Being a female traveler with a curly crown is no easy. Haircare on the road is probably 10 times harder than at home. Many travelers may wonder about how to care for natural hair while traveling; in fact, I had a lot of girls reach out and ask me how I keep my curls tamed on my travels. That’s why I decided to share my very own tips that I compiled after years of experience with you.

How to care for natural hair on your trips?

Here are some tips and hacks from one curly-head traveler to another:

#1 Do not use the hotel/hostel’s free hair products

Sounds tempting to save up space taken by hair products, but if you really care about your hair’s health, you should say no to this one. Haircare and those ugly little samples just don’t mix. Rich in sulfates, parabens, silicones, and all those nasty stuff, you definitely don’t need any of those near your precious curls.

#2 Pack the right products

Since you’re packing products, you need to pack the right ones. And as for space that you’d like to capitalize on, you can always go for small travel-size bottles. I personally love this 10-piece travel set from IKEA; it saves a lot of space and it’s super practical!

Haircare routines differ from one person to another as what works for me doesn’t necessarily work for you. However, I’ll share with you the must-haves that I usually pack, along with my favorite brands of each.

Conditioner

Of course, any curly hair’s best friend, conditioner! The detangling wizard is the first thing you need to pack; that surely goes without saying!

The conditioner that my hair loves the most is VO5’s Moisture Milk strawberries and creme conditioner. When I can’t get my hands on it in Egypt, I usually opt for Balsam.

Deep Conditioner

No matter how much you try to care for your hair, the damage will be haunting you on the road. But how to care for natural hair when saltwater, chlorine, long exposure to the sun, and things of that sort are all so intense? The answer is deep conditioning. In case you’re traveling for a long period of time (more than 10 days), a deep conditioner is a must-have. I know what you might be thinking, but you must find time to deep condition, even if you’ll do it on the go.

My favorite brand is Vatika, the one with honey and castor. This brand is an Egyptian brand though, so I’m not sure if you can find it elsewhere.

Curling Creme/Leave-in Conditioner

For frizz-free hair, curling cremes are my go-to when it comes to styling. My all-time favorite one is the Cantu Curl Activator.

I’ve also tried Umberto Giannini’s Crème de Curl and Curl Whip and they’re so good. The best part of it is that they’re vegan and cruelty-free products! The R&B hair moisturizer from Lush is also great and makes my hair smell so good; and it’s also vegan!

Non-toxic shampoo

How to care for natural hair if you’re using a shampoo full of toxic, harsh chemicals? You want natural hair, then you need to go all-natural!

I normally clarify using Bubblzz’s sulfate-free herbal shampoo; it works like magic on my hair! This is also an Egyptian brand.

I’d also like to share with you a product I recently stumbled upon that I found perfect for the road. The Hair Addict’s No-Poo recipe may sound like a bit of a hassle since you need to mix it with water and so forth. However, its powdered form makes it just great for packing if you’re too worried about weight. So, for longer trips; like my trips to Italy or Bali, I’d go for the no-poo over a bottle of shampoo.

Oil

Some oil will come in handy for the following tip. Moroccan Argan oil is my go-to and my favorite brand for this one is definitely OGX. Make sure you know your hair porosity first to know which oils work well for you.

#3 Dab some oil onto your hair before going for a swim

If you’re heading to a beach destination, you want to save yourself all the damage chlorine or salt would cause. One of the most important hair care tips is to apply some oil onto your hair before dipping in the water. The oil will allow your hair strands to absorb neither the salt nor the chlorine. Later on, you can clarify your hair.

#4 Cotton t-shirt all the way

Sorry, but even if you’re saving space, that damaging towel at your hotel/hostel won’t do. Roll a cotton t-shirt with you, because that’s how curlyheads dry their hair! Or you can simply buy a microfiber towel.

#5 Finger detangling

If you choose to save the minimal space your wide-toothed comb would take, it’s okay! Finger detangling is just perfect for the job! However, make sure to detangle it more often because trying to brush out tangled hair will cause breakage!

#6 Pack hair accessories

Your hair will sometimes need a break from the loose, wild look. Bobby pins for a messy bun or a flamboyant a bandana are good for a change. And of course, a spiral hair tie should never leave your wrist, unless you’re going for a classic pineapple.

If you have any extra tips you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments section below!

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