Travelling with your curls can be challenging. Climate changes, water quality changes, not having all your favourite products to hand, what to pack and what not to pack... the list goes on! However, fear not! Here are the travel hacks I've tried so you don't have to!
CURLS IN TRANSIT
Keep your curls in a loose bun with a silk scrunchie to prevent tangles and frizz during the flight/car/train journey, or use a silk or satin scarf to protect your curls and maintain their shape. I’ve often arrived at my destination with roughed-up curls courtesy of the plane seat, which is frustrating! If you’ve washed the night before or in the morning, you can leave your gel cast in to give your curls some added protection during travel.
PLAN AHEAD
I know this sounds crazy, but it's saved me so many times! Before I leave for my holiday, I always Google what kind of water the area has. Knowing ahead of time allows you to pack products accordingly, so you're not faced with failed washdays!
Hard water, containing minerals like calcium and magnesium, can negatively affect hair by creating a buildup on the hair shaft, making it dry, brittle, and dull. This buildup can also interfere with the effectiveness of hair products.
Soft water can have both positive and negative impacts on hair. Generally, it can help improve hydration, making hair feel smoother and easier to style. However, soft water can also make fine hair feel limp and heavy.
DON'T FORGET YOUR SPF FOR YOUR HAIR!
I used to think hair didn’t need as much protection from the sun as our skin, when in reality, it most certainly does. I would often complain that when I returned from a warm destination, my hair didn’t look or feel great. UV radiation can penetrate the hair cuticle and damage the protein structure, leading to weakened and unhealthy hair.
Ingredients like oat flour and shea butter absorb into hair to provide natural UV protection. They form a protective barrier around hair strands to protect them from UV rays, pollution, and harsh weather conditions. These can be found in Too Shea!, which I love to use as a leave-in. This is a great way to help protect your curls.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLIMATES
Again, Google ahead and adjust your hair care routine based on the climate. Hydrate well in dry climates and use anti-frizz products in humid ones. People often assume all warm destinations will have the same effect on our hair when this isn’t the case.
TRAVEL SIZE IS THE BEST SIZE
If, like me, you can’t travel without most of your curl products, thanks to travel sizes, we can now take all our favourites! As much as we can plan ahead, taking smaller sizes means we can travel with treatments, multiple stylers, etc, to cover the basis for all curl scenarios!
Happy travelling, curl friends!
Love Claire x
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