Curly Hair Necessities for Traveling Abroad

Curly hair, in all of its fabulosity, may look “effortless,” but ask any natural, and they will tell you they didn’t just wake up like this. A multi-step, multi-product routine went into polishing that glorious crown. This complicated routine and maintenance process often made me avoid rocking my curly hair while traveling and sticking to a straight/wavy look. But this past year, I’ve made a concerted effort to figure out how to be comfortable wearing my hair naturally while traveling abroad. I’m pleased to announce that, although the journey with my curly hair and traveling was long, I finally got it down to a manageable routine! Here are my curly hair necessities for traveling abroad:

Pre-departure Moisturizing Routine

Before I travel, I try to do an intensive moisturizing hair treatment. I love my DIY bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar mask. The mask includes the following:

• 1/2 cup of bentonite clay
• 1 tablespoon organic extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 tablespoon of Jamaican black castor oil
• 6 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (ACV)
• 3 tablespoons of water

Feel free to add in the oils that work best for your hair. Add your clay, oils, and six tablespoons of ACV in a plastic or glass bowl. Allow it to foam for 15 seconds before adding in the water. Use a plastic or wooden spoon to stir everything together, making it as lump-free as possible. Ideally, it should be the consistency of Greek yogurt. Apply the mixture from root to end on freshly washed, damp hair. I divide my hair into four parts and apply it in small sections to ensure even coverage. You wanna keep your hair damp throughout this process, so if it’s starting to get dry with the mask, spritz it with water. After coating, cover your hair with a plastic cap or bag for 20-30 minutes. For extra penetration, go under a dryer or steamer. Rinse out the mask in the shower because it can get messy. Once 80-90% of the mask is rinsed out, apply a conditioner of your choice, let it sit for five minutes, then rinse. Voila! You should now have super-defined, moisturized, vacation-ready curls.

Now, if you are a last-minute person scrambling to get things ready for vacation, an extensive hair routine is the last thing on your mind. In that case, I also like the Shea Moisture Jamaican Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Mask.

Hair Tools

UnBrush – My UnBrush is magical. It’s excellent for detangling and defining my curls.

Toothbrush – Great tool for laying edges! Some hotels provide toothbrushes, so you can use the one you brought for its original purposes and use theirs to slay your edges.

Pony Tail Holders/Bobby Pins – There is usually a ponytail holder on my wrist or several in my purse. Ponytail holders and bobby pins are necessary to keep my hair away from my face or fix a bad hair day.

Satin Bonnet or a silk pillowcase – Sleeping in a satin bonnet helps to prevent hair breakage caused by cotton pillows. Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is an alternative to a satin bonnet and a sure way to feel Queen-like.

Travel size containers – Great for packing hair products and other toiletries and ensuring they comply with TSA standards.

Small spray bottle – Because hydrated curls are happy curls.

Microfiber towel – Helps to dry hair quickly and hold its shape.

Hair Products

Like most naturals, I have an assortment of hair products. I’m a carry-on bag kind of traveler, as I usually travel to multiple destinations at once via local airlines and hate baggage fees. Therefore, the products I bring when I travel typically depend on which can do the most for my hair. For instance, if I have a product suitable for defining my curls but not moisturizing, I bring one that does both.

My simplified travel hair product packing list includes:

• Camille Rose’s Cleansing Ginger Shampoo
• Maui Moisture Curl Quench & Coconut Oil Conditioner
• Shea Moisture Jamaican Castor Oil Leave-in Conditioner
• Camille Rose’s Curl Maker
• Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Travel Rules

For my fellow carry-on travelers, our hair products and toiletries must be in TSA-compliant containers, 3 ounces or less, and fit into a 1-quart size bag. This may not sound like a lot, but a little goes a long way with these products.

Now, you can live your best vacation life and have fabulous curls!

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