When you're trying to grow out or improve your hair, it's hard to think about how much damage travel can do - endless flights, saltwater swims, and brutal sun exposure can leave your strands dry, brittle, and fried. If you want to keep your hair healthy, shiny, and in its best condition to grow,  you need to protect your hair as much as you do your skin. Here’s how to keep your hair healthy, hydrated, and manageable no matter where your adventures take you.

1. Travel-Sized and Spill-Proof Hair Products

Space is limited when you’re living out of a suitcase. Opt for travel-sized bottles or solid alternatives to keep your hair care streamlined. Shampoo bars can be a game-changer for carry-on-only travelers – they don’t count as liquids, won’t explode in your bag, and last far longer than tiny bottles. Plus, they’re often made with gentler, sulfate-free formulas that are better for your hair. what type of hair do i have can help you determine which products are best for your hair type.

• Try: Ethique Pinkalicious Solid Shampoo Bar (hydrating and travel-friendly) or HiBAR Moisturize Conditioner Bar (perfect for dry or frizzy hair).

For textured or curly hair, pack a small bottle of leave-in conditioner or curl cream. It’ll help you fight frizz and retain moisture in humid or dry climates - and once you buy a travel-size, you can continue to refill it from a value size to make your products much more cost effective.

• Try: Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner (great for curly or wavy hair) or Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Defining Cream (moisturizing and lightweight).

A travel-sized hair oil is another must – it tames flyaways, adds shine, and protects against environmental damage.

• Try: Moroccanoil Treatment Mini (argan oil-infused for shine and softness) or Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil (deeply nourishing and compact).

And if you’re short on time or dealing with greasy roots, mini dry shampoo bottles are lifesavers.

• Try: Batiste Travel-Size Dry Shampoo (absorbs oil and adds volume) or Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo (leaves no white residue).

2. Protect Your Hair from Salt and Chlorine

Nothing strips moisture from your hair faster than saltwater and chlorine. If you’re hitting the beach or pool, rinse your hair with fresh water beforehand – it helps prevent it from absorbing as much salt or chemicals. Post-swim, always rinse thoroughly and apply a leave-in conditioner or hydrating hair milk to replenish lost moisture.

• Try: K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask (restores strength after chlorine exposure) or Sun Bum 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner (detangles and protects from UV damage).
  

If you color your hair, chlorine and sun exposure are even harsher. Bring a color-protecting hair mask or treatment to keep your shade from fading.

• Try: Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector (strengthens and protects color-treated hair) or dpHUE Color Fresh Therapy Mask (boosts vibrancy and repairs damage).
  

UV-protectant sprays also help block sun damage, which is essential for both colored and natural hair.

• Try: Sun Bum Protecting Heat Protector Spray (blocks UV rays and prevents heat damage) or COOLA Organic Scalp & Hair Mist SPF 30 (lightweight sun protection for hair and scalp).

3. Shield Your Hair from the Sun

Just like your skin, your hair needs protection from the sun. Prolonged UV exposure weakens the hair cuticle, making it brittle and prone to breakage. The solution? Stylish and practical accessories. A silk scarf or wide-brimmed hat offers sun protection while keeping you looking chic. Silk is also gentler on your strands, reducing friction and frizz.

• Try: Slip Pure Silk Scarf (gentle on hair and reduces frizz) or Lack of Color Wide-Brimmed Hat (stylish and protective).

When exposure, use a UV-protectant hair spray. Many also contain hydrating ingredients, helping you fight both sun damage and dryness in one step.

• Try: Sachajuan Hair In The Sun (UV protection and leave-in treatment) or Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil (lightweight UV defense spray).

4. Protect and Style Your Hair While You Sleep

Start by working on mastering overnight styling tricks and which method works best for your hair. Overnight blowouts and heatless curls have been a game-changer – Everyone's hair is different, but start with a sleepy-tie overnight blowout scrunchie and a heatless curler set,  the two most popular and easiest methods. By morning, you’ll wake up with voluminous, effortlessly tousled waves – no heat, no hassle. If you’re going for curls, heatless curling rods or silk curling ribbons create soft, bouncy waves while you sleep. It’s the laziest, most effective beauty hack you’ll ever use. This has been a game changer for me and now a regular part of my evening routine. Overnight curling methods not only cut down on the amount of heat you use on your hair, they protect your hair from damage while you sleep. For more protection and smoother hair, wear a silk bonnet over.

Long travel days often mean crashing in unfamiliar beds, but how you sleep impacts your hair’s health. Tossing and turning on rough hotel pillowcases causes breakage and frizz. To avoid this, pack a silk or satin pillowcase – it reduces friction and helps your hair retain moisture overnight.

• Try: Slip Pure Silk Travel Pillowcase (luxurious and travel-friendly) or Quince 100% Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase (gentle on hair and skin and a great price).

If you don’t want to bring your own pillowcase, use a silk or satin hair bonnet or wrap. It keeps your hair smooth and tangle-free, especially if you have curls or textured hair.

• Try: YANIBEST Satin Lined Sleep Cap (soft and protective) or Grace Eleyae Satin-Lined Cap (reduces friction and locks in moisture).

Even if you have straight or wavy hair, sleeping in a satin bonnet can be a game-changer for healthy hair. I've been trying to keep this habit up recently!

5. Hydrate – Inside and Out

Dehydration shows up in your hair. When you’re constantly on the go, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water. But dry, brittle hair is often a sign that your body needs hydration, not just your strands. Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water, especially in hot or arid destinations.

For external hydration, use leave-in conditioners, hair oils, or hydrating mists. If you’re staying in one place for a while, consider doing a deep-conditioning treatment once a week to restore moisture.

• Try: Ouai Leave-In Conditioner (hydrates and protects against heat) or Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer (lightweight hydration and UV protection).
  
• Deep Conditioning: Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask (ultra-hydrating) or Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask (restores moisture and shine).

6. Minimize Heat Styling and Embrace Your Nature Hair Texture

Constantly blow-drying or straightening your hair while traveling is a recipe for damage. Whenever possible, let your hair air-dry and embrace its natural texture. If you need to style it, use a heat protectant spray and keep the temperature low.

• Try: GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray (lightweight and protective) or CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray (prevents heat damage and adds shine).

You don’t need heat to keep your hair looking polished while traveling. With the right air-dry products, you can enhance your natural texture and tame frizz with minimal effort - and what better time to perfect your 'undone' look?

• Try: JVN Complete Air Dry Cream (smooths frizz and enhances waves) or Bumble and Bumble Don’t Blow It (Fine) Hair Styler (adds subtle body and definition while keeping strands soft and flexible.)

d

6. Don't Let It Keep You Out of the Water

At the end of the day, life is for living! Don't be too afraid to throw off your wash day schedule or for your hair to air dry naturally to get in the water.  Enjoy your travels and jump off the boat, dip under the waves, go snorkeling, and don't take it all too seriously.