Challenge Accepted: Traveling with Curly Hair

Over half of the world’s population has some sort of textured hair – from wavy to curly. But the majority reject their natural hair when traveling.

After all, traveling with curly hair isn’t always the easiest.

However, as perceptions change and authenticity is encouraged, I’m delighted to see curly-haired travelers increasing.

I’ve personally been through quite the self-love journey. I’ve gone from hiding my hair and playing small to embracing my big curls and taking up space as a woman. I know it all too well, the smooth and “professional,” frizz-free, “socially acceptable” hairdo. I understand the pressure to contain our seemingly “messy, curly, wild side”.

But reading Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes helped me realize curly hair is a gift. This book helped me access innate wisdom and inspired me to embrace what makes me, me. 

The key to my best travels can be found in each curl pattern. Curly hair is a reminder that the magic is never in the destination, it’s in the spiraling, nonlinear journey. 

Do you have curly hair and want to enjoy your trips without the pressure to conform and straighten your locks? Keep reading and let me be your ultimate curl-friend! 

I’ll share the pitfalls I’ve experienced and hacks I’ve learned to help and inspire you. Here’s how to make your next trip as fun as your curls are!

Traveling as a straight-haired fraud is a lose-lose

I used to straighten my hair daily and my life revolved around my hairdryer schedule. If you can relate, you’ve probably also missed out on beach and poolside adventures. You may have also dreaded travels to tropical paradises, knowing you’d spend much of the time there struggling to prevent frizz.

I would spend hours in a bathroom, straightening my hair for what felt like decades… only to watch it coil back up with any sign of humidity or sweat. 

I would walk into a dance party or concert looking one way and run away like Cinderella, knowing I’d be unrecognizable when I left. I didn’t want people to know I was a straight-haired fraud. 

It took me 19 years to stop this and opt out of homogenized beauty standards. Once I embraced my quirky personality from within, I realized it embodied my natural hair on the outside. 

My hair, life, and travel completely changed—and not in the way I was expecting.

Embracing my curls allowed me to experience new adventures (and gave me more room in my suitcase)

Once I started embracing my natural hair, I gained so many hours back. I added so many previously off-limit activities and travel destinations back into my experience. No more avoiding the beach. No more stressing about frizz. And no more running off and ending the night early.

I gained way more room in my suitcase without having to pack appliances. Think about all the extra luggage space for clothes, shoes, and unique souvenirs you’ll have without lugging around a heavy hair straightener, heat protector sprays, and extra styling products. 

Removing what no longer served me made space for far more than shopping, though. It made room for grand adventure and new possibilities to enter my life.

Curly hair care products I don’t travel anywhere without

Whether it’s a curls day out or a curls night in, it’s important to have the right products. Here are some of my absolute favorite curly hair products I take with me whether I’m going on a quick staycation or spending a few weeks abroad. 

I’ve included items for your flight, sleep routine, drying and styling, and ideas for what to keep in a day trip bag for various activities. Be prepared to adapt to any situation just like your straight-haired counterparts.

Night Necessity

• Sleep cap 
  • These are a great way to protect your curls in flight too!

Shower Caddy: 

• Innersense organic mini shampoo and conditioner
• Innersense deep conditioning mask 
• Mini detangling wet brush 

Drying & Styling: 

• An old t-shirt or microfiber towel
• Denman defined styling brush
• Bounce Curl volume defining brush
  • I’ve included my two favorite styling brushes because different types of curl patterns have different needs. Watch how-to videos for each brush.
• Collapsible hair dryer diffuser

Day Trip Bag:

• Day trip hair cream 
• Day bag hair cream containers
• Innersense UV protector spray
• Sun Bum Beach leave-in detangler hair spray 
• Smaller leave-in spray bottle
• Mini moisture/continuous spray mist water bottle
  • This is my favorite curly gadget! Use it to section hair and give curls a complete refresh
• Silk, no damage hair ties
• Foldable sun hat 

Sometimes, you can prevent puffiness and shrinkage of shorter hair by adding long extensions to weigh it down. If you don’t have time for beaded wefts, clip-in hair extensions are easy to travel with. Opt for a silk drawstring bag to store them safely in. Have highlights? I recommend mixing 2 sets of colors. 

There are drawstring ponytails and hair claw clip alternatives that are great for looking sleeker on sporty workout days. 

It’s always a great idea to call your accommodation to confirm it has hairdryer diffusers or microfiber towels so you don’t have to bring them. 

These should be your starter kit, but what if I told you curly hair bliss wasn’t only being prepared with the right gadgets you bring?

Curly hair cautions that surprised me

Just like red hair and fair skin in the sunshine, curly hair is sensitive and requires some adjustments and extra support. 

First, curly hair appears more brittle when dehydrated. So make sure you bring a travel-sized spray bottle to add moisture on the go. 

You’d be surprised how much extra hair breakage you might see without drinking at least 60 ounces of water a day! Proper hydration starts on the airplane, way before sightseeing. This is especially important in destinations with extreme heat or cold.

Besides weather, plan for any pollution, exposure to harsh chemicals, and UV radiation which also affect hair health. I promise this UV protector spray will be your new best friend. 

I’ve also found that, along with using a deep conditioning mask twice a week, you can use it as a styling cream during a warm day trip. When you do this, you use the sky as part of your treatment – the heat locks into the hair follicle and repairs the integrity of each strand. Try it out!

Also, pay attention to the food you eat while traveling. Even shorter trips can impact your curl’s appearance and texture. 

Foods like fatty fish, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds will improve moisture levels in your hair and skin. This might be your sign to book that Mediterranean trip!

Yes, curly hair is sensitive, but I hope you now see it as a strength, not a hindrance. 

Yogi Bhajan explains, “Hair is an extension of the nervous system. Each hair follicle is an exteriorized nerve, a strand of highly evolved ‘feelers’ or ‘antennae’ to the subtle energy around you.”

Thank your curly hair for the added travel safety. 

The spiral is also found in sacred geometry, symbolizing growth and evolution, and the journey inward. That means if you have curly hair, you have sacred hair! 

I hope you’re now inspired to let down your locks and feel better equipped to travel with curly hair.

So, love your curls, and happy travels!