Travelling with kinky Curly or “Ethnic” hair? try these 7 tips for Natural and Curly Girl Nomads.
Travelling with natural hair can be very complicated. I’ve stuck to some basic protective styles over the years, each with their own pros and cons. Maintaining weaves, braids, and even natural styles while pursuing various activities can be complicated. What’s more, living in an area with few black people can mean that you can go without professional styling for months. Keep reading to learn about my five best tips to make caring for your hair a little easier while you travelling.
How to stretch out a style while travelling
While I love braids in all its forms, they can be quite tricky to maintain, nevertheless, I found that the best styles to stretch out are braided styles. With proper maintenance, which includes cleansing and re-braiding, braids can be kept in for up to three months and can be a great method to grow out your natural hair.
If you’re a long-term nomad whose hands weren’t blessed with braiding skills you are definitely travelling on hard mode. If you aren’t staying in an area with a good black salon, pray to the natural hair gods that your fellow black travellers have your back. I I’m quite good at braiding, but even I’ve gotten over using hours of my precious time to ensure that they are perfectly done. I’ve also discovered that braids worn for over-extended periods of time can also wreck-havoc on the edges of your hair, especially when braided tightly in an effort to increase their longevity. If you have fine strands like me, the incessant rubbing on your strands by synthetic fibres will have you suffering setbacks for years.
Travelling with Natural Hair: My Best Tips for Long-Term Travel
Travelling with natural hair can be complicated. Over the years, I’ve relied on various protective styles, each with their own pros and cons. Maintaining weaves, braids, and even natural styles while pursuing different activities can be challenging. What’s more, living in areas with very few Black people can mean going months without access to professional styling.
Keep reading for my best tips to make caring for your hair a little easier while travelling.
How to Stretch Out a Style While Travelling
While I love braids in all their forms, they can be tricky to maintain. That said, I’ve found that braided styles are the easiest to stretch out. With proper maintenance, including cleansing and occasional re-braiding, braids can last up to three months and can be a great way to grow out your natural hair.
If you’re a long-term nomad whose hands weren’t blessed with braiding skills, you’re definitely travelling on hard mode. If you aren’t staying somewhere with a good Black salon, pray to the natural hair gods that your fellow Black travellers have your back.
I’m quite good at braiding, but even I’ve gotten tired of spending hours making sure everything looks perfect. I’ve also discovered that braids worn for extended periods can wreak havoc on your edges, especially when they’re installed tightly in an effort to make them last longer.
If you have fine strands like me, the constant rubbing of synthetic fibres against your hair can leave you dealing with setbacks for years.
Travelling with Weaves
We’ve all been seduced by the glamour of a good weave.
From silky and flowing to textured and voluminous, weaves give us a level of versatility that many of us dream of achieving with our own hair. Unfortunately, they’ve also made some of us psychologically dependent on them. Naturals and relaxed heads alike have admitted that they don’t feel “grown and sexy” without a weave, with some wearing them 90% of the time.
While I loved the look of a good weave, I found myself fighting with mine daily. I was constantly styling, combing, and worrying about ruining it. Sometimes I’d even skip adventures because I knew I’d be dealing with a tangled mess afterwards.
The one time I threw caution to the wind, I spent ages trying to revive my hair after submerging it in the notoriously drying waters of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Styling-wise, weaves offer a level of durability and versatility that natural hair often can’t. You can cut, bleach, colour, and straighten them without worrying about the consequences.
The downside? The tools.
My blow dryer, comb attachment, diffuser, and flat iron added unnecessary pounds to my luggage allowance and made packing light almost impossible.
Never again.
Travelling with Natural Hair
Enough was enough.
I grew tired of feeling like I needed to add extra hair to my head in order to feel attractive while travelling. After about eight months, I stopped reinstalling weaves and gave my own hair a chance.
I started wearing it out more.
I’m very aware of what many people perceive as the limitations of natural hair. It can be difficult to feel confident when you have little experience wearing it out, but over time I felt incredibly free.
I was free.
I could swim when I wanted.
Wash my hair when I wanted.
Hike when I wanted.
Go on any adventure when I wanted.
I even considered surfing.
As time went on, I started to feel sexy watching my 4a/4b hair blow in the wind.
Oddly enough, I also became more interesting to other people. Men of all backgrounds would use my hair as an excuse to start conversations, and locals often found it unusual and fascinating. People seemed intoxicated by its volume and even its smell.
I felt like I was living in the Twilight Zone.
All this time, I’d been led to believe I couldn’t be attractive with natural hair. That turned out to be a lie.
I also felt like I was ascending to another level energetically.
Now that I was travelling without braids or weaves, I had to approach haircare differently. I washed my hair more often and eventually used up every product I brought with me.
Ironically, I felt like I was styling it less.
Without further ado, here are some hair hacks that helped me during my most adventurous moments.
1. Source Natural Ingredients at Your Destination
You don’t have to rely entirely on packaged products to maintain healthy hair.
Knowing which natural ingredients work for your hair is invaluable when travelling long-term. Instead of lugging around countless products, you can take advantage of what’s already available around you.
Visit local markets.
Yogurt, avocados, honey, aloe vera, and various oils can be found almost anywhere in the world.
Don’t be afraid to learn about local hair traditions either. Over the years, the natural hair community has borrowed techniques from cultures around the world.
We’ve adopted Ayurvedic practices from India, including henna, amla oil, and brahmi oil. Rice water treatments were inspired by the Yao women of China, famous for their exceptionally long hair. More recently, many naturals have embraced chebe powder, inspired by the women of Chad.
In Bali, I found an incredible natural hair store with surprisingly low prices. At Angelo Store in Ubud, I was able to buy staples I used back home, including jojoba oil, shea butter, mango butter, and sulphate-free shampoo.
If your budget is a little larger and you want something closer to the city centre, Utama Spice is another great option.
2. Learn to Make Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Shampoo and conditioner bars are game-changing.
They’re compact, long-lasting, and save valuable space in your luggage. Better yet, you don’t have to worry about a bottle exploding all over your clothes during a turbulent flight.
They also help you avoid airport liquid restrictions entirely.
I highly recommend Shea Moisture’s shampoo bar featuring Rhassoul clay. However, if you’re trying to reduce your reliance on packaged products, I’d suggest learning how to make your own.
There are plenty of YouTube tutorials available.
Make them, freeze them, and you’re good to go.
3. Headwraps, Headbands, and Soul Caps
Travelling through multiple climates can be brutal on your hair.
Some countries are hot and humid. Others are cold and dry. Dust, pollution, and harsh sunlight can all take a toll on your strands.
Headwraps are a stylish way to protect your hair while adapting to changing environments. They’re practical, fashionable, and can completely transform your look.
Wraps & Whatever, a Bali-based business created by fellow Black traveller Bria from @ThePintSizedTraveller, offers beautiful wraps in a wide range of colours and patterns.
Headbands can also be incredibly useful for managing your style on low-effort days.
Need to be in the water?
The fear of ruining your hair shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the ocean, a waterfall, or a pool.
A Soul Cap is a game-changing swim cap designed specifically for voluminous hair. It offers a comfortable fit without crushing your style.
4. Consider a Shower Filter
This might sound a little extra, but hear me out.
A shower filter.
I know what you’re thinking.
“Aren’t we trying to travel light?”
Some countries have much harder water than others. Hard water contains higher concentrations of naturally occurring minerals, and in some places, elevated levels of substances you may not want lingering on your hair.
When I compared the water quality in Toronto to London, the difference was noticeable.
As someone who grew up in England before moving to Canada, one of the first things I noticed when I returned to London was how dry and brittle my hair felt.
Toronto’s water suddenly seemed amazing.
One of my former hairdressers, who was English, always maintained that Americans tended to have softer hair because they often had softer water.
Whether or not that’s entirely true, I can definitely say that water quality affects how my hair behaves.
If you’re planning to stay somewhere long-term, a shower filter can make a huge difference.
The good news is that most shower filters are small, lightweight, and easy to install.
5. Keep Simple Extensions on Hand
Sometimes you just want a break.
Clip-ins and drawstring ponytails can be lifesavers while travelling. They’re lightweight, easy to install, and give you a completely different look without the commitment of braids or a sew-in.
They also come in handy for special occasions when you want a little extra glamour without dedicating hours to styling.
6. Lean on the Travel Community
One of the best nomad hacks I discovered while travelling through Asia was joining local curly hair and Black expat groups.
Groups such as “Brothers and Sisters of Chiang Mai” or local curly girl communities are treasure troves of information.
People share recommendations for salons, products, ingredients, and stylists. Many groups even organize product swaps.
If you bought something that doesn’t work for your hair, chances are someone will happily trade, buy, or take it off your hands.
As someone who’s always trying to avoid unnecessary spending while travelling, I found these communities incredibly useful.
Even if you’re a product junkie at heart, it’s nice knowing there’s somewhere your unwanted purchases can find a new home.
The biggest lesson I learned is that your hair shouldn’t stop you from living your life.
Travel first.
Make memories first.
Your hair is supposed to support your adventures, not dictate them.
Travelling with weave
We’ve all been seduced by the glamour or a good weave. From silky smooth and flowing, to textured and voluminous, dark to tropical, weaves give us an added glamour and versatility that many dream to achieve with their real hair. An unfortunate by-product weaves have psychologically made some of us very dependant on them. Naturals and relaxed heads alike have noted their inability to feel “grown and sexy” without weaves, some wearing them at least 90% of the time. While I loved the looks that a good weave give me, I found myself fighting with my weave on a daily basis–whether It was because I was losing precious travel styling and combing or forgoing adventures in the anticipation that the aftermath would be a matted mess. The one time I threw caution to the wind I spent ages trying to revive my hair after submerging it into the notoriously drying waters of the blue lagoon in Iceland.
Styling-wise, weaves can provide a level of versatility and durability that we can wish to achieve with our natural hair: you can cut, bleach and straighten without having to deal with the consequences. That said, styling tools needed to maintain weaves styles can be very cumbersome. My blow-dryer (with comb attachment and diffuser) along with my flatiron added unnecessary pounds to my luggage allowance and limited my desire to pack light.
Never again.
Travelling with natural hair
Enough was enough. I grew sick and tired of feeling like I had to add additional hair to my head to feel sexy while I travelled, so after about 8 months, I quit re-installing and gave my hair a chance. I started wearing my hair out more. I am very aware of—what are perceived to be—the styling limitations of natural hair. It can be very difficult to feel confident with your hair when you have limited experience with wearing it out, but with time I felt incredible free.
I was free.
I was able to swim when I wanted. Wash my hair when I wanted. Hike when I wanted. Go on any adventure when I wanted. I even considered surfing. As time went by, I even started to feel sexy when my 4a/4b hair tossed in the wind.
To others I instantly became more interesting. Guys (of all colours) would use it as an ‘in’ to talk to me, and locals saw is an unusual and unique. People seemed to be intoxicated with its volume and delicious smell. I felt like I was living in the twilight zone. All this time, I had been lead to believe that I couldn’t be attractive with natural hair, but that was a lie. I also felt that I was ascending another level energetically.
Now that I was travelling naturally–without the support of braids or weaves—I had to do things a little differently. I was washing my hair more frequently and consumed all my products until there was nothing left; although, Ironically, I felt like was styling my hair a lot less.
Without further ado, here are some hair hacks that supported my hair in my most adventurous moments. These products will help to make travel more enjoyable without you having to sacrifice the style or freedom that you want with your hai
- Source natural ingredients at your destination
You don’t have to rely on consumer packaged goods to maintain your beautiful hair. Knowledge about which natural ingredients are good for your hair is invaluable when you are travelling long term, because instead of lugging around so many products of having to have a checked-in bag, you can rely on what’s around you. Make the most of the markets and shops in your current country! Yogurt, avocados, honey, aloe vera and various kinds of oils can be found just about anywhere you are.
Don’t be afraid to educate yourself about local hair traditions and products of the country that you are visiting. For the past few years, the natural hair/ curly girl community has borrowed secrets from many different cultures from around the world. We have incorporated Indian Ayuverdic practices such as the application of henna, alma oil and brahmi oil. The various rice water challenges have been inspired by the Yau women of China who grow their hair to extraordinary lengths. The latest trend is the incorporation of chebe powder from the women of Chad who maintain beautiful long hair.
In Bali, I was able to find a natural hair store for ultra low prices. At Angelo store in Ubud, I was was able to find products I used at home such as: jojoba oil, shea butter, mango butter and a sulphate free shampoo. If your pockets are a little deeper and you need something closer to the city centre, Utuma Spice is a good option as well.
- Learn to make shampoo & conditioner bars to travel with!
Shampoo and Conditioners that come in bar form are game-changing. Not only are they compact and long-lasting, they can also save you space and help you to avoid the horror of spilling product all over your clothes on a particularly turbulent flight. They also pass the typical allowance that you are allowed to travel with on flight, so forget being accosted by TSA for the 150ml conditioner you tried to sneak into your check-in bag.
I highly recommend Shea Moisture’s shampoo bar featuring Rassoul Clay, but since we want to avoid consumer packaged goods, I would recommend finding a god recipe and making them yourself. Youtuber________ has some excellent tutorials on how to make your own shampoo and conditioner bars. Make ‘em, freeze ‘em and be good to go!
(post video recipe)
- Headwraps and Headbands
Travelling across multiple climates and ecosystems can be brutal on your hair. Different countries have varying climates, from hot and humid to cold and frigid. While it might seem ideal that hot and humid climates can do wonders for hair-growth, heat damage are legitimate concerns. Dirt and dust from certain environments can also wreck havoc on your hair. Headwraps are fashion-forward solution to manage these issues that arise from hot and dusty climates. They are also a statement pieces and a creative way to styl your hair. Wraps & Whatever, a Bali based business created by fellow Black traveler Bria from @ThePintSized traveller on Instagram provides a solution for these problems. Adorn your hair with the plethora of colours and patterns the site has to offer. Headbands can also help to manage your hairstyle
Need to be in the water? The anticipation of messing up your hair shouldn’t stop you from testing the waters. A soul cap is a revolutionary swimming hat that provides a comfortable fit for voluminous styles. You don’t have to worry about messing up your style or looking crazy on your vacation with this in your arsenal.
- Shower filter / Clean water
This might seem a little extra…but…a shower filter. I know, you’re asking, but aren’t we supposed to be minimalist? Why are we packing yet another contraption?
Hear me out: Some countries have harder water than others (ahem, England). Hard water is water that is in excess of minerals that naturally occur; heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury and fluoride occurs in higher numbers in water sources (parts per million) than in others. Here is a comparison between the water in Toronto and the water in London.
As you can see the water in the UK was a lot harder than what I was used to, even though I grew up there. So I would always recommend that is you plan to stay in a place longterm, a shower filter is a must.
Not only can this affect your hair and teeth negatively, but I can also affect your health. As an English girl who later immigrated to Canada, one of the first differences I noticed was the quality of the water. While I never truly noticed the quality of Toronto’s waters, the water in London has my hair feeling dry, dull and breakable. Returning to Canada made me truly grateful for Toronto’s water quality.
One of my former hairdressers, who was English, always maintained that Americans had better, softer hair simply because their water was softer. The water in the United Kingdom is loaded with so many toxic minerals that it impacts the hairs ability to thrive and gives in a dull sheen. A shower filter, a device that can filter these toxins is a game changer. Shower filters can very compact and are easily attachable to just about any shower head.
5. Switch it up with very simple extensions: Clips-in and ponytails
6.
7. Get Support from the travel community
Another nomad hack I learned while travelling Asia was joining “curly” girl groups or groups such as “brothers and sistas of Chiangmai’ or curly girl groups in your respective city etc. here you can get advice and resources of where to find products. These groups also have products swaps, so if you aren’t happy or sure of a new purchase, or if you find yourself with more than you need, you can swap, sell or donate your products. I’m all about not going broke while travelling, so even if you are a PJ (products junkie) at heart and want to try so many new things in a new land, there might be someone willing to take those off your hands.