to help achieve the look you want
Styling On-the-Go
When you’re concerned with travelling the globe, styling hair can begin to feel like a chore. Thankfully, there are a number of simple styles that are quick to achieve while offering benefits for hair health at the same time. While the right products can provide a foundation to work with, it’s important to know how to style your hair to maximize these results and avoid future damage.
Consider researching protective hairstyles such as braids or ballet buns that can guard your hair from breakage and promote healthy hair growth. These hairstyles are generally simple and require low maintenance when it comes to keeping their look throughout the day, which means they’ll last you from take-off until the moment you finally relax in your new hotel room.
A bonus to protective hairstyles is that they typically require little to no heat, which is another factor that seriously impacts hair health. As a general rule, you should aim to use as little heat on your hair as possible. This means you can leave the hair dryers and curling irons behind and instead save room for all of those souvenirs you want to buy.
Focus on Maintenance
The best way to simplify hair care is to prioritize habits that maintain hair health and prevent damage even in your everyday life. This doesn’t have to look like an elaborate routine that’s difficult to maintain. Instead it can mean small changes that have large impacts over time. Avoid harsh chemicals where you can, both in daily use and when it comes to hair dyes. Instead seek out more natural alternatives. Protect your hair with protective hairstyles and minimize damage from heating elements. Ensure the food you’re eating has the nutrients you need to promote healthy hair, and of course be sure to tend to split ends regularly.
Hair care on-the-go can feel overwhelming at times, but if you work with your hair instead of against it, then the entire process can be easy and even fun. Experiment with which styles work best for your schedule and find core products that you can rely on even when you don’t have the time to focus on what your hair is doing. Keeping your hair healthy will make it easier to leave the hotel room each morning with confidence knowing you look your very best.
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