Since we’ve been on the topic of traveling well this week, I thought I’d give a few helpful tips on how to keep your hair in shape when you hit the road. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have space to pack a hair dryer, so I use the hair dryer at the hotel. The problem with this is that the high heat and poor quality of the dryer usually kills your hair, making it a bit frizzy and dry. But there’s a few easy ways you can battle your hair problems while traveling, and still pack lightly.
The first is that you can still nix the hair dryer, but bring along a little fly-away cream to tame those frizzies on the top layer of your hair. I use Redken Rewind 06 Pliable Styling Paste (you only need to apply a little after smearing in your palms or your hair will get greasy – this stuff will last forever). To make it TSA-friendly, I purchased a package of little travel containers for creams at Target and transferred the Redken to the smaller container, which fits in a Ziploc.
The other way you can tame your hair is to try to only wash and dry it every other day. This keeps the damage and drying from the hair dryer and shampooing to a minimum. If your scalp tends to get a little oily, bring a travel-sized baby powder with you. Before you style, put powder between your fingers, shake it out a little, and apply to the scalp until it appears translucent. This absorbs natural oils.
I bring along the Cricket Friction Free Mini Flat Iron to style my hair on the road (but I use it at home too). This thing is about 6 inches long and about an inch wide, so I can literally fit it in my toiletry and makeup bags. This makes for guilt-free straightening for next day hair (and to tame the frizzies after a fresh blow dry!) The tourmaline plates reduce friction and hair damage, and the results are the same as a full-size straightener. Even though I have thick, straightish/wavy hair, I am able to straighten in the same amount of time as a full-size straightener. If you have a full head of curly hair, it may take you longer with a smaller iron (but when you’re traveling, why tame those pretty curls? Let it all go girlfriend!)
Finally, the night before you are due to wash your hair again, rub some coconut or avocado oil into your scalp and through to the ends (you can buy this at a natural foods store, but transfer some to an empty travel sized container). Keep it wrapped in a plastic bag or shower cap for at least 30 minutes. This will help repair the hair, moisturize and replenish vitamins and nutrients, making it softer and ready to handle the day ahead!
-Kayleigh K.
The Cricket Friction Free Mini Flat Iron
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