One of the most common questions I receive as a traveler with natural hair is how do I maintain and care for my hair when traveling. How challenging it can be to travel with natural hair is no secret! You run the risk of traveling to a place with limited product options, sometimes bad water, and no one wants to carve out time while vacationing to do their hair. In order to best make sure those curls are always insta-ready, I’ve created a list of 7 tips for traveling with natural hair!
1. Make sure your hair is as healthy as possible before you leave.
Once you arrive at your destination the goal is to not have to worry about your hair for the time you are traveling. To do this, I recommend making sure your natural hair is as healthy as it can be. This means getting those ends dusted, visiting the salon for any color treatment to your roots, and taking the time to thoroughly detangle your hair at home. This will make all the hair maintenance you have to perform when traveling ten times easier and more efficient.
2. Become a pro at your favorite natural hairstyles!
Whether your favorite style is a twist out, wash and go, braid out, or up-do, perfecting them leaves little room for surprises when traveling. Because I’ve spent the past years mastering a wash and go, I am very comfortable doing it on the fly or in a rush. This will allow me to wear a hairstyle for the entirety of my trip and limit any unnecessary manipulation.
3. Pack products with multiple uses.
Now’s not the time to pack a plethora of products in your suitcase with limited space. When traveling, it’s best to be as efficient as possible. It’s more beneficial to pack products that have multiple uses. Thirsty Curls by Uncle Funky’s Daughter not only works great as a leave-in conditioner but also serves as a curl revitalizer. I’ll use this product on day three or four to bring my style back to life and awaken my curls.
4. Embrace the frizz!
Once I came to the realization that frizz is inevitable while traveling, I was able to fully embrace it! Our hair is naturally curly and frizz is normal. The more time spent trying to combat it could cause over manipulation, resulting in breakage, which is something we do not want.
5. Keep a small travel kit handy.
I fully believe that you should also pack a few products in your carry-on. In-flight hair maintenance is crucial to keeping your curls healthy, especially during long flights. The 5 piece travel kits by Uncle Funky’s Daughter are ideal for any quick hair touch-ups you may have to do. Their Supercurl Moisture Creme keeps my tight curls elongated but also gives them the much-needed hydration, this is crucial when on a plane with limited airflow.
6. Bring essential natural hair tools!
The main thing I would forget when traveling was to bring other items that cater to my healthy natural hair. It may sound crazy at first but now I always pack a satin/silk pillowcase with me, a microfiber hair towel for whenever I wash my hair, low pulling hair ties, and of course extra bobby pins.
7. Plan your hairstyles around your travel itinerary.
This last tip is crucial to maintaining healthy natural hair when traveling. Will you be swimming a lot? Certain activities could have you need to style your curls more often. I always keep this in mind when choosing a style. What will the weather be like at your destination? If you’re visiting a humid location maybe it’s best to go with an updo or braids instead of wearing your hair out. Once you pick your style(s), adapt it to flow with your travel itinerary.
All in all, traveling with natural hair can be accomplished with great products, a set routine, a hairstyle you’ve mastered, and the right tools. Let me know your thoughts on what hairstyles you like to rock when you travel!
xoxo
Chenise via https://globetrottercurls.com/
