Tips to make traveling with natural hair a breeze

I was so ready for my bachelorette party in Palm Springs. Before traveling, I got a fresh silk press (dry weather=silk press weather) and I packed all the products I’d need to keep my hair looking good for a weekend in the sun. Then the unthinkable happened: The airline lost my bag along with all my hair products and tools inside it! 

Luckily, one of my bridesmaids has curly hair and I was able to get by on some of her products and it was an amazing weekend, even if my hair was a little dry and frizzy. That experience taught me a lot about traveling with natural hair and how to avoid, or at least minimize, hair stress while traveling. 

Air travel is already stressful enough; your hair shouldn’t add to it. With the right products and some preparation, traveling with your natural hair doesn’t have to be an ordeal.

Here are my tips for stress-free travel with natural hair:

Wear a protective or low manipulation style.

There’s a reason you see so many women wearing knotless braids on the beach. Protective styles like braids and twists are great for traveling because they require little to no maintenance. Your hair is tucked inside, away from the elements, so you don’t need to worry about bringing a bunch of products to keep your hair moisturized.

When I wear braids while traveling, all I bring along Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp Oil, Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo, and Pattern Edge Control Hair Wax. Beyond braids, there are other low manipulation styles you can do like flat twists, corn rows, or my personal favorite, a slicked back low bun. I don’t recommend leaving a bun in for more than two to three days, though.

Carry your hair products in your carry-on luggage.

This was my key mistake during my bachelorette party. After that trip, I purchased sustainable travel containers from Cadence to hold my hair products, as well as skincare.

I love these products because they’re magnetic, have a sleek design, and are much easier to fill than those cheap plastic containers at the drug store. Also, they’re made of recycled plastic. If you’re going on a longer trip, travel containers my not be enough to hold all the product you need so my tip is to pack your full sizes in your checked luggage and carry the travel sized amount in your carry-on as back up.

Pack a silk pillowcase.

This is something I almost ALWAYS forget but is so important. Even if you’re wearing a silk cap or bonnet, a silk pillow case is an extra layer of protection, and great for your skin too.

I have several of these mulberry silk pillowcases from Amazon specifically for travel — and they’re on sale right now for less than $10.

Pack silk headbands, scarfs, and scrunchies.

I never go to sleep without putting on my Grace Eleyae Satin Lined cap. Beyond just to protect your hair at night, a satin scarf is a cute accessory and a way to protect your hair from the harsh sun. Also, have headbands and scrunchies handy for when you need a simple style while on the road.

I love Slip scrunchies — they come in packs of five with larger and smaller scrunchies and come in nice colors and patterns.

Embrace the frizz.

This is the most important tip, in my opinion. When I first started my natural hair journey, I was so obsessed with having perfect hair all the time. No one’s hair is perfect nor should it be! If you’re traveling, especially in a hot, humid climate, it’s unrealistic to think your hair is going to look like you just stepped out of the salon at every moment.

So, don’t stress if your hair is frizzy for dinner because you spent the day on the beach. I actually think frizzy, puffy hair after a day at the beach looks amazing! There’s just something about the salt air and ocean breeze that you can’t find in a bottle. Let your hair do what is does and just have a good time.