Your Guide To Styling Your Natural Hair Around The World

Traveling while having natural hair can seem like a reason to hold you back from doing it, but once you learn how to take care of your hair it can be simple. One of my favorite things about traveling with natural hair is the versatility of my hairstyles. For one trip, I can wear a protective style and for another trip, I can wear a twist out. 

Taking care of your hair while on vacation is super easy, and you can take the essentials wherever you go, INCLUDING in your carryon. Suck it TSA. All you need are the following:

1. A Spray Bottle Mixture: Using a three ounce spray bottle from the travel section of Target, I fill it up with essential oils mixed with water to keep my hair moisturized while traveling. The oils that work best with my hair are olive oil, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil. I choose these because it keeps my scalp moisturized and encourages growth, the two main things I care about with my hair on vacation. 
   
   
2. A Comb And A Brush: Pretty self explanatory, but it's good to keep these with you for styling your hair.
   
   
3. Hair Accessories: You can bring anything. I fill up a small container with rubber bands, bobby pins, barrettes, hair ties, hair clips, headbands, and flower crowns. You name it, I will probably pack it. I like the idea of overpacking accessories because you never know the occasion to wear them. 
   
   
4. Silk Scarf: Keep those edges laid and ALWAYS bring your scarf to tie your hair up at night. Sometimes it may be embarrassing if you wear it in front of people who don't get it, but once they see how dope your hair looks the next morning, an explanation will go without saying. 
   
   
5. A Travel Size Bottle Of Your Favorite Styling Cream: These are helpful for twist outs to keep your hair defined. If you can't find a travel size bottle, find an old small bottle to place the product in. Remember, liquids up to 3 ounces can be taken on the plane and there's not a limit to how much you bring. I have brought 3 different bottles of 3 different products on a plane before.  

Once you have the essentials packed, you're good to go for any hairstyle! Being on vacation is a fun opportunity to experiment with different hairstyles because you can really capitalize on no one knowing you so you have the opportunity to wear anything you've always wanted to. I love trying out different hairstyles, here's some different styles you can try next time you go on vacation. 

Protective Styles 

Protective styles are fun because it's probably the easiest way to take care of your hair while traveling. Whether it's box braids or crochet braids, protective styles can last up to 4 weeks and are super low maintenance. To keep these styles in top shape, I spritz the mixture in my spray bottle around my edges and in the parts of my scalp every night before I go to bed and when I wake up in the morning.

Twists 

Twists are a great way to not deal with your hair for a few days. Simply spray your hair with your water mixture, apply any styling cream, and do a simple two strand twist and wrap your hair at night. Since the wrapping of your hair will flatten the twists, you can pin them close to your head with bobby pins and put a headband over it. Another style is two large twists on both sides of your head. Twists are super easy so they're one of my go-to styles for everyday stuff. 

Scarves 

I've never known how to wear any scarf other than a winter one around my neck, so I wear them on my head which is the next best thing. My favorite scarf I got from H&M a few years ago and have been wearing it ever since. I put it on my hair whenever I want to keep my twists in for a while and want to change up the look. 

Whatever The Style, Make It Yours! 

No matter what the style, choose what works best for you and what makes you comfortable. Traveling with natural hair is fun because our hair is versatile and you can change your hair in many different ways. So grab your styling tools and get those tickets to where you've always wanted to go and let go of any worries you may have of styling your hair while traveling the world!