How to be Instagram Ready While Traveling for Natural Hair

Traveling with natural hair is so much easier than having relaxed hair, but it comes with its own complications.

I’ve said this before, but I am team carry on all day, every day and I refuse to check a bag if I can help it. However, the only time I typically need to check a bag is because of my hair supplies.

Travel Size It!

One way I get around liquid restrictions and checking a bag is to place my favorite hair products in travel-sized bottles or Tupperware. It’s a hassle, but a worthy hassle to avoid waiting in baggage claim for what feels like hours. My only precaution is to always double bag your hair products. I’ve had them spill within the bag, but because I doubled (and sometimes tripled) wrapped my hair products, my clothes were safe.

A few natural hair care lines already have travel-sized products making it easier to grab and go. However, if these aren’t products you’ve tried before, I strongly recommend testing them before traveling. There’s nothing worse than trying a new hair product while in another country and discovering it doesn’t work. Note that I’m speaking from first-hand knowledge and it was a frizzy nightmare.

Don’t Experiment While Traveling

Another reason why experimenting with new products while traveling is a bad idea is that you don’t know how much product you’ll need. And the chances of you finding your favorite hair care products in Iceland or the Maldives are as about as good as discovering Tupac is alive. Meaning, it’s probably never going to happen, but it doesn’t mean you’ve given up hope.

Knowing how your products work and how much is needed is a vital step in caring for your natural hair while traveling.

Liquids Restrictions Hack

Nobody wants to endure the pain of having a TSA employee throw out their new hair products, especially if they’re out of the country. However, I sometimes feel like TSA employees mess with you just because they can and it’s all based on their mood. I will say that at least in America, the days of having your natural hair searched are mostly gone. Sadly, this is not the case in Abu Dhabi.

A trick I’ve learned to help me get a few more hair products in my bag without TSA noticing is to find products that are creamy in texture and are solid enough not to be flagged.

Magic Scarf

Have you ever walked on a plane looking too cute with your fresh twist-set only to depart looking like you escaped from the mental hospital because your hair is smashed and frizzy? Don’t act like I’m the only one!

It may not be the sexiest look, but nowadays before my longer flights, I wash and twist-set my hair and leave it that way until I land. I’ve tried taking it out while on the plane, but without a mirror, that’s a risk I’m no longer willing to take.

Plus, you never know when you’ll run into your Morris Chestnut on a plane. So to avoid looking like Whoopi Goldberg in the Color of Purple, I’ll put on a bonnet and then wrap my hair with my scarf. This gives my scarf double duty. I can use it on my trip if it gets cold or on my hair on the plane. Or if it rains or you’re having a bad hair day on vacation, the scarf comes in handy.

For those of you who simply don’t care, rock the bonnet and keep it pushing. Again, I’m still single and ready to mingle so I do try to look presentable while traveling. Either way, it’s vital to protect your hair on long flights.

Satin Nights

I’m a lazy hair traveler but I’m getting better. To keep my hair looking cute throughout my vacation, I attempt to re-twist it at night before bed. I won’t lie, I often pass out and this step is skipped. What saves me and my hair often is that I pack a satin pillowcase or bonnet. This gives your hair a fighting chance for some black girl magic on Instagram the next day.

It’s not effortless to have Instagram worthy hair, but if you follow these travel hacks, you’ve got a fighting chance.

What are some of your tips for traveling with natural hair?