It can be a challenge to take good care of your natural hair while traveling. You’re going from place to place in a climate different from your own. Even the water may be different from where you live. So, in this post I will explain how I take care of my natural (Black/African American/Type 4) hair while traveling.

Even when I’m checking a bag, I still streamline my hair care like I’m carrying only a carry on. I don’t bring a whole bunch of products. It’s about bringing what works best.

We’re not talking vacation braids. I have done that before. Or a silk press. I’ve done that too. This is for when you’re staying longer than a few days and need to really care for your hair.

What I bring:

Shampoo
I bring shampoo in a squeezable bottle. I am interested in shampoo bars, because they are good for traveling. However, I haven’t tried one yet.

I’m currently using TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Strengthening Shampoo.

Hair Mask
I bring a small amount to save space. Usually, I’ll reuse a small container that at one point had something else in it. I’m not lathering it all over my hair like I would do if I was home. But a little bit still gets the job done.

Right now, I’m using TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask.

Disposable Shower Cap
Bring a disposable shower cap. Use it to deep condition with the mask. When I’m home I use a microwaveable cap to heat up the mask. However, I don’t travel with that since it’s very bulky.

Oil 
I would always wrap a standard travel bottle with plastic wrap and then stick it into a Ziplock bag. (Spoiler: It would still leak.) On my most recent trip I experimented with airless travel bottles (Airless travel bottles allow you to remove the air from the bottle, so that only the product remains. This keeps them from leaking.) I’m happy to report that the oil did not leak. These are a game-changer!

The oil I’m using currently is the SheaMoisture Coconut Custard Make It Last Wash N’ Go Curl Revival Oil.

Leave-in Conditioner
I put my leave-in conditioner in a cleaned out old face moisturizer container to save space. The same as the hair mask, I bring the smallest amount possible. This is a little harder with the leave-in conditioner. Sometimes I’ll carry it in two small old face moisturizer containers.

I keep repurchasing leave-in conditioners from SheaMoisture. Right now, I’m using the one from the Manuka Honey & Mafura Hair line.  

Detangling Brush
This is essential. I use a Tangle Teezer type brush.

Microfiber Towel Wrap
The towel is to dry my hair, and I like how it has a button and elastic to secure it to my head. My hair dries very fast, so I don’t leave this on for long. (I need my hair moist while I’m braiding it.) However, if your hair takes a long time to dry, these suck up a good amount of water.

Drain Hair Catcher
This is what I use to keep my hair from going down the drain and clogging it up.

My top tips to streamline your products/tools:

• Put them into travel bottles
• Use airless bottles for products that leak easily
• Reduce your liquids

How do you tell if it’s a liquid? Does the container say “oz” or “fl oz”/ “g or ml”? If it says either “oz” or “g,” then the products is a solid (Example: Blue Magic Conditioner Hair Dress). If it says either “fl oz” or “ml,” then it’s a liquid product (Example: SheaMoisture Leave-In Conditioner).

Don’t bring too many options. Bring what works the best for your hair.

When I do my natural hair while traveling, I generally do a braid out or twist out style. These are my results below.

As a bonus, check out the hair products I purchased while in Japan. I did research beforehand, and these should work well on my hair. I can’t wait to use them.

• &honey Melty Moist Repair Shampoo
• & honey Deep Moist Hair Oil
• Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask by Shiseido
• Hair Styling stick (to keep flyaway hair at bay when my hair is straightened)

How do you care for your hair, no matter what type you have, when you travel?