Just coming back from St. Lucia and I had a blast with hubby. We just celebrated 20 years of marriage and wanted to take a trip to enjoy properly. We love the Caribbean ( I want to actually move to Freeport, Bahamas), and traveling is a passion for both of us. It’s also super easy on my hair because I have some stellar travel tips that make my traveling while natural simple and quick.
Best Transitioning Hairstyles For Natural Hair Newbies
If you are newly natural, and a little skeptical about how to rock your natural hair, you can count on me for the top ways to keep your hair healthy and happy. I’ve got a few travel tips below that will make your next vacay a great one!
Plan for your hair and hairstyles
One of the biggest travel tips is all about planning your hairstyles. Whether you want to get a protective style before the trip or just want hair in the best shape before you go; make sure you plan accordingly so that your hair will not be the main concern during the vacay. Get your protective style installed well before the trip (especially if it’s a first time) so you now how to care for your hair when it is installed. This will also give you time to get the products you need to maintain the style properly.
Also, get a trim, deep conditioning treatment or hair masque to make sure hair is as healthy and moisturized as possible. When vacationing, we tend to be lax on our regular duties, so make sure hair is in tip top shape to whether the slight neglect. Make sure to bring a detangling tool or product too.
Check the weather
Yea, the weather will affect your tresses and ruin your planned hairstyles. No, I don’t mean the actual temps (although
that is beneficial) but rather how their climate is and how that may affect your tresses. Denver, CO is super dry with next to no humidity while New Orleans is the direct opposite. I knew I may be dealing with frizz so I left the Kinky Curly Curling Custard at home and brought the heavier Eco Styler Gel and my hair was like, “frizz who”? Yea, it was nice!
Vacation Hair, Perfect Natural Hairstyles For Fun This Summer!
Check the climate of your destination to know what products you may need or even what styles may be more conducive to the new climate. Not sure how your hair will respond? Check out the next tip!
Bring Your Own Products
This is kind of a no-brainier but I’ve been known to forget a product or two and regretted it. Everywhere you go is not natural hair friendly meaning they may not have your products or ANY products for you to pick up. Plus it can be pricey if they do have it so plan ahead and think of what you plan on using while away. Also consider getting one of the many travel kits popular brands offer while on vacay to make your packing even easier.
For me that was:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Cheap Conditioner (next tip)
Gel or some styler
Spray Bottle (lifesaver!)
Tons of brands have travel sets like Curls or WEN, so that is an option but since I’m so extra I just brought my regular bottles.
Bring Tons Of Your Favorite Cheap Conditioner
If you are planning on swimming whether it is a pool, creek, river or ocean, then bring your favorite cheap conditioner like Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Conditioner with Coconut Essences to save your tresses from damage from chlorine, salt-water or whatever else is lurking in there. Wetting your hair and adding a conditioner will help keep the chlorine, salt-water, etc. out so buy a big bottle of some cheap conditioner to slather and protect your hair when swimming. This tip is crucial to saving your strands from drying out when you get back from vacay..
Ziplock bags are your best friend
I make sure to stock up on Ziploc (or no name) plastic bags to keep my beauty essentials in as they are a lifesaver for organization and to minimize spillage. I get quart size and bigger and they are great for my other beauty items outside of hair.
Don’t Forget Your Natural Hair Accessories!
Those satin bonnets, hair pins and scrunchies come in handy all throughout the trip. From wearing a satin scarf under a sweaty helmet when you are on ATV’s to protecting your hair on hotel pillowcases, these items help to keep your hair clean, frizz-free and still looking fab. I would keep styling tools to a minimum (especially heat styling tools) as they can dry out your hair and that means work on vacay! Who wants that?
Use Travel Containers
I always tell newbies when they go on their first travel adventure after going natural to bring everything you remotely feel you will need. Better to have more than less is always my motto. You can lessen the load by putting products in those cheap travel containers you find in Target, Walmart, etc., and write on them with a permanent market or add a label.
All these travel tips are going to make your trip carefree for your hair. I’ve been on enough trips to know exactly how to do it right and have no worries with lots of fun and my hair always looks amazing.
Have fun Newbies,
Sabrina