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10 Travel Essentials Every Curly Girl Needs To Keep Packed In Their Luggage This Summer For Weekend Getaways

It’s true — curly girls can pack light too. It’s that time of the year again where our melanin skin glows in the sun (while wearing our favorite SPF, of course ) and our natural hair soaks up all of the moisture and hydration it needs to remain healthy and defined. Whether you’re tripping to luscious crystal blue waters and mountainous ranges with tranquil views, or heading to your favorite getaway location for some much-needed relaxation and bonding time with your family or circle of friends –– your regimen of curl products can always follow. 

Take your curl routine on-the-go with curl products and tools your natural hair will love. Your 2A – 4C kinks, curls and coils deserve the best –– so ESSENCE rounded up some of our favorite travel-sized essentials for your carry-on or weekend tote bag. Your twist-out or wash-n-go can look just as great on the road as it does at home. Check out the below.

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19 Tips for Traveling with Curly Hair: How to Keep Your Natural Hair Healthy

*Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. You can read our privacy policy here *.

Are you looking for tips for traveling with curly hair?

As a fellow curly-haired traveler, I know the challenges we face to maintain our curly crowns on the road. Whether battling humidity in the tropics, dryness in the desert, or finding hair products abroad, traveling with curly hair can feel like an adventure. 

But the good news is that I've spent countless hours experimenting and perfecting my routine, and I've got some tips to help you do the same. 

Keeping your natural hair healthy while traveling is more than just packing the best products. It's about prepping your hair before, caring for it during, and knowing how to revive those curls after your trip. 

So, let's dive in and start traveling with our beautiful, natural hair!

Special Thanks to RevAir for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own. RevAir's Extreme Hydration Hair Collection ,is perfect for us curly girls that are looking to add some hydration to our haircare routine. It works great with both straight and curly styles.

19 Tips for Traveling with Curly Hair

It might be easy to feel like curls are hard work; some days, they are. But they don't have to be. 

Here is the thing: your curls are not a hindrance. They're a gift! They are a beautiful part of who you are and deserve to be treated with love and kindness, no matter where you find yourself. 

The sooner you embrace that crown of curls, the sooner they will work in your favor. 

Let's talk about some tips and tricks to ensure you always have a good hair day while on the road. 

(1) Know Your Curly Hair Type

Before you even start packing your hair care products, it's crucial to understand your specific curly hair type. Not all curls are created equal! They vary from wavy to coily, each with unique needs and care routines. 

Whether you have loose, beachy waves (Type 2), defined ringlets (Type 3), or tight, springy coils (Type 4), your hair requires a tailored approach to keep it healthy and vibrant. 

Identifying your hair type is the first step to understanding the best practices and products for your curls. This knowledge is invaluable for maintaining and showcasing your fabulous curls, regardless of your travel destination . 

Type 2: Wavy Hair

If you have type 2 hair, your strands fall somewhere between straight and curly, with a slight S-shaped pattern. This hair type tends to be more frizzier and slightly styling resistant. 

A lightweight mousse or styling cream can help keep frizz at bay while adding definition to your waves. 

Type 3: Curly Hair

Type 3 hair is characterized by well-defined, springy curls with a loopy “S” pattern. This hair type tends to be dry, so opt for moisturizing products. The Extreme Hydration Hair Care Line from RevAir is perfect for thirsty curls. 

I have 3c/4a hair and love the Hydrating Leave-In Conditioning Spray .

Type 4: Coily Hair

The tightest curl type, type 4 hair, consists of densely packed coils. This hair type can be pretty dry and requires extra moisture and protection. The Moisture Rich Hair & Scalp Oil from RevAir is a good pick, replenishing moisture and adding shine. 

(2) Knowing What Works for Your Curls

Understanding your curl type is just the beginning. Once you've got that down, it's time to experiment and discover what your curls love. Everyone's hair is unique, and what works for one curly girl might not work for another, even if you share the same curl type! 

The key here is patience and persistence. You may need to try different products, techniques, or routines before you find your perfect match. Exploring shampoos, conditioners, oils, or stylers, and even different drying methods like air drying, diffusing, or plopping can make a difference. 

Remember, it's all about finding methods that enhance your natural curl pattern, maximize moisture, and minimize frizz. 

(3) Research Before You Go

Before you embark on your next adventure, remember that some research can go a long way in maintaining your curls on the road. Different locations and climates can significantly impact the behavior of your curls.

It's essential to consider two crucial factors: the type of water at your destination and the weather conditions. 

Understanding the Water Type

Water plays a crucial role in your curly hair care routine. The type of water you wash your hair with can significantly affect your curls. Hard water, prevalent in many parts of the world, can make hair feel dry and straw-like, leading to more frizz and breakage. 

This water contains a high mineral content, including calcium and magnesium, which can build up on your hair, making it harder for moisture and conditioners to penetrate the hair shaft. 

If you're traveling to a place with hard water, consider bringing a clarifying rinse to prevent mineral buildup or a shower filter that can convert hard water to soft.

On the other hand, soft water, treated to remove these minerals, can make your hair feel smoother and easier to manage. Knowing the water type at your destination can help you adjust your hair care routine accordingly, ensuring your curls stay healthy and vibrant.

Consider the Weather

The weather is another essential factor to consider. Humid environments can cause curly hair to frizz and expand. At the same time, dry conditions can strip your hair of necessary moisture, leaving your curls brittle and prone to breakage. 

If you're traveling to a humid climate, pack anti-humidity products and sealants to help lock in moisture and keep the frizz at bay. For drier climates, look for deep conditioning treatments and moisturizing products to nourish your hair and maintain hydration.

(4)Picking the Right Products

Choosing the right products for your curls while traveling is a game changer. It's not just about packing light but also about packing smart! Let's dive into some essentials that should find a spot in your travel bag. 

Shampoo and Conditioner

First up, your shampoo and conditioner. Choose products specifically designed for curly hair and focus on hydration and frizz control. Don't limit yourself to products that are only available in travel sizes. 

It is easy to decant your products into smaller containers. The importance is finding the product that works for you. 

Recommended Products: Cleansing Oil Shampoo from RevAir

Leave-in Conditioner

Next, a high-quality leave-in conditioner is a must for curly-haired travelers. It provides extra moisture and protection, keeping your curls soft and manageable throughout your adventures.

Recommended Products: Hydrating Leave-In Conditioning Spray

PPP Tip: Always pack extra conditioner. Use it as a leave-in or add water to create a refresh spray.

Styling Products

Don't forget your favorite styling products like gels, creams, or mousse. These help define your curls and keep them frizz-free. Keep in mind that sometimes less is more. Sometimes, an excellent leave-in conditioner might be the only hair product you need.

Protective Serums or Oils

Lastly, consider packing a protective serum or oil. These products are great for sealing in moisture, adding shine, and shielding your curls from harmful environmental factors.

Recommended Products: Moisture Rich Hair & Scalp Oil

Most hotels may supply shower caps, but I like to pack my own. I use it for deep conditioning treatments on the road and to keep my curls from getting wet when showering. 

(5) Prepping Your Hair Before Traveling

Before you jet off on your next adventure, giving your hair a little TLC can ensure your curls look their best throughout your trip. A reset wash is one of the most effective ways to prep your hair. 

A reset or clarifying wash is a deep cleanse for your curls, designed to strip away any product buildup, oils, and impurities that regular shampoos may leave behind. 

This process creates a clean slate for your curls, allowing them to better absorb and benefit from the hydrating and nourishing products you apply afterward. 

To do a reset wash, start with a Detox Pre-Wash Rinse like this one from RevAir . This will help to remove any buildup you have in your hair. Your curls might feel a bit dry or ‘squeaky' after a reset wash – that's normal and a sign that you've effectively removed buildup. 

Once your hair is squeaky clean, follow with the RevAir Cleansing Oil Shampoo . This shampoo combines coconut water and olive leaf extract, leaving your curls feeling soft and hydrated. 

After your reset wash, following up with a deep conditioning treatment is crucial. This step will replenish the moisture the reset wash stripped away, leaving your curls hydrated, soft, and ready for travel adventures. Apply your deep conditioner, let it sit for the recommended time, and then rinse thoroughly. 

Doing a reset wash before your trip will ensure that your curls are as healthy and responsive to styling as possible, making managing your curls while traveling that much easier. 

(6) Get a Curly haircut.

Before jetting off on your travels, consider getting a curly haircut. A curly cut takes into account the unique pattern of your curls, cutting them in a way that enhances their natural shape and bounce. 

A skilled stylist specializing in curly hair will know how to cut your curls when dry since this is how you wear it daily. They will carve out each curl pattern, allowing it to fall into place naturally, leading to less frizz and more definition. 

Think of it as a personalized haircut, where each curl is treated individually, resulting in a cut tailored just for you. This will ensure your curls maintain their form and structure throughout your travels. It's also a perfect opportunity to trim away dead or split ends, exacerbating frizz and making your curls harder to manage. 

Remember to schedule your haircut a few weeks before your trip. This gives you enough time to understand how to style and manage your new haircut. It may be an investment, but when you're on the road, exploring new places with great hair, you'll realize it's all worth it. 

(7) Protective Travel Hairstyles for Curly Hair

When it comes to tips for traveling abroad with curly hair, protective hairstyles can be your best friend. Not only are these styles practical and time-saving, but they also protect your curls from environmental factors and reduce tangles and breakage. 

Here are some travel-friendly protective hairstyles that help keep your curls in check while exploring new places.

Braids are a go-to protective style for many curly girls. Whether a simple three-strand, French, or Dutch braid, these styles keep your hair secured and minimize frizz. Plus, when you undo your braids, you'll have beautiful and defined waves, perfect for a night out!

High buns, low buns, or double buns are trendy and keep your curls tucked away, protecting them from wind, sun, and damp weather conditions. Use a scrunchie or spiral hair bands to avoid causing tension or breakage to your curls. 

Pineapple Updo

The pineapple updo, a high, loose ponytail atop your head, is an easy and effective way to protect your curls when you sleep. It prevents tangles and maintains the shape of your curls, so you wake up with your hair still looking fresh and bouncy.

Another great option is twist styles, such as flat or two-strand twists. They are gentler on your curls than braids, and when you take them out, they leave your hair with a beautiful curl pattern.

Twists are my favorite protective style and they are easy to do yourself. I start by drying my hair with my RevAir Reverse Hairdryer . Once my hair is dry and sleek I section it out and do two strand twists. 

The style can last up to 2 weeks with proper care. To wash I use a gentle shampoo and conditioner and dry my twists using my RevAir Reverse Hairdryer.

(8) Keeping Your Itinerary and Activities in Mind

Keep your travel itinerary and the activities you plan to engage in mind what planning your hair care routine. 

For example will you headed to the carribean where humidity may be your main concern or will you be doing a lot of water sports? 

You may need to  pack an anti-humidity spray or serum to keep frizz at bay and maintain your curl definition or in the alternative consider rocking a protective style like braids or twists. 

For colder, drier climates, a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or curl cream can work wonders to keep your curls hydrated and prevent them from drying out. 

If your travels include many outdoor activities like hiking, consider packing a wide-brimmed hat or bandana to protect your curls from wind and sun damage. 

Swimming in chlorinated pools or the ocean? Pre-soak your hair with clean water and apply a protective layer of conditioner to minimize the absorption of chlorine or salt. 

On the other hand, if your trip involves a lot of city exploring you may want to carry a  travel-sized bottle of dry shampoo when you want a refresh but  don't have time for a full wash and go. 

Adapting your hair care routine based on your itinerary will ensure that your curls will remain healthy and beautiful no matter where you are or what you're doing. 

(9) Have a solid curly hair routine, but keep it minimal.

Traveling should be about simplicity and enjoying the moment, and your hair care routine should embody these principles, too. While maintaining curly hair demands a certain level of care, keeping it straightforward and minimal is possible.

Cleanse: Use a sulfate-free shampoo to cleanse your scalp. Remember, curlier hair types can get away with washing less frequently. If your curls start to feel a bit dry, try co-washing (washing with conditioner) instead of using shampoo every time.

Condition: Conditioner is a curly girl's best friend. It keeps your curls hydrated and helps detangle them, making them easier to manage. Rinse with cold water for added shine.

Styling: A good leave-in conditioner and a gel or mousse are all you need. The leave-in will give your curls the moisture they need, and the gel or mousse will provide hold and definition. Remember, less is more!

Drying: Let your hair air dry whenever possible. Diffuse if you're in a hurry, but avoid high heat. Dry your hair with a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt to reduce frizz.

Night-time Routine: Before you lay your head down, apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner to your ends, and put your hair up in the ‘pineapple' style to help maintain your curls overnight.

Remember, your goal isn't perfection—it's healthier, happier curls that can withstand the rigors of travel. Embrace the unpredictability of your curls as part of the adventure. 

(10) Taming Your Curls with a Wide Tooth Comb

A wide-tooth comb is an indispensable tool for all curly-haired travelers, serving as a secret weapon against tangles and knots that may arise on your journey. 

Unlike regular combs or brushes, it has wide-set teeth that gently and effectively detangle your curls without causing breakage or disturbing your natural curl pattern. 

When and how to use it, you ask? After applying your conditioner during your wash routine, gently work the comb from the ends of your hair upwards, carefully detangling each section. 

The conditioner provides a sleek layer that aids the comb in gliding smoothly through your hair. This method helps avoid unnecessary tugging on your curls, preventing damage and hair loss. 

(11) Use a Deep Conditioner

A deep conditioner is another secret weapon every curly girl should have in her travel arsenal. This product is truly a game changer, especially when you're on the road. 

Traveling exposes your curls to various elements – from dry cabin air on flights to harsh sun, salty sea water, or even just the change in water quality at your destination. Your hair can quickly become dry, brittle, and unmanageable. And that's where deep conditioning comes into play!

Make it a ritual to deep condition your hair at least once a week during your travels. Apply the deep conditioner thoroughly to clean, damp hair, concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends, which are the driest parts. Leave it on for a while, perhaps while planning your next itinerary or catching up on that book you've meant to finish. After about 30 minutes, rinse it off thoroughly.

The result? Your curls will be deeply hydrated, soft, and easier to manage, which means less time spent on styling and more time exploring your new surroundings. Plus, the moisture from the deep conditioner will protect against any environmental stressors your hair might encounter.

(12) Pack a Satin Pillowcase: Your Curly Hair's Best Travel Buddy

When it comes to tips for traveling with curly hair, a satin pillowcase is not a luxury—it's a necessity. Why, you ask? The answer lies in the unique properties of satin. 

This smooth, glossy fabric allows your hair to glide over the pillowcase as you sleep, minimizing hair friction that can lead to tangles, breakage, and the much-dreaded frizz. 

Unlike cotton pillowcases, satin doesn't absorb moisture from your hair, ensuring your curls stay hydrated and maintain their shape and bounce. 

Packing a satin pillowcase in your travel bag and using it wherever you're laying your head for the night—be it a hotel, a friend's place, or a tropical beach resort—will ensure your curls wake up as refreshed as you do. 

It's lightweight, doesn't take up much space, and is an easy, passive way to care for your curls while sleeping. 

(13) Protect Your Hair From the Sun

Just as your skin needs protection from the sun's harmful rays, so does your curly hair. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can strip your hair of its natural oils, leading to dry, brittle curls and increased frizziness. But don't let this put a damper on your sunny adventures! There are effective ways to safeguard your curls while exploring the great outdoors.

Firstly, consider packing a hat or a scarf. Not only are they stylish travel accessories, but they also provide a physical barrier against the sun. Choose one of the breathable fabrics to keep your head cool during escapades. 

Secondly, invest in hair care products that contain UV protection. Much like sunscreen for your skin, these products help shield your hair from the damaging effects of the sun. Apply the product throughout your hair, taking extra care to cover the ends – the oldest and often driest part of your hair.

And lastly, hydration is key. Keep your curls moisturized by drinking plenty of water and using products with hydrating ingredients. Remember, hydrated hair is less likely to absorb environmental moisture, keeping frizz at bay.

(14) Pack Hair Scarves and Satin Scrunchies

Hair scarves and satin scrunchies are not just functional pieces; they're style statements that can easily elevate your travel outfit while caring for your precious curls.

Hair scarves can be a curly girl's best friend on the road. They're versatile, fashionable, and handy when on the go, but your curls aren't cooperating. You can use them to tie up your hair in a pineapple style to maintain your curls' shape overnight or wrap them around your head to protect your hair from the sun or wind. 

With many chic patterns and hues available, hair scarves add extra glam to your travel attire.

Satin scrunchies are another must have item. They are the best option for securing your curls without causing hair breakage or leaving annoying indentations. The smooth satin fabric doesn't absorb your hair's natural oils, thus keeping your curls moisturized and reducing frizz. 

(15) Travel Light: Decant Your Curly Hair Products into Travel-Sized Containers

It can be frustrating when you find the perfect products for your hair but they are not available in travel sized. The good news is that traveling with curly hair doesn't mean you have to lug around your entire collection of hair care products. 

Here's a game-changing travel hack that every curly girl should know: Decant your favorite products into travel-sized containers!

These small, lightweight, TSA-approved bottles are your curls' best travel buddies. They let you bring enough of your favorite shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, or styling cream to keep your curls looking their best throughout your travels. Plus, they save space in your luggage and make passing through airport security a breeze.

(16) Protecting Your Hair In Flight

Air travel can be exciting but can also be quite harsh on your curly hair. The cabins of airplanes have low humidity levels, which can leave your curls thirsty and prone to frizz. 

But fear not, curly girls! With a bit of planning and a few key items in your carry-on, you can land with your curls looking fabulous as when you boarded your flight.

The first rule of in-flight curly hair care is never to board a plane without hydrating your hair. Before you set off, apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil ( like this one )to your curls to lock in moisture and prevent dryness. This step is crucial, as the air inside the cabin is exceptionally dry.

Secondly, invest in a travel-size spray bottle. Fill it with water or a hydrating mist to refresh your curls mid-flight. A quick spritz can revive your curls and prevent them from drying out.

Also, consider packing a satin scarf or a bonnet in your carry-on. Wearing it during your flight can reduce friction between your hair and the airplane seat, preventing frizz and tangles.

Lastly, avoid hairstyles that pull or strain your curls during the flight. Opt for loose styles or a topknot using a satin scrunchie to avoid stress on your hair.

(17) Pack a Refresh Spray in Your Carry-on: The Secret to Bouncy, Refreshed Curls on the Go

You've made it to your destination and are ready to explore. But what about your curls? After a long flight and dealing with different climate conditions, your curls might need a little pick-me-up. That's where a refreshing spray comes into play, and it's an absolute must in your carry-on when traveling with curly hair.

A good refresh spray can work wonders on your curls, reviving them and bringing them back to life. It's like a mini spa treatment for your hair, right there on the go. A few spritzes can redefine your curls, add volume, and combat any frizz brought on by changes in humidity or temperature. It's the perfect way to ensure your curls are always ready for those spontaneous travel photos!

Choosing a refreshing spray that's hydrating and lightweight is key. Look for ones with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, argan oil, or coconut water. These ingredients hydrate your curls, leaving them soft, shiny, and revitalized without weighing them down. This one by RevAir is perfect for refreshing and moisturing your hair on the go.

(18) Plopping with a T-shirt

The world of curls is full of creative hacks, and one of the most popular (and travel-friendly!) is the t-shirt plop, also known as “plopping.” If you're a curly girl on the go, mastering the art of plopping with a t-shirt can be a game-changer for maintaining your curls while traveling. 

So, what exactly is ‘plopping'? 

Let's break it down into these easy steps:

• After washing your hair and applying your favorite leave-in products, flat a cotton t-shirt on a surface. 
• Bend over at the waist and arrange your curls in the center of the shirt.
• Now, with your head still upside down, pull the bottom of the shirt over the back of your head and tie the sleeves in a knot at the nape of your neck. 
• Stand up straight now, and you've successfully plopped your hair! Leave the shirt on for about 20-30 minutes (as your hair dries, you can get dressed and do your makeup). Then, remove the shirt and let your curls air dry.

T-shirt plopping is an absolute lifesaver when you're traveling. It's a space-saver in your luggage and a quick and easy solution to maintaining those perfect, bouncing curls, no matter where you are, while avoiding traditional blow drying or harsh heat.

(19) Drink Water for Happy Curls While Traveling

Hydration and healthy curls go hand-in-hand, especially when you're traveling. For all the curly-haired wanderers out there, you know the struggle to maintain those luscious locks while on the go. 

Drinking enough water might seem like an unrelated tip, but trust me, it's a game-changer.

Hydrating yourself internally is just as important as hydrating your curls externally. When your body is well-hydrated, it directly impacts your scalp and hair health.

Drinking plenty of water helps to flush out toxins from your body. This not only improves your overall health but also results in a healthier scalp, which in turn leads to healthier hair. Water hydrates your scalp and hair from the inside out, which can help boost your hair's natural shine and elasticity, giving you those bouncing, vibrant curls we all love.

Traveling with Very Curly Hair: FAQs

Now, let's dive into some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about traveling with very curly hair. I know from experience that traveling with curls can be filled with uncertainty and a lot of hair ties. 

But, no fear, curly girls! I've done that and am here to answer your burning questions. 

How do you take care of curly hair when traveling?

Caring for curly hair while traveling is no different then caring for your hair while you are home. The key is have a routine that is easy to follow and replicate no matter where in the world you are traveling. 

Some tips to help is keeping your hair hydrated by using deep conditioners as well as hydrating leave ins . Also be mindful of the climate and adjust your routine accordingly.

How do you protect curly hair on a plane?

To protect your hair curly hair on the plane start with  applying a leave-in conditioner before your flight. During your flight wear a satin or silk scarf and keep a small bottle of refresh spray handy in the even your curls need a little bit a moisture.

How do you dry curly hair when traveling?

Drying curly hair while traveling is best done naturally to avoid heat damage. If you're in a rush, use a diffuser on your hairdryer to distribute the heat evenly and minimize frizz. 

Alternatively, the t-shirt plop method discussed earlier is a wonderful, travel-friendly option for drying your curls while helping them retain their natural shape.

How do you travel with natural hair?

Traveling with natural hair involves carefully planning and prioritizing hair care routines that maintain health and beauty. Embrace protective hairstyles like twists or braids to reduce exposure to harsh environments and pack essential hair care products such as natural oils and leave-in conditioners. 

Traveling With Curly Hair: Final Thoughts

Traveling with curly hair doesn't have to be a challenge. Every day can be a good hair day when traveling. Regardless of whether you like to wear your hair straight or if you prefer to embrace your curls, no matter the hairstyle you choose to rock, you can enjoy the perfect look every time. 

Your best bet for avoiding bad hair days is to follow a few hair care travel tips to help you achieve the same results every time.

We hope you enjoyed reading these great tips. Be sure to check out RevAir's Extreme Hydration Hair Collection , which is perfect for all your natural curly hair needs while on the go.

About Taima Ramsey

Taima, a dedicated attorney by day and an adventurous travel blogger by night, has fearlessly explored over 40 countries across 5 continents while juggling a full-time job. Despite the constraints of limited time and finances, she has conquered these challenges with her expertise in time management, budgeting, and creating unforgettable experiences. Now, she is eager to share her invaluable knowledge with you.

Welcome to 'Poor In A Private Plane', where you will discover invaluable insights on seamlessly planning your trips and making them affordable. Let Taima do the groundwork, so you can embark on your own extraordinary adventures hassle-free.

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The Ultimate List of Tips for Traveling with Curly Hair

quickwhittravel

Updated August 28, 2022.

“The straight-hair girls, they all want curls And the brunettes wanna be blonde…” –Sara Evans, “I Keep Looking”

Isn’t it true? We all want what we don’t have. Hair is one of those things we don’t get to choose for ourselves, making it one of the more frustrating things in life! I hated my curls until I was about 12 because I didn’t know how to take care of them. My poor mom always had stick-straight hair, so she didn’t know what to do with it either. But once I figured out you’re not supposed to brush curly hair, wash it every day, or let anyone without their own curls EVER cut your curls, things started to fall into place!

My hair has gone through crazy changes over the years, from tight kinky curls to ringlet curls to waves, to almost completely straight! And I’ve heard all kind of stories of hair changing from straight to wavy to curly and vice-versa because of hormonal changes as a teenager, pregnancy, and my biggest change actually happened because of anesthesia used for my two foot surgeries! I’ve cried more tears over my hair than anything else in my life! Curly girls, you know the struggle.

With all the craziness of curly hair, travel can definitely throw a wrench in an already complicated hair situation! Not to worry, though, because I’ve got you covered with my tried-and-true tips, tricks, and curly hair hacks for traveling with those beautiful curls!

Know What Works for Your Curls

Because every curly head is different, we won’t all be able to use the same products with the same results. I’ve tried gel, cream, mousse, foam, wax, Curly Girl, Deva Curl, dry cuts, wet cuts, straightening and then cutting, foam rollers, finger curls… you name it, I’ve probably tried it! What has worked for me over the years has changed, and it probably has for you, too. So be willing to try new things when your hair needs a change, but once you know what’s working, use it with confidence!

Tip for Travel: Test out new products for a few days at home first, instead of taking something new on travel. If it doesn’t work like you’re expecting, it’s better to know that before you travel. Always pack products that you know will work!

Right-size your product load.

Whether your goal is to pack light or not, packing less is always a good idea: less to remember, less to lug around, less mess to be made if it leaks in your luggage, and less to forget at the hotel when you come home! Less is more, girl friend. I encourage you to cut it down to a maximum of three products. For me, the max is conditioner, gel, and foam. But I can also make it with just conditioner and mousse if I need to go lighter!

Cut Matters

One of the best ways to get a handle on your curls and use less product is to get the right cut. Whether that’s a Deva Curl cut, Ouidad cut, layered cut, or something else, the right cut will make a world of difference. For me, the Ouidad method actually brought my curls back to life after the anesthesia made it straight! But it’s not right for every curl, so be willing to try a few things! Google “curly hair expert in _____” and fill in your hometown or the largest city nearby to see if there are some options you haven’t thought of yet.

Trip for Travel: I know it’s hard to “break up” with your stylist, but if you’re not happy with your cut every time or if they don’t seem to be listening to what you want, make the change! Talk to your stylist about what you want, what you struggle with, how your hair may have changed recently, and be very clear about what you want! I recommend a low-maintenance cut that can look great with just a few products and an air-dry when you’re on travel!

Conditioner counts.

The one product that has always been there for me, always been my curls’ saving grace… is conditioner. I can’t shampoo every day because it just dries out my hair too much. I usually wash once a week or as needed, but I condition everyday! It keeps my hair happy, but in a pinch I know I can also use it as a leave-in product just in case I forget or run out of mousse, gel, or foam.

Ouidad’s Advanced Climate Control Conditioner works really well for me. It’s on the pricier side, but you don’t have to use very much, so it lasts quite a long time. What conditioner works for you? Please share your secret in the comments section!

Solid Natural Options

The solid hair product people have very recently come out with a solid shampoo and conditioner bar made with shea butter and argan oil , and I am loving it! These are fantastic natural options, and because they’re solid, you never have to worry about them taking up space in your TSA liquids bag.

Tip for Travel: Definitely bring your own conditioner instead of relying on the hotel’s brand. Get a good refillable travel-size bottle and make sure it’s topped up before every trip!

Pick and choose the right products.

My go-to products are Frizz-ease mousse on its own, or a combination of Ouidad Advance Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel and Ouidad PlayCurl Volumizing Foam. If I want to keep it as simple as possible, I take my travel-size mousse. If I want the whole polished look and I have the room in my liquids bag, I leave the mousse at home and take the gel and the foam! So, use the products that work for you. If they don’t come in travel size, bring them in your own travel-size container.

Tip for Travel: The hardest travel size container to find is a foam dispenser, so if that’s what you use, here you go!

A note about blow dryers.

Okay, curly girls know that heat is the enemy, but sometimes it’s a necessary evil. I definitely always recommend going without heat styling as a rule of thumb, but if you think you need it to feel your most confident, be smart about the products you choose.

Converting to the Right Voltage

Remember that international power outlets can have a different voltage, so if you’re traveling internationally, make sure you bring a converter , not just an adaptor . Otherwise you could have an explosion on your hands and in your hair. Not good.

This one has both:

Blow Drying

If you need to bring your own blow dryer because you’re not sure what will be provided at your accommodation, this is a good option for travel. It’s flatter than your usual blow dryer, making it easy to pack. It also has a cool setting and a cold blast setting to minimize heat exposure.

If you want to make sure you have a diffuser, go with this one! It is silicone, and not only does it stretch over most standard blow dryers, it also collapses down for easy packing!

Don’t Be Afraid to Try Dry Shampoo

I resisted dry shampoo for a long time. Brush it out? Are you kidding me?! But hear me out! Sometimes it’s fun to wear my hair straight. I have a great blow drying hairbrush that I use to straighten my hair in just 10 minutes or less (use the warm or cool setting, never hot!), and with dry shampoo, I can make it last a whole week—even through workouts! You’ll just need a hairbrush, dry shampoo, and shower cap to make it happen. I never take the brush-dryer with me; I just keep my hair straight as many days as I can (or want) with dry shampoo and my travel brush, and then go curly from there!

Tip for Travel: If you know you’ll be in a dry climate or you just want to try something different, use dry shampoo to make your straight locks last a few days!

Don’t let your hair stop you.

Okay, truth time: Who’s guilty of arranging their day to accommodate their hair? Confession: I have! But I never let my hair stop me from doing things I can’t do anywhere else or things that make me happy on my travels. For instance, everything I read about going to the Blue Lagoon in Iceland said to never, under any circumstances, get my hair in the Lagoon’s water. So I put extra conditioner in my hair, piled it up and secured it on top of my head, and hoped for the best.

But things happen, and wouldn’t you know, I slipped and fully submerged myself—and my hair—under the water! And you know what? It wasn’t the end of the world! My hair didn’t feel like straw later, it didn’t fall out, it didn’t break, it didn’t turn green, etc. In fact, I think the conditioner protected it well enough because my hair actually felt softer when I washed it after our time at the Blue Lagoon! So, don’t let your hair stop you from doing the things you want to do!

Tip for Travel: Curly girls feel very strongly about their hair as part of their identity, so it makes sense that we want to protect it! But don’t let your hair keep you from experiencing the places you visit!

Hair scarves and scrunchies are in.

And the curly girls are here for it! Scrunchies are so much easier on your curls than regular hair ties, and they can easily become an accessory, not just a hair tie. And scarves—oh the scarves! I love tying them in a bow to dress up a ponytail, especially after a long flight or a long day of traveling.

We all know that curls are a one-shot wonder: for the most part, if we want to change our hair style, we just have to wet and reset—there’s no brushing it out and starting over again! So we have to work with what we’ve got between showers. So scrunchies, scarves, barrettes, headbands, and the like are all fair game!

Tip for Travel: Pack a few hair scarves or other light hair accessories for days or evenings when you need a bit of flair!

Winter hair.

One of the most complicated times of year to travel with curly hair is winter. Curls get serious and unfixable hat hair, but it’s so important to keep your ears and/or head covered and warm outside in the cold! I have found two solutions that I absolutely love and recommend to you!

The “Messy Bun Beanie” is perfect for hiking or a casual day outside because you can still show off your curls while keeping your head warm. And “Ear Bags” are a real good hair day saver for days when you want to wear your hair down or need to keep it nice. They slip right over your ears and don’t give you hat hair, fuzzy hair, or put a weird bump in your hair like regular ear muffs. I love mine!

Tip for Travel: These are so light and packable, and the ear bags can literally just slip in and out of your purse or pocket as needed.

Okay, curly girls! Tell me your stories! Tell me your secrets! Straight-haired girls, comment with your own travel hair woes!

Need more travel tips, hacks, and essential information? Check out my Travel Tips Page for all of it!

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Tips for Traveling With Curly Hair

Adventurous Kate contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

Having wild, curly hair is a double-edged sword.  Yes, there are occasions when it looks amazing — but most of the time, it’s out of control with a mind of its own!

If you have wavy, curly or otherwise uncontrollable hair, you’ve likely got styling it down to a science: perfect products, tools and humidity conditions.

But when you travel, especially long-term travel, you don’t have those luxuries.

Here are the steps to traveling with uncontrollable, curly hair:

1. Get the right cut.

When you go to the salon, ask your stylist for a haircut that works with your hair’s natural shape — NOT a style that requires a round brush and a flatiron.

If you’re traveling long-term, get a style that can grow out easily without requiring frequent trims.

2. Keep your hair hydrated.

Keeping your curly hair moisturized and hydrated is the key to keeping it from becoming a frizzy mess.

For starters, stop highlighting your hair.  In addition to requiring frequent, expensive touch-ups, it dries out your mane.  Learn to love your natural color.

Second, curly hair doesn’t need to be washed as often.  Don’t wash it more often than every other day.

Third, go easy on the heat styling.  Leave the hairdryer and flatiron at home!

Fourth, if you’re spending lots of time outside, protect your hair from the sun as much as you can.

3. Use the right products.

Make sure you pack the right hair products.  Gels and sprays are alcohol-based, so they dry out your hair. With curly hair, you want to stick to cream-based products.

Another tip: If your stylist recommends you buy expensive hair products, don’t buy them at the salon — go home and buy them on eBay.  You can get them for half the price or less!

4. Let your hair dry while it’s in place .

Does your hair tend to explode when you let it air-dry?  Try putting it into a loose braid, bun or French twist while wet.  This is a super-easy way to get your hair to dry smooth.  Don’t twist it too tightly, or only the outer layer will dry!

Braiding is also an excellent way to get natural-looking waves.  Try different widths and styles!

5. Set it free.

Chances are you’ve been overstyling your curly hair for years.  What if you did nothing to it at all, letting the chips fall where they may?

Don’t think I’m crazy!

I should know.  The picture above is me after a few rainy days in Buenos Aires, no products or styling whatsoever.  I could never get my hair that big and lustrous at home!

No matter what — never leave your hotel without a few elastics and extra-long hairpins in your purse. Even when your hair is looking gorgeous, bad hair days can strike out of nowhere!

24 thoughts on “Tips for Traveling With Curly Hair”

Oooh, letting hair dry in a loose braid on extra-humid days is GREAT tip! As a curly-haired girl, I thought I’d heard every hair tip out there ten thousand times, but that one’s brand new to me!

Also, couldn’t agree more about advising girls step back from their normal hair routines while traveling. I’m always amazed when I hear about people going for long-term (or even short-term) travel and taking up valuable suitcase space with hair dryers. No thanks!

I’m glad to have introduced you to it! Let me tell you, it’s been a lifesaver on some occasions!

Haha, good tips, Kate! (At least… I’m assuming they are; I don’t actually have curly hair.)

Though, I think most of these tips could apply to anybody, not just those with curly hair. Learning how to get your hair to behave, and when to leave it alone is valuable even when you have straight hair, like me.

For example, when I was traveling around NZ, I left the hairdryer and straightener at home, letting my hair air-dry and do all the crazy things it wanted to. I just basically had a new hair-do every day!

Ever since I got dreads, I have found posts about haircare strangely interesting…

BEST. BLOG. EVER.

LOL!! Thank you!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this post!!!!!! I couldn’t agree with my curls anymore so I did the Japanese Hair Treatment. Best. decision. Ever. If I miss my curls, I’ll use my curling iron.

But, now I’m screwed. I need to do my 6 month retouch and as I procrastinate that, the curls are coming back and not responding well to rainy days 🙁

Regardless, great tips!!! Having curly hair on the road is harder and we curly girls should get discounts on these products abroad for what we have to go through!

Love this topic! Thanks so much on behalf of wavy-haired travelers everywhere!

While I was living in NZ, my hair was out of control. I finally went to a salon in Christchurch, had a trim, and asked the owner what did he have that he could possible suggest for me. He turned me onto Sebastian’s Texturiser, which is a flexible gel (meaning if you are like me, your hair is up/down/ponytail/bun/loose/under a hat any number of times per day) so it will put up with what you put your hair through.

Being New Zealand, this wonder product cost me $40NZ a bottle, but it was worth it! I did order a few bottles off of TradeMe (a Kiwi Craigslist kind of thing) and eBay Australia. Back home in Canada, the product is about $15. Ive been using for about a year now and will never travel (or live!) without it again =)

Great suggestion, Kelly! Sounds like a cool product — I’ll look into it!

Love this post. I will def. try #4. Thanks for a very useful tip. No one ever write about these uber important things like curly hair 😉

I find the less I do to my hair the better it looks. Especially now that I get my hair cut by someone who has curly hair herself (she owns the hairdressing place, so charges a bit more, but it’s worth it.) I also use this product called curly hair solutions Curl keeper, and the weirdest thing happens now: my hair is curly not a giant ball of frizz.

You look great Kate! As a curly head myself I always take a hair serum and mask with me when travellilng. It’s kind of a luxury and takes up some much-needed space but it’s worth the effort!

Thanks, Alison! Great tips!

Love it! I am slowly mastering the tricks of travelling without my hair straighteners and an endless supply of frizzease! Also having issues as I need my highlight roots are getting out of control … but as a redhead in a country where everyone has dark brown hair I am not sure it is worth the risk!

Just what I was looking for! Am getting ready for a trip to Europe and have decided to leave my heated hair tools at home. This helps! Thanks.

Me too, last time I went to Europe in 2013, I would blow dry my hair with the dryers in Italy and Spain and it never got so curly, just wavy. No more, getting small travel products for curly hair and a collapsible diffuser to attach to hotel hair dryers.

Hi Kate, fab tips. I have crazy, frizzy curls that I normally just ignore by pulling my hair into a ponytail and never leaving down unless I’ve straightened the crap out of it! Just lately I’ve started to go with the flow more and leave it to dry naturally. When I went travelling long term my trick was to cut all my hair off! I had seriously short hair! The only problem, as you say was keeping it neat with regular trims. I kinda had a bit of a mullet going on towards the end because I’d not had it cut!

As a fellow curly-top, thank you! Some of these I knew, others were a nice little extra. I have so much problems with my crazy curlies 😉

hahaha very good!

GIRL. Yes. This was one of my biggest stressors before leaving but I am learning to embrace the natural ‘do. It’s always a work in progress 🙂

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7 Essential Tips for Traveling with Curly Natural Hair

Traveling with curly hair? Here’s an ultimate guide filled with tips for naturalistas!

For women who rock a fro’ – be it curly, kinky, or coiled – traveling can bring about feelings of stress or anxiety. A lot of women avoid the perceived hassle of traveling with natural hair by putting installing a protective style. I’m here to let you know that traveling with an afro is not only possible, but fun! Switching it up with a protective style may be a little easier, but there’s nothing like the confidence that comes with showing up someplace new sporting your natural crown. Here are 7 tips for natural hair care and travel:

bring your own products

One of the first mistakes I made when I first started traveling with natural hair was relying on being finding my favorite products abroad. I didn’t even bring my own wide tooth comb, and it was a huge mistake! I spent hours trying to track down suitable alternatives because my go-to leave in conditioner, hair butter, and deep conditioner couldn’t be found. Long story short, pack your entire routine! If you travel carry-on only, then buy 3oz containers like this TSA approved set from Walmart . Target also has a great selection of travel size natural hair products , and Sephora carries a travel kit from Black-owned natural hair brand Briogeo .

Curls makes amazing products for natural hair. Put some in a 3oz tube to go!

Plan Wash Day in Advance

Check the weather.

Whatever you do, please make sure to check the weather a few days before traveling! It will help you decide which products to bring, and whether or not traveling with a fro will truly be possible. Also consider the usual climate. If you’re heading to a place like Vegas in the summer, it’s guaranteed the weather will be hot and dry, so you’ll want to prioritize moisturizers. If you’re heading somewhere humid, pick products designed for frizz control like this Curl Gelée for Shine & Definition . If you’re heading to a tropical climate where it’s predicted to rain for a week straight, you may want to consider rocking a protective style that you can easily take down if the weather changes.

Grenada is a humid island in the Caribbean. My hair was frizzy but I liked it!

Pack a Bonnet or Durag

Bring a diffuser to save time.

Traveling with a diffuser can minimize stress!

Have a few backup options

Start your routine in-flight.

Freshen up at the hotel by taking down your braid out and applying a little gel!

Have you traveled with natural curly or kinky hair before? How was the experience? What tips would you add? Comment below!

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November 12, 2020 at 7:17 am

I love this because I like braids but I like my fro/loose hair even more and I feel like I have to share my afroliciousness with the world when I travel LOL! Thanks for these tips!

November 11, 2020 at 5:09 pm

I remember when I made the mistake of leaving my hair care products at home while cruising. It was a hot mess however I improvised and mixed a little soft lotion with water.

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Traveling with Curly Hair: Quick & Easy Curly Hair Tips for Curly Haired Travel Girls

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission (for which I am deeply grateful) at no additional cost to you.

Searching for quick and easy tips for curly hair? Whether you are traveling with curly hair or simply caring for your hair while staying at home, here are some quick and easy tips to put into practice.

Caring for your curly locks when traveling abroad can be a challenge. Don’t take the easy road by always putting your locks up in a bun or hiding them under a baseball cap. As curly curls girls, we must learn to tame them so that we can rock our hair proudly, especially when traveling. Here are some quick and easy tips for curly haired travel girls from a fellow curly haired globetrotting latina for all of you who can relate.

Traveling with curly hair around the world

First, some background on me. As a Latina traveler and digital nomad with very curly hair (I must emphasize the word “very”), oftentimes people can’t understand the struggle that it takes sometimes to manage and maintain curly hair, especially while traveling abroad. Many times people don’t understand my hair, including hair stylists. Regardless if your locks are looser, or tight like mine, I’m sure that you have a method to manage your hair while at home, but it’s quite different when you’re traveling since you can’t bring your whole home with you, as much as you try.

These easy and quick tips for how to care for your curly hair on the go will hopefully make your vacation that much more enjoyable with one less worry.

Quick Curly Hair Tips and Basic Essentials to bring on your suitcase

1. use a wide-tooth comb.

First is a simple tip and an essential: Bring a wide-tooth comb , which is the easiest and quickest way to detangle your hair. Sometimes those are hard to find while you are traveling in certain countries. So, it’s definitely a basic essential.

2. Water can be different around the world

Water in different countries impacts your hair differently as well. E.G. It might dry your hair out. Also, too much sun will have the same impact. Deep conditioning and keeping your hair moisturized is a must.

It’s important to use the right products (such as an intense mask or deep treatment ). Try to find some travel size ones or just simply buy smaller TSA safe containers to fill with your products.

It’s good to have the products you love and enjoy using with you. Many times finding a good product, or a specific brand, is harder, especially when you can’t read a foreign language and you are not familiar with their brands. Why take the risk?

3. Coconut oil is essential for curly hair girls

I can’t even mention how helpful coconut oil is. A total lifesaver. You can use it as a shine enhancer, to moisture your hair, to style it, to detangle it, for frizz control, deep conditioning and much more.

I also use it for my skin. It works wonders! Pro Tip: If you are only traveling with a carry-on, freeze it and you can bring a bigger amount with you, especially for longer travels. TSA won’t give you any problems because it’s not a liquid.

Note: I also use this organic cold-pressed Castor Oil and mix it with the coconut oil, my deep treatment masque and two eggs. This DIY protein treatment does wonders on my hair.

4. The importance of using Microfiber Towels to dry curly hair

Microfiber towels are better for drying (faster) and managing (we don’t want to be looking crazy). Hint: If you don’t have one, just bring an old cotton t-shirt which helps you eliminates the frizz as your hair dries.

Some Products that I love for my curly hair

5. Get a spray bottle

A spray bottle will help you to refresh your hair, while lounging around the hotel and/or traveling. You can fill it with water and even add some conditioner to it in order to keep your hair hydrated or use a curl refresher spray.

I purchased these spray bottles , and I usually carry an empty one inside my luggage. You can also get some travel-sized ones .

6. Always carry with you Bobby Pins

Always carry bobby pins , hair ties and clips with you at all times. Especially important for bad hair days or moments.

I suggest that you check out tutorials on YouTube to learn how to do quick and easy hairstyles, such as buns, pony tails, and braids. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate so we do need that bun or hat in a pinch.

7. Protect your hair from the sun

Always protect your hair from the sun and in the pool from the chlorine. The sun and chlorine really does damage your curls. Invest in a good swimming cap. You will see a world of difference in curl maintenance!

8. Invest on a good curly cut

Get the right hair cut and process BEFORE traveling abroad. Timing is key. It’s better to have things done with a person you trust and also to have your hair ready to rock and roll.

9. Do your homework before visiting a new salon

If you are traveling for extensive periods of time (like me as a digital nomad ), do your homework before visiting a new salon.

Ask first if there’s someone who deals with curly hair or just simply do what I do: Find people whom you know understand your curly hair such as ethnic neighborhood salons. E.G. Latin salons, Turkish , African, etc., they know the proper way to cut or style your curly hair.

10. Let Loose those locks!

Just let your beautiful hair out and free. Curly hair needs to breathe. You can’t always tame it. I find that many times that’s when it looks it’s best – when you let it air dry naturally (after applying just the right amount of moisturizing product).

11. Buy a Universal Diffuser for drying your curly hair

Purchase a universal diffuser (for hair dryers) which easily fits in your carry-on luggage. It will save you time when you want to dry your hair quickly but also safely.

12. Scarves will be your best friends

Scarves are the best accessories! Not only are they used to enhance your outfits but also for your hair.

You can use it to make a statement with your updo; cover your head or bun with one and heads will turn in admiration. I also ordered this scarf hair scrunchies and I am in love. Check them out here.

13. Get a satin or silk pillowcase or Bonnet

A satin or silk pillowcase or bonnet to sleep in will preserve your curls. A must for everyday use!

14. Pack accordingly: Plan your hair around your outfits

Plan your hair around your outfits, itinerary and the weather (when possible). We all have outfits that only look good with certain hairstyles (updo or loose) so I usually like to have an idea of where I’m going.

If it’s humid, I’ll style my hair accordingly. This way I can plan in advance on how to control my hair. It’s easier to know what I need to bring without worrying about over-packing.

15. Take Hair Growth Supplements with Biotin

Biotin promotes nail and hair growth. It is also great for the skin combined with drinking plenty of water. There are different kinds of hair growth vitamins with biotin you can get, such as this one . Or you can simply take a simple biotin supplement. This is the one that I usually take.

Wrapping up

I hope that these quick and easy tips for traveling with curly hair, helped you to take better care of your curly hair on the go. Most of these tips can also be applied while staying at home.

Additional Suggested Reading: 6 Things All Curly Girls Should Know

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About The Author

Dreams in Heels

8 thoughts on “traveling with curly hair: quick & easy curly hair tips for curly haired travel girls”.

Yessssss! Great tips! Sadly, the bun and the braid are my travel go-tos.

I understand Sarah. It is easier. I do love to leave my locks loose too lol

These are great tips! I too have very curly hair and my hair lives in a bun when we are in tropical areas. Ugh. You’ve nailed it though. I will have to try your coconut oil freezing too! Brilliant.

I am glad to hear that I could help you. Curly hair is a blessing but sometimes requires so much maintenance.

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Thank you so much for this post.These are giving best tips for curly hair .Curly hair is blessing but sometimes requires so much maintenance. Girls with curly hair look so pretty.

Yeah curly hair is awesome, but it does requires maintenance. 🙂

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Traveling with curly hair: 5 tips

• 18 May 2021

Currently we’re unable to travel unfortunately, but hopefully we will be able to in a few months! And with that in mind, we decided to round up our top tips for traveling with curly hair. Because at home you might have all the time and products to optimally care for and style your hair, when traveling this might be different. So here’s a list of 5 tips to travel with curls, including a packing list!

Also read: Sunny days: how to care of your curls this summer

In this article:

Traveling with curly hair.

Sun, sea, chlorine: the things you like most when going on holiday aren’t great for your hair. Especially traveling from the cold straight to the heat will have a drying effect on your hair. 

Your hair actually needs more care during your vacation, while you probably don’t feel like spending time on it. So to make it as easy as possible for you, we’ll share 5 tips for traveling with curly hair in this blog. 

Save it for when you can travel again!

Decant your products into travel size containers

Don’t assume that you’ll find your favorite hair products at your holiday destination, because chances are you won’t. Besides that, you’ll hardly ever use a full sized product within one or two weeks, so save yourself the weight and waste. 

Make sure you have travel size containers of your favorite products, or decant them into travel friendly 100 ml sized containers – just make sure to label them. You’ll be able to stick to your usual routine, without sacrificing some products because they’re too big to bring with! 

It saves a lot of weight in your suitcase, and you can even bring it in your hand luggage if you wish. And especially on short trips, travelling light is essential.

Use deep conditioner

Bring a travel size container containing a deep conditioner as well, especially if you’re going to a drier climate. Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be deep conditioning your curls. 

Most curls need moisture daily, especially in hotter places. You’re probably going to do a wash & go and that’s fine, but if you don’t take the necessary steps to ensure you lock in the maximum amount of moisture, you’ll regret it afterwards. 

Fortunately, there are also deep conditioners in handy sachet sizes for sale.

Also read: 5 tips for deep conditioning your hair

Pack your satin pillowcase

Pack your own satin pillowcase, satin bonnet or scarf that you can tie around your head when you go to sleep. This will help to retain the moisture throughout the night and keep your hair from rubbing against itself of a harsher bedding material. 

It doesn’t take up a lot of space in your suitcase, but is very important for your curls. Besides that, you can also wear the satin scarf as a head wrap during the day to protect your hair from the harsh effects of the sun.

Bring hair accessories

Speaking of which, if you have some space left in your suitcase, pack a few more hair accessories. Think of a scrunchie or invisibobble, useful for wrapping your hair in a ponytail or bun, or in a pineapple before going to bed. 

Also bring an old cotton t-shirt or small microfiber towel that you can use to dry your hair.

Drink enough water

Make sure you drink enough water when you’re on holiday, because moisture starts from within. Our hair thrives on moisture and by drinking enough you support healthy cells and stimulate cell growth, which leads to beautiful shiny hair.

Thanks to these tips, your hair should also look good when traveling, without too much effort! Do you have any questions? Let us know in the comments below! 

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Curly Girl's Guide: Travel

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3. Less Is More How many curly girls do you know who claim not to be able to travel with only a carry-on just cause of the million bottles they require? Don't be that girl. Again, decant if you can, so that even in shower you have your choice products with you. Our All-In-One was created to save time, money and space--and it delivers. By minimizing the amount of product you'll have to bring with you, you can save yourself space to bring back treasures from your tour.

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Tips For Traveling With Curly Hair

International curls - the best tips for traveling with curly hair.

Curly hair is a statement whether you're in your hometown or across the world. That's right, we're going to go over all the basics of traveling with curly hair! We love our curls, and while they can be great, they can be a bit difficult to travel with. Whatever your destination may be, your curls can still stand out and look as healthy as ever! So don't shy away from taking good care of your hair while on the road or in the air - we'll go over everything you'll need to keep your curly crown healthy and beautiful! In this post, we will go over all the basics of traveling with curly hair, the products you should take with you, styling tips while you're traveling, how to travel with hair products, and so much more! Curly hair tends to be more delicate than straight or wavy hair, so it requires more attention when traveling. Here are some tips for getting through your next trip with curly locks intact. This post is all about the best tips for traveling with curly hair!

The Best Tips For Traveling With Curly Hair

Study the weather forecast before you pack your luggage..

When you're traveling, it's easy to get distracted and forget about how your curly hair will be affected by the new climate. But if you don't take care of it properly, your curls could end up looking a lot different than they normally do. The first step is to check the weather before you go on your trip so you know how to plan to care for your curly hair. If there's a chance of rain, bring an umbrella along with some extra products like our B Smooth Curl Butter Gel . When you're packing for your trip, make sure to include a wide-toothed comb or brush—they'll be helpful for detangling after washing or styling. If you have time before leaving on your trip, try applying a deep conditioning treatment like our So So Smooth Vitamin C Leave In Conditioner from CURLS at least once per week (twice is even better). This will help prepare your hair for any time spent in high humidity or dry air. To protect against heat damage from blow dryers and curling irons, use a heat protectant spray before styling tools are used on damp hair so that strands stay smooth instead of frizzy or damaged. These things will ensure that you can continue doing your curly hair care routine!

Keep your hair up and away from your face and neck.

If you're a curly-haired traveler, you know that one of the biggest challenges is keeping your hair up and away from your face and neck. You can't just toss it in a ponytail or clip it back—it has to be up, but not too high, with enough volume to keep it looking full. In the section above, we went over some pre-hair care before traveling, but here is where we'll go over how to manage our curly hair better while on a plane or on the go. But what's the best way to do this? What will keep your curls from frizzing out, but still make them look healthy? Here are some tips for styling your curls while traveling!

1. If you're traveling by plane, you can use a scarf or bandana to keep your hair from getting tangled in your seat belt or falling into your face when you're sleeping. When I'm on a long flight, I always wear a bandana under my hat or beanie so that my hair doesn't get messed up by the headrests on either side of me.

2. If you're going somewhere that requires a lot of walking or hiking, consider wearing an elastic headband so that your curls don't get tangled up in the wind or rain. You can also try using bobby pins to pin back any stray hairs that are sticking out in awkward places—I like using these pins because they don't leave marks on my scalp like normal bobby pins do (and they're great for keeping my bangs out of my eyes!).

Bring multiple hats and scarves to keep the sun at bay.

Curly hair is already prone to frizz, so when you add the elements of wind, rain, and sun to the mix it's like you're asking for trouble. The last thing you want when you're trying to enjoy your vacation is to have your curls getting all puffy and wild-looking because of all the moisture in the air. So what do you do? Well, if possible, bring some wet wipes with you so that you can clean off your face every few hours (or as often as needed). If not possible, put on a hat or scarf—anything that will keep the sun at bay and make sure your curls stay smooth and tamed!

How to style hair while traveling?

Since we're talking about keeping hair out of your face, let's talk about some super easy vacation hairstyles for curly hair! Treating your hair like gold is important because this will help keep the frizz and craziness at a minimum! We highly recommend using any type of twisting or braiding method. These are super cute looks that will also help protect your hair while you're on the go! Top knots can be a good option if you want your hair completely off your back and neck. Even when your hair is down, you can still enjoy your travels and flaunt those curls!! Using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners when washing your hair will help keep your hair sleek and moisturized. And you should also try using a wide tooth comb as opposed to a brush when detangling your curls, since brushes tend to create frizz in curly hair types! Here is one brush you might enjoy from Curls, our CURLS Detangler Brush !

A Point to Remember: Use A Curl Defining Cream Or Mousse When Traveling

If you want some extra hold in your hair while traveling, then consider using a curl defining cream or mousse instead of gel or hairspray on top of your usual styling products (like leave-in conditioner). These products will give you extra hold without making your hair feel weighed down. Something to consider before your travels is getting a haircut before you go. That way, your curls will be ready for some serious beach time! If you want to try something new with your hair, this is a great opportunity to experiment with different styles. Just make sure that you don't cut off too much length if you want to be able to use your favorite products while you're away from home. Whatever vacation hairstyle you choose to rock on your trip, just remember that your curls are a gift and something you should be proud of!

How to travel with hair products?What are the best hair products for traveling?

When packing for a trip with curly hair, it's important to remember that your products are just as important as any clothing item in your suitcase. Don't forget your favorite shampoo and conditioner — especially if you have long hair that needs extra TLC — or leave out all the styling products you use daily (mousse, gel and hairspray). Here are some examples of travel essentials for your curly crown:

● Lavish Curls Moisturizer

● So So Smooth Vitamin C Leave In Conditioner

● Blueberry Sculpting Mousse

Now that you have all the necessary tools to pack and style, you are only one step away from your road trip! Choose a beautiful destination and enjoy being a different version of yourself. Be confident in your curls and they will love you back. I also recommend reading these other amazing blog articles from curls about everything from how to refresh your curls, how to stop hair breakage, and so much more! This post was all about the best tips for traveling with curly hair!

Other posts you may also like:

Curly Hair Types: 4 Different Ways of Refreshing Your Curls  

5 Need-To-Know Tips On Trimming Curly Hair

Breaking Bad - How to Stop Hair Breakage

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How To Travel With Curly Hair

In this article, we are going to talk about how to travel with curly hair. Maintaining and caring for a curly hair is a tedious job on its own. But managing your curly locks while travelling is challenging. You might find yourself lost for hope and end up tying it, or constantly going to the bathroom to wet the hair in an attempt to tame it, or simply hiding your mane under a hat.

This post contains affiliate links. This means we make a small commission at no cost to you if you click through and make a purchase. All prices listed are accurate at time of publication.

Deep Condition Your Hair

As a general rule, curly hair need more moisture. A lot of it. If you’re in a hot place, your locks will suffer if you do not give it the attention it deserves. The problem arises when we travel and don’t get the luxury of time to do our full wash day routine. And using shampoo alone can cause dryness. The solution is deep conditioning . Even if it’s just for 5 minutes during your shower — but the longer, the better. If you can do it every day, all the more great! But if not, try to stick to doing it every 2-3 days. It will be easier for you to maintain your curls and make the detangling process a breeze.

Use a Hair Scalp Oil

Pool water, sea water, sand, and general heat dryness will make your hair frizzy. And with curly hair, the gaps between the cuticle cells make our hair more porous and less able to retain moisture than straight hair. Hair oils help lock in moisture, hydration, and relieve dryness whatever your curl type may be. It also promotes shine and strength, making your strands less prone to breakage.

Bring A Moisture-Lock Spray

Dry recycled airplane air is damaging to the hair. The best way to make sure your hair looks as fresh as you do when you touch down is to add hydration mid-flight. Pack a moisture-lock spray and apply while you’re flying the friendly skies. A moisture-lock spray will separate and secure your curls with moisture for about 24 hours. It will reactive your curl pattern and definition without frizz. You can also use this in-between wash days. Most sprays will protect your hair from heat and humidity, too! So, if you’re feeling worried about how to travel with curly hair, don’t be!

Wrap Your Curly Hair

Scarves are the best accessories. It looks cute however you wear it, and even better when you wrap it around your hair! Wrapping your hair keeps the moisture in and avoid it getting frizzy in humid weather . Let’s be honest, sometimes our hair just does not want to cooperate. Wrapping your hair not only looks super stylish, but it will also protect it from super cold weather , sweaty days, and outdoor activities. It will help you avoid your hair getting matted, which is the absolute worst!

Don’t Forget Your Hair Diffuser

If you have not heard of a hair diffuser before, well, you have now! A hair diffuser is an attachment that is very important for maintaining curly hair. It attaches to the end of a hair dryer’s nozzle and evenly distributes hot air across wider sections of hair. Perfect for the gals like us with a wild mane! Without a diffuser, you can easily blow curls out of shape and into a frizz. And this is why it is the best tool to help maintain your natural hair pattern and control frizz, leaving you with a soft and manageable texture.

Apply Mousse

If there is a product that I will never, ever forget to bring in my travels, it’s a hair mousse ! It’s a super versatile foam that gives curly hair hold and definition. It does a very good job at giving me that volume that I love so much! Not only does it give emphasis to my beautiful strands and locks, it also protects and tames my hair, giving my unruly curls some control. Using mousse helps keep my frizz in check and helps my curls bouncier!

Avoid Heat Styling

If you’re travelling in a country with extreme climate, then your hair is probably already struggling as it is. Don’t damage it further by using a flat iron or a curl barrel! Don’t forget that when you constantly style your hair with heat, your beautiful curls actually get screwed up! Your curl pattern will appear and feel completely different after heat damage, and you are, trust me, going to be struggling in getting that bouncy curl back.

Pack Emergency Accessories

No matter what — never leave your accommodation without a few hair ties and extra-long hairpins in your bag. Even when you feel that your hair is looking exceptional, bad hair days can strike anytime and catch you off guard! Be prepared and always have those accessories on hand. You never know when you’ll need it.

And lastly, let loose! Your hair is beautiful and it deserves the right treatment. Once you’ve got the right products on, let it fly freely and enjoy the breeze! This will give your scalp the air it needs and your actual locks won’t get brittle from all the tying, braiding, and styling. Leave it alone for a few hours and let it breathe.

Rachel is an intrepid world traveller, lifestyle connoisseuse, and Girls Who Travel’s resident beauty advisor. She is a lover of the ocean, flowers, movies, journalism, and has a penchant for medium-sized tattoos. When she is not busy with life, she writes stories of her globetrots as well as tips & tricks on how to make the best out of travelling.

Rachel Galvan

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Curly hair travel tips for your next vacation (from a 3C girly)

If you search on Pinterest for “curly hair travel tips” the Top 10 results are tips from blonde girls with wavy hair. Or better yet, blonde girls with straight hair offering to teach you how to use a curling wand into a carry on.

As a black girl with curly hair this is  indescribably frustrating .

The black hair care business is a  2.5 billion dollar industry  yet limited resources exist for us—the population with the curliest hair—and we sit on page 4 of Google. So, I assembled this definitive guide of anything we could possibly ever want to know about traveling with curly hair.

Of course anyone is welcome in this space to learn and take any inspiration for their own hair care, but know that the products and techniques used  are from my personal experiences as a  multiracial traveler  with African heritage, and are intended for travelers with really curly hair.

You can reference and save the entire list of products mentioned in this article  here .

This post may have affiliate links. Meaning if you buy something using them, I get a small % for recommending it. It won't change the price for you and it's a super easy and nice way to say thanks for the work I did creating this 🙂 Cool? Cool.

Know Your Fro: Do A Hair Assessment

Knowing as much information as possible about your hair is essential in being able to correctly care for it  especially  when traveling on planes, trains, and automobiles.

Identifying your  hair type , knowing your hair’s tendencies, and knowing your own hair habits and common styles can give a lot of insight into how you decide to manage your hair on trips.

Hair Type:  3C

Hair Tendencies:

• Fine, dense hair
• Does not respond well to oils
• Needs creams and waxs
• Bleached, colors

Hair Care Habits:

• Hair is usually worn out and in a fro
• Curly bangs
• Almost daily detangling with water in the back 🥲
• Minimal heat straightening

Doing this analysis on your own hair and habits will help you understand your hair better and adjust the following tips for your own needs.

Packing Your Hair Products

When traveling I usually bring a detangler, a leave-in, a serum, and a gel—I’ll get into more details on these later.

To bring these on a plane, they must be in TSA Approved containers and follow their  3-1-1 rule . meaning they must be clear plastic bottles 3.4oz  or less, and placed inside of a clear 1-quart sized plastic bag.

I bought  carry-on approved plastic bottles  on Amazon and reuse them every single time I travel now.

If you find you’ve forgotten to pack or run out of a product while you’re traveling, don’t panic. If you can’t live without it, look up the ingredients of the product and see if you can DIY it. Jojoba oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and other products are common and can usually be found in some form all over the world.

How I style my curls while traveling

You should know early on that I am simply not a product snob.

I don’t discriminate between L’Oreal and salon quality products, whatever works for the best price is what I’m gonna use. So if I recommend a pricy hair product it’s either because I truly cannot function without it or because it will literally last up to a year.

Again, you can get the entire list of recommended products  here  on Amazon.

My daily go-to curly 3C travel routine

For my signature “wash n go” curly fro…

• Cleansing shampoo:
• Finish with a repairing conditioner like Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask or K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask. wet I’ll let it dry 25-50% of the way before I begin to style it. Hotel towels are often rough and can tear delicate hair, so I recommend bringing your own  microfiber towel . I then use  Shea Moisture Extra Moisture Detangler  and the  Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie  and finger comb my hair to remove any huge knots. All the while making sure my bangs are separate from the rest of my hair.
• For me, paddle brushes rip my hair the least and helps define the curls
• When using the paddle brush I split my head in half from temple-to-temple horizontally so that my curls can have definition but also bounce once it dries.
• Use a  Denman Brush  from about halfway down the hair shaft to the ends to help clump my curls together (I separate the clumps when fully dried!)
• I grab my bangs and separate them into three horizontal rows across my head. Starting with the row closest to my face, I put a little of the Curl Enhancing Smoothie on the hair and finger curl individual curls. I probably get 4-6 curls across the bottom row. Repeat for the second and third row.
• Then I rub a quarter-sized amount of my  Garnier Fructis Style Curl Scrunch Controlling Gel  into my hands and scrunch my bangs and the end of my hair. I love this gel because it never gives me crunchy ramen hair and still holds the definition when I separate my curls.
• I like to air dry my hair but if I’m in a rush or its freezing cold outside I’ll use a  diffuser  on warm heat and low pressure to gently dry it, starting from my scalp and then scrunching the ends with it. This can take 20-25 minutes.
• Once it’s completely dried I’ll separate any huge chunks of curls around my head, and selectively separate any of the finger curls I did for my bangs. And BAM, that’s my daily look!

Curly Girl Travel Hair Style Ideas

I’ve found that curly bangs give me a lot more versatility with my curly styles, especially when traveling! No shame, I cut them myself with only kiddie scissors and  this YouTube video  for guidance, and they turned out pretty well I think.

The photo to the right I took just seconds after I cut them.

This  super-simple style also works if you’ll be on a plane so the bulk of your hair is on top of your head and won’t make laying your head back uncomfortable.

Low Fro Pony

The low ponytail can is tried and true. This style is great for a high humidity environment because you can slick down the top with gel and a  boar bristle brush . The brush linked is my favorite because it’s ethically harvest boar bristles and no animals are hurt in the making of the brush.

$20 is a lot for a brush, but it’s small and easily packed for travel, and lasts forever. Not to mention, you can’t have elaborate cute curls every day. This brush is essential for those hopeless moments when you just want to lay your baby hairs and just not look crazy.

High Fro Pony tail

Same concept as the low-fro pony tail with much more attention-grabbing look. Your hair will look huge but it will be off of your neck in the heat, and this style is primed for a cute headband or some long earrings to accessorize.

Half-Up, Half-Down

Slick back the top (leave your bangs out if you have them) and let the rest fro free. This style can show that you put in a little effort and lower your volume from  huge  to huge. Pair with a chunky headband or some cute barrettes.

Chunky Headbands Save Lives

All hail the chunky headband. If I’m in a remote jungle in Thailand or backpacking trip in Iceland there’s chance that I haven’t fully brushed my hair in a day or two. Chunky headbands are a great way to style a huge fro, a messy bun, or your cute braids. It can add a lot of color or pattern to your outfit as well.

“Just Shove All It In A Turban”

Like I said, curly hair isn’t as luxurious and easy breezy beautiful as we often make it seem. Sometimes your curls just do not cooperate, or you just don’t have the time to try. A  turban or head wrap  will be your saving grace on those red-eye flight, overslept your ziplining tour, rats nest, the-back-is-definitely-matted days.

Pull back your hair and twist as flat to your head as you can and use  spiral bobby pins  (a curly MUST I tell you) to hold it together. Buy a couple in different colors so that you can rock them with any look. A turban is a great travel hair accessory because you can wear it in tropical weather with a dress or colder weather with a coat and scarf.

Double Top Buns

I was  rockin’  this style  in Tokyo  and don’t even try to tell me different!

Try this look if you feel the want to stand out and have a unique sense of style, or just want to mix up your Instagram feed.

Half Braids

I like to separate my hair in half and basically braid the front down the sides along my hairline and let the back flow free. But you could do cornrows on the front half, two big braid down the back into open pig tails, braids into the Half Up Half Down. There are literally infinite options.

Experiment with some ideas and see what works. Even a few braids can give your hair some style that shows effort, and at least restrain a bulk of it, and those damn baby hairs.

Pros & cons of protective styles

I am not an expert in this department. Though I did a brief stint with clip-in extensions in high school, growing up neither of my parents introduced my sister and I to supplemental hair or braids. Thus, we had to suffer with our sun bleached, damaged, chemically relaxed hair. I wish they would have because when maintained correctly these protective styles are perfect for letting your curly hair rest and can cut down on your styling time when abroad. The most common protective styles are wigs, extensions, weaves and braids.

Because I lack expertise on this subject, I’m drawing on the experiences of few other curly-haired traveler, but mostly  Lauren  of  Ciao Chicago .

If you love yourself… never attempt to get a weave the day before your trip.

Make sure to schedule installments a week or so before your trip so that your hair has time to loosen up and you have some ideas on how you will style it.

If you’re an active or adventurous traveler straight hair may be harder to maintain, especially against the natural elements. Choosing a curly or wavy bundle requires less styling and their shape will hold better, and may require you not to have to worry about blending your own hair while on the road. Though make sure to avoid any heavy products that will make your weave wear too fast between washes.

Same advice for traveling with a weave if your extensions are glued or sewn in.

If you are traveling with clip-ins, make sure you bring extra  clips  and  needle and thread  in case you need to fix any loose clips, and  tape  for a temporary fix. Also make sure that when you’re not wearing your extensions they’re in a travel case that won’t ruin them.

My favorite hack for clip-ins, weaves, and wigs is to get a plastic box used for markers and pencils to store them in. If you can’t find one, these  hard cosmetic cases  are amazing.

The easiest style for an active or long-term traveler. You can go to the beach and just take off the wig and wash both it and your real hair.

Carry multiple wigs when you travel–2 or 3 for trips shorter than a week, 3 or 4 for longer—so you never have to be in a sticky situation where the one you have falls off on that moped ride and now you’re screwed.

Lauren says that braids and twists have a lot of variety in terms of style (Marley twists, Senegalese twists, goddess, braids, Ghana braids, etc), and leave access to the scalp for cleaning and moisturizing. Not to mention, they can last up to 6 weeks, which is great for an extended trip abroad.

Crochet braids are great for travel as they don’t require much skill—just the hair and some YouTube videos—and can last a travelista up to 3 weeks.

➰ TIP: Baseball caps + braids ≠ work. Curly hair in general. Buy a  cute visor  for some sun protection and to help hold that heavy braid bun off up when it’s hot.

To Straighten, or not to straighten?

In my journey to healthy curls I’ve been careful to rarely, if ever, put heat on my hair.

But unlike many curly traveling beauties I have not tabooed heat completely. Just because we’re curly doesn’t mean we’re dead. In moderation and with extreme care, straightening your hair does not have to mean heat damage and breakage and can make for beautiful and maintainable styles when traveling.

If I do straighten my hair it’s because the country that I’m going to has

•   a low humidity index at the time , and/or
• it’s winter .

I straightened my hair before I went to the  Republic of Georgia ,  The Netherlands , and  Sweden  but would have been wasting my time if I had before my trips to  Colombia ,  Thailand , or  Sri Lanka .

High heat + high humidity + tropical weather = …heck no .

There’s no point in straightening my hair if I’m just going to get off of the plane and sweat out my blow out because of the extreme heat or humidity or if I have plans to go swimming at the beach in the first few days that I land there.

Plus, if I’ve planned on having straightened hair on this trip I may not have brought all or enough of my curly products to maintain a curly style. An unexpected change of hair plans could have a devastating effect on my hairs health (and my ability to be in photos).

Low heat + low humidity + no water in sight = yaaas!

However, if it’s cold or wintry it’s usually in my benefit to have my hair be straight so that at least for a while I don’t have to get my hair wet every day to style it, and with the low humidity the style could last 3-6 days.

With straight hair you may have to bring less liquid products but you’ll be trading it for a styling tools. Bring a  mini-flat iron  for touch ups and leave the big one at home.

My Must-Have Straight Hair Hacks

To avoid the a bicep tear and 3 hours it usually takes me to straighten mine, I usually go to my local  Paul Mitchell School  to get it done “professionally”. I use quotation marks because as it’s a hair school your stylist is a student. And while it may take them 4-5 hours to straighten your hair, the professional products they use (that  Awapuhi product line , PHEW) and the amazing price of $30 for a quality results, I don’t complain.

If I do straighten my hair it’s always with  CHI Iron Guard Heat Protectant  to protect from heat damage, as the key to smooth straight hair is a  blow dryer  and  flat iron  with extremely high heat, around 400°F. Trust me, high heat the first time locks in the style and reduces the need for touch-ups later.

Once I’ve landed in my vacation location I swear by  Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum  as the ultimate frizz control weapon and to keep my hair soft and moisturized. One or two pumps is more than enough to coat all of my hair so even though it’s slightly expensive this product lasts forever.

Of course the true key to long-lasting straightened hair is wrapping it at night. In my case, I either use a  silk bonnet  or the same head wrap I use to make my turban.

My Arch Enemy:  The Perm

One technique you will  never  see me advocate for are  chemical relaxers , also known as a perm. For most of my childhood my parents did not know how to manage my curls, and like many parents with black children turned to chemical relaxers. This resulted in dry, chemically damaged hair (and then heat damaged to maintain it), chemical burns on my scalp and neck, and a lifetime of self-confidence work to love my hair the way it grows out of my head.

If you do feel like you can’t handle your hair at its level of curl consider a  Brazilian Blow Out  or other  keratin treatments  which can temporarily loosen your curls or completely straighten your hair.

These treatments can last 3-6 months and are healthy for your hair as they coat and lock the follicle like straight jacket instead of breaking its bones like a chemical relaxer. Get these treatments every 6 months or try out one of the protective styles mentioned above for long-term maintenance.

Navigating Airport Security and Those Touchy TSA Agents

Curly women (and men) having their hair groped and prodded during airport security is a common occurrence. While I understand the premise of it, it doesn’t make it any less invasive or agitating.

Unfortunately, part of traveling while curly hair is putting up with everyone else being super jealous of you (Kidding. Maybe.) So here are a few tips to make it easier.

Have them  3-1-1 rule  approved before you try to go through security. Then, make sure you’re carrying them in your purse and not zipped away in your suitcase. This way you can take them out, plop them into a security container for the x-ray, a minimizing time spent. I’ve also found labeling products “conditioner”, “shampoo”, “lotion”, etc. can keep them from stopping you to ask what is in each container.

The Dreaded Pat Down

Oh lawd, here we go. If you have big braids, dread locks, a weave, a wig, a fro, or any type of style that raises your hair an inch above your head, just assume you’re going to have your hair pat down and save yourself the stress. I truly believe that 90% of TSA agents are normal people just doing their job, but that 10% are the ones that cause the horror stories and the need for you to know our rights.

If you are taken aside for further screening of your hair,  you have the right to request that the TSA agent puts on fresh set of gloves .

If they refuse or are being rude,  you have the right to request a supervisor and/or request a private screening accompanied by a family member or friend . Do not go with them alone.

If you have any problems, please make sure a family member or you is documenting. Have a family member record as much of the encounter as possible, and take the name and ID number of as many agents as you can. Sometimes them knowing that you are paying attention and aren’t complacent can keep them from unnecessarily escalating a situation.

Global Entry/TSA Precheck, i.e. Security Clout

Save yourself some of the headache and get Global Entry if you’re able. It’s included with many credit cards these days, and less than one month ago I received mine complimentary of my  Chase Sapphire Reserve card .

It really changed my life. Now I arrive at the airport 30 minutes before my flight begins boarding, have a minimal line, don’t have to take off my shoes or jacket, and breeze on through. Having TSA Precheck doesn’t make you immune to further searches or having your braids groped, but it can drastically decrease the chance of it happening because of your security clout.

Summary of My Must-Have Curly Products

You can  save the complete list of products  here  and reference it whenever you need to.

Curly Styling Products

• Shea Moisture’s Extra Moisture Detangler  https://amzn.to/2AHAKI4
• Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie  https://amzn.to/2jXKB3D
• Garnier Fructis Style Curl Scrunch Controlling Gel  https://amzn.to/2VOBHr0
• Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner  https://amzn.to/2sss6bH
• Literally anything from the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Product Line  https://amzn.to/2D9gd0N

Curly Styling Tools

• Microfiber Towel  https://amzn.to/2AHV6kA
• Denman Brush  https://amzn.to/2RPXK1a
• Soft Paddle Brush  https://amzn.to/2Ch9gZO
• Boar Bristle Hair Brush (Cruelty Free)  https://amzn.to/2SSnesj 
• Silk Bonnet  https://amzn.to/2SZBMpK
• Hard Cosmetic Case  https://amzn.to/2SR7pC4
• Wig/Extension Clips  https://amzn.to/2D8y3RA

Curly Hair Accessories

• Chunky Headbands  https://amzn.to/2Ijzdh9
• Cute Visor  https://amzn.to/2rJVkSM
• Turban/Head Wrap  https://amzn.to/2M74kLE
• Spiral Bobby Pins  https://amzn.to/2ChVh61

Straightening Styling Products

• CHI Iron Guard Heat Protectant  https://amzn.to/2AUbu1x
• Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum  https://amzn.to/2RNHgXt

Straightening Styling Tools

• KIPOZI Professional Hair Straightener  https://amzn.to/2SSvngl
• Silver Bird Conair Pro Hair Dryer  https://amzn.to/2spdjij
• Mini Travel Sized Flat Iron  https://amzn.to/2VPwcZ3

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Gabby is a multi-awardwinning creator. She is a full-time travel influencer, Gen Z travel marketing expert, and public speaker. You'll find her featured in the likes of Good Morning America, National Geographic, CNNTravel, Forbes, Travel+Leisure, and even the TEDx stage.

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How to Style Curly Hair When Traveling

Hair , TOILETRIES , Travel Beauty Tips

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The last thing you want to worry about is your hair when you’re on the go. However, a well-groomed do adds the perfect touch to any travel outfit. Read on to find out how to style curly hair while traveling!

by Vanessa Yates

Table Of Contents

Having curly hair requires extra love and care. My own solution is to get my naturally curly hair permanently straightened . For others who love their curls, Vanessa Yates shares her expert hair tips for how to maintain curly hair while traveling the globe. She knows what she’s talking about – she’s got an awesome set of curls that always look amazing even in the South East Asia humidity!

Anyone traveling who has curly hair knows that it comes with a lot of weight, and not just on your head. Traveling with hair product adds a few pounds to your bag and takes up a fair bit of space! Throw in the unpredictability of environmental factors and curly hair can seem less desirable than it looks.

Easy travel hair styles  are helpful to ease bad hair days but when your mane is up in a frizz frenzy you need some extra help. I have found that sticking to a few tips for styling and maintaining curly hair really helps keep the defined curls that are loved!

Styling Gel

Best Products for Curly Hair:

I like to use as little product as possible to save space in my bag.  Creams and serums were often giving me too much frizz (that word we all dread) so I started exploring with a little hair glue/extra strength gel to define the curls and maintain them in heat. Wow was I impressed! Yes I looked like I could blend in with the wildlife in Africa on the first day with a mane like a lion if I use too much but after sleeping on my hair overnight it calms down to a great strong hold curl that lasts for days!

I use Got2b Ultra Glued Invincible Styling Gel  and just a small amount goes a really long way. I have tried over 30 products of varying costs and lines and this is my favorite. Surprisingly, DIPPITY-DO is a close second. I also pack a travel size hairspray for a quick touch up!

Hot Tools Travel Hair Dryer

How to Style Curly Hair:

I should note that I do sacrifice room in my pack for a travel hair dryer (and diffuser) as I have really thick hair and sometimes the humidity can leave my hair wet for longer than desired.  Dryers are commonly available in hotels and fold up/travel hair dryers are becoming more available at less expensive costs.

Not sure if it’s worth traveling with a blow dryer? Read this!

After washing your hair, flip your head over, rub some of the gel/glue through your palms and disperse freely throughout your hair. Make sure to get the front roots as that part of your hair is seen and gets touched the most (the flirty flip)! Stand back up and split your hair (as in half up/half down). Rub some more gel in the back half of your hair which is too often forgotten about. Diffuse or blow dry and you’re done!

If you’re looking for the best travel hair diffuser, read  this post !

I use and recommend this Hot Tools Travel Hair Dryer because it’s dual voltage and has a diffuser, too!

How to Maintain Curly Hair:

Keeping your hair up during the day is a great way to keep the curl for a long duration of time and it helps stay cool in the hot weather by not having hair on your neck. Bring it down at night to glam up a little and bring out the roar of that new outer lion! Going on a few days and still want to wear it down? Try a little hairspray and another blow dry (on dry hair) to give it a little extra volume.

The main purpose of the hard gel is to keep your curls tight for a long time. This means, keeping the washing to a minimum. Your hair will love the natural build-up of oil that will happen while no one will notice how long it has actually been (trust me, I’ve gone longer than I’d like to mention and I’ve still got compliments on it!)

Overall, the less you play with your hair (including keeping it up and away from the wind) the longer it will keep the fewer products you use and the more money you save – a travel girl’s secret to staying beautiful on a budget.

Plan to travel with hair tools? Read this post on voltage converters and travel adapters.

If you want to find out more about permanent hair straightening for curly hair, check out my post on Hair Rebonding.  For tips on finding a salon, check out  How to Find a Good Hair Salon when Traveling Abroad .

What are your tips for how to style curly hair while traveling? Comment below! For more travel beauty tips, please read:

For more travel beauty tips, please read:

• Traveling With Jewelry: 10 DIY Packing Tips & Tricks
• The Beauty Junki’es Guide to a Minimal Travel Makeup Kit
• 5 Best Makeup Palettes for Travel
• Best Hair Products for Travelers with High Maintenance Manes

Hope you liked this post on how to style curly hair while traveling. Please share the love on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!

Author Bio:  Vanessa Yates and her backpack and have traveled 28 countries throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia. Her adventure continues in South East Asia where she will soon begin working at a Canadian international school in Malaysia. She hopes to never stop traveling!

10 Comments

I’m really surprised coconut oil doesn’t get mentioned at all. I use it for everything! I use it as a leave in conditioner, wash my face with it, use it as lip balm and body lotion. I have super long, thick curls, so I just load up a goobtoob or 2 and freeze, so it stays solid through the tsa check.

Does it work the same once it thaws out?

Check out the ‘hot sock’ diffuser (can find it on amazon!). I use this baby at home and take it whenever I go anywhere where I will blow dry/diffuse my curls. It is elastic and literally does fit on ANY dryer, compresses FLAT and weighs practically nothing! For product, I love Ouidad heat and humidity gel. It’s light and works great!

awesome, thanks!

Curly hair….. gotta have products. I will be spending a month in France and I will pack with carry on only. My biggest concern is that 3 oz. allowed carryon will not take care of the frizz and curl for a month. Where can I find products there, yes this is my first trip to France. Also, scarves are great with curly hair. Always a good stand by when I travel. It will be summertime, are hats acceptable in France?

Hi Deb! What if you pack (2) 3oz bottles of your favorite product? I will also post this question on Facebook later today to get more input for you. Thanks!

I am just going to try my best with curly styling cream and gel! I hope it doesn’t go too frizzy with all of the humidity in SE Asia!

Hi Stephanie

The humidity is so high right now! You might need a small hair spray to calm it down a bit. We curly haired girls are suffering but you’ll be having so much fun, it will be an after thought! small price to pay 😉

Thanks for reading!

I love the Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner. It made my hair amaaaazingly curly, beautiful locks. It is however, not travel friendly, and hardly sold anywhere. A blow dryer has become a necessity though, if you want hair you actually enjoy looking at! lol

Sounds like a curly hair dream! Thanks for the tip 🙂

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Home ▪ 10 Tips Every Natural Hair Traveler Should Know

10 Tips Every Natural Hair Traveler Should Know

Traveling with curly hair can be difficult. The last thing you want to worry about while on vacation is spending an hour or more detangling and styling your hair. I know, and you know, and Champagne Papi Drake knows that we wanna “Vacay to a, place where you could, take pictures, post on insta..” but that can be difficult when your hair is acting a fool. In order to minimize non-photo ready hair days, I laid out some of my best tips for traveling with curly hair.

Last month I traveled to England, Italy, Greece, and Tanzania and lived out of a backpack, a carry on and a checked bag for a month (okay so clearly I’m not a minimalist, but I tried”>. I did however, try to keep my beauty and hair items to a minimum and kept most of them in my carry on just in case my checked bag was ever lost. It can be overwheliming to know what is essential and what is excessive while traveling internationally and to multiple countries, but don’t worry we got your (hair”> and back. 

10. Look at Airport Security Restictions Ahead of Time

TSA is no joke. And depending on the country you are traveling to, the size requirements for liquids and baggage size changes. I found out this the hard way the first time I traveled to Europe.

A moment of silence for the sample beauty and hair items I lost in January 2018.

Okay back to regularly scheduled programming. CHECK THE AIRPORT WEBSITE. Just do it. Your countries airport rules will not necesarily apply everywhere, even if they are similar. In Europe you are only allowed ONE clear, re-sealable plastic bag of not more than one litre capacity per passenger. I like using the pink clear bags from Glossier (as shown above”>. “These liquids must be in individual containers with a maximum capacity of 100 millilitres each.” For me this meant bringing my travel size face wash, facial serum and moisturizer and my 3 of my most esseintial hair products all 3oz and less. My clear plasitc bag fit about 7 travel size products, with a little room. Most airports have plastic bags available for free at the security checkpoint. 

9. Pack your holy grails in your carry on

If you’re like me and the idea of living out of a back pack or carry-on luggage for an entire month is simply not happening, make sure you pack wisely. Meaning, your holy grail leave-in creme, conditioner, and comb or whatever detangling instrument you prefer to use are never far from sight. This is something I didn’t think about the first time I ever traveled, but I made certain to do this time around. Long flights, Jet Lag, Delayed flights, long layovers, or any of the other various complications of traveling often lead to a change in your routine that can affect both your skin, hair and mood. 

Keeping all of your favorite items with you while at the airport can save you from one hell of a weird hair day and unfortunate breakouts.

I always kept a wide tooth comb in my back pack along with a curl refreshing spray, my purple toning shampoo, a leave-in conditioner, bobby pins, and my olaplex that I switched into a travel size container.

8. This is not the time for experimenting.

Did your friend just offer up some of their old travel-size hair items to you for your trip? While that is super sweet of them, unless you have tried that product before and liked your results, you better leave that gift at home. Same goes for any random travel size products you may have laying around your bathroom. I love saving money as much as the next person, espeically while traveling, but this is not the time for experiementing. Either try the product prior to your trip or better yet, stick to what you know. If your favorite products don’t come in travel size options, you can run by your local drugstore and grab empty travel size bottles or order them on Amazon. There are plenty of affordable options and they can be re-used for your next trip!

7. Dust your ends/touch up color before your trip

While I wouldn’t reccommend getting a full trim before going on vacation, dusting your ends and in my case bangs is a great way to prep before traveling. If your ends are healthy detangling, styling, washing, basically all hair maitenanace will be easier on your trip. For everyone that colors their hair, a root touch up a few weeks before your trip is also a pro-tip, but not absolutely neccessary.  

6. Bring a Deep Conditioning or Protein Treatment

Depending on the climate you are entering into your hair may require extra moisture or protein. *Don’t know if your hair needs protein? Check out this article . My hair generally needs both after a coulple weeks of traveling, which is why I always bring olaplex with me when I travel. I also brought 2 bottles of Oiudad Curl Immersion Triple Treat Deep Conditioner in the travel sizes. This is my favorite deep condioner, and I tried to use it weekly whenever I had some down time at my hotel so I could leave it in for at least an hour. My hair always detangles so easily after using it and feels healthy and moisturized. 

5. Travel Scarf/Pillow

I had one flight that was 14 hours long. On flights as long as these I always try to sleep as long as possible, but that can cause problems for natural hair. While you could put your hair up in a bun, that is often uncomfortable on flights, especially when you want to sleep as much as possibe. I like to use my Aquis hair towel as shown in the photo or my silk hair wrap from Ruby Sampson that you can purchase from the NC shop as a pillow. The best thing about bringing this wrap in my carry-on is it can be used for beautiful wrap styles as well.

4. Test Products that Maximize time until your next Wash Day

My holy grail product as a bleached blonde is olaplex, however it is not the kind of product that can help my wash-n-go last all week. Skimdo on the other hand can. While traveling you hair needs change, and if you are changing hotels or air-bnbs often, it can be difficult to make time for a full wash day. Due to this I made sure to test out some of my favorite products to see which held my curls the longest number of days. My winner was Skimdo curl creme.

3. Ask Locals about their Favorite Products

By the time I got to Greece I had already ran through half my supply of hair products, so while I was walking through the local markets I began to keep my eye out for hair care. Multiple stores had a brand called “Venus’ Secrets” that was made with argan oil and donkey milk! My curiosity outweighed my apprehension and after talking to the sales associate I bought a deep conditioner and a regular conditioner to take home with me. Turns out my curls love donkey milk. Who woulda thought!

2. In-Flight Hair Treatment

Sometimes you dont have time to finish your hair before your flight, especially if you stay on cpt like me. Twist-outs, braids, and bantu knots are great styles to wear in your hair while flying. Just make sure to wrap your hair tight while on the plane so you dont wake up with any funky imprints after sleeping. I prefer two french-braids, because I can do that quickly in the airport bathroom with just a comb and a curl creme, and since they are on the sides of my head they don’t get messed up when I fall asleep. In-flight treatments will have you walking off the plane looking brand new and not like you’ve only eaten pretzels, peanuts and chewing gum in the last 12 hours. 

1. Let Your Frizz Thrive

Frizz is inevitbale, especially if you plan to travel in the summer or to hot and humid places. Instead of trying to prevent it, lean into it. Solange, Yara, and Zendaya have all rocked “frizzy hair” to events and even on covers of magizines. There will be days where your hair is just not cooperating, but as the now dead Mr. West once wisely stated “how you gon be mad on vacation?” Rock your best outfit to give yourself a boost of confidence if needed and enjoy the city regardless of how your hair looks. I promise you are probably the only one thinking about it.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to The Curly Girl Method

This is the only way I'll wash my hair.

@bianca__lambert / Design by Julie Bang

If you're a fan of DevaCurl products or have been to a Devachan Salon, you're likely familiar with the Curly Girl Method. In fact, it's Lorraine Massey's Curly Girl Method that morphed into the DevaCurl Salons we know and love.

My first DevaCurl salon experience with Donatella and Ezzy of Curls One on One was a game-changer for me and how I viewed my hair. I had just moved to Los Angeles, and my hair and skin were confused. One session with them helped me spend less time doing my hair on wash days, gave me the tools to maintain my coils' hydration, and is the reason why my hair is growing and healthy. 

Deva stylists practice the art of using no shampoo, combs, heat styling, sulfates , alcohol, or silicones with a process consisting of a three-step routine: Cleansing, conditioning, and styling. For some of us, this means throwing our entire wash day routine away. But don't fret and put all of your products into a bag and send them into product exile; you can slowly switch out products, because we all know how expensive new products can be (especially if they're purchased all at once). To get a little insight into the Curly Girl Method, how it's done, and how effective it is, I spoke with Devachan Stylist, Taylor Tugman.

Meet the Expert

Taylor Tugman is a senior stylist at Devachan Salon in New York City. She has worked as a natural hairstylist for six years and specializes in the acclaimed Devacut, a dry cutting technique that lends specifically to the needs of naturally wavy, curly, and super curly hair.

I asked why she thinks this method works on a range of hair types. "It's the ideal 'hair diet' for textured hair," she explains. "Not only are you no longer stripping the hair of moisture with sulfates, but also feeding the hair real moisture, not the superficial version silicones give. It's amazing how curly people can completely transform their hair simply by eliminating silicones and sulfates!"

The Golden Rules of The Curly Girl Method

Say no to clarifying shampoos with sulfates.

"It's best to avoid most clarifying shampoos as they tend to be extra harsh and drying," Tugman urges. "That being said, there are exceptions, like DevaCurl Buildup Buster. Buildup Buster uses micellar technology instead of sulfates to magnetize impurities and gently remove them from strands."

Lose the Combs

"Fingers are definitely preferable over combs for a few reasons," Tugman explains. "First, using your fingers is much more intuitive. You're more aware when you get to tangles, and rather than ripping through them, you can gently work them out, preventing breakage, which leads to frizz and comprises length retention. Also, when using your fingers, you simultaneously massage moisture into the strands. You wouldn't put lotion on your body and hope it soaks in, would you? It's the same concept with conditioner. It needs to be massaged and worked into curls to be most effective."

Now that we've got the right shampoo and tools in our showers, how often should you cleanse? With Massey's method in mind, if your hair is wavy, shampooing should only be done once a week. For curly hair textures, washing should take place once every 10 days with a co-wash once a week. For coily hair textures, Massey recommends cleansing as little as possible and opting for co-washes instead (which is a practice I've adopted). 

How to Follow The Curly Girl Method

The Curly Girl Method involves a few specific, sequential steps. You can swap products as you see fit, as long as you're following the guidelines for ingredients and how long to use each product.

Start With a No-Poo Shampoo 

As we've mentioned, sulfates are a no-go. "Most traditional shampoos contain sulfates," says Tugman. "They are found not only in shampoos but also in many household products, like dish soap. If you've ever washed your hands with dish soap, you know how drying that can be for your hands. Since curly hair is already naturally on the dry side, it's best to avoid ingredients that further dry or strip the strands."

That's why a sulfate-free, "no-poo" hair cleanser will serve you well: it's gentle and effective. But remember to utilize the same in-shower method you'd use with a traditional shampoo. Says Tugman, "We've been conditioned to think bubbles mean clean and forget about friction. When using a no-poo shampoo, friction is imperative to loosen and remove excess oil or dirt from the scalp."

At my first appointment with Donatella and Ezzy, one pro tip they gave me was to leave a bit of conditioner on the hair rather than rinsing it all out. Tugman agrees: "Leaving a little conditioner in can help hair strands trap hydration in for longer periods of time, which means frizz control and longer lasting definition."

Like the shampooing step, how you condition your hair will vary based on your hair type. For wavy hair, rinse the hair, but keep in mind you have the option to leave a little conditioner in. For curly hair types, you can rinse the conditioner out entirely or leave it in. For coily hair types, deep conditioning is highly recommended to lock in moisture. If you're worried about having a milky cast left behind when doing this, this is something I do from time to time without any white residue. 

Style Without Heat or Combs

The curly girl method recommends low manipulation for all hair types. As a 4c girl (coily hair texture), I understand the shrinkage struggle. I personally don't mind my shrinkage, but the great thing about this method is that it can be adjusted by hair type and styling preference. The only thing you shouldn't do is use any heat, but if you're in a hurry, using a diffuser on low heat is an option. 

After products are applied and before styling, turn your head over (with a towel covering your face), give your hair a shake turning your head up and down and side to side. After this step, you'll move into your preferred method of styling. Wavy hair textures are generally encouraged to scrunch the hair with a microfiber towel or t-shirt to soak up the excess water without causing frizz. 

For coily hair textures, the method recommends a wash-and-go, but if that isn't how you like to wear your hair, follow a technique that helps stretch your coils, but be sure to stay away from combs and silicones in your styling products. 

One thing I know for sure is the curly girl method is something I think every curly girl can benefit from no matter their hair texture. 

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This is a Curly Girl Method Complete guide on how to care for your naturally curly hair. Here you will find posts on the Curly girl method and curly girl approved products . Whatever your curl hair type from wavy 2a to oily 4c it is important to know how to look after it.

Start with the curly girl step by step and then take a look at my curly girl product reviews and tutorials. There are tutorials on how to make curly girl approved products for hair care such as how to make your own cgm hairspray , or how to do a rice water rinse . Learn how to build a curly girl routine, how to deep condition as well as finding out your hairs porosity. This is the curly hair and cgm ultimate guide with how to tutorials and curly hair products selection.

The Ultimate guide on how to do the curly girl method step by step with product reviews and tutorials

Curly girl method start here guide.

How to start the Curly girl method step by step guides is here

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Find the best curly hair products for you. Curly hair product reviews

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Where to purchase curly girl products in the UK and online

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Curly girl method How To Tutorials to manage your curly hair.

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DIY Hair Natural Treatments for curly hair

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Curly Girl Travel Tips

Travel tips and travel size products for curly girls

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Question and answers on curls including before and after pictures of the curly girl method

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The basics of the Curly Girl Method and how to create a curl cast

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