Explore Travel Size Hair Products – Day 15 of 30 Days to Packing a Better Bag

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Welcome to Day 15 of 30 Days to Packing a Better Bag.

When it comes to staying fashionable on the road, keeping your hair maintained can play a big part in that. 

Women with hair that is prone to frizz may not hesitate to make room for travel hair products on their packing lists. But do you really need to be chained to 20 pounds of haircare items in order to maintain that look on the road?

We say nay. With a bit of forethought and planning, your travel hair packing section can be reduced significantly. Trust us!

Ditch the Full Size Bottles

We firmly believe that virtually every trip can be taken without the need to pack full sized bottles of hair product. Your hair products go a lot further than you may think they do. 

Here are some questions worth asking if you don’t agree:

• How often do you wash your hair? If you wash your hair every few days and are only going away for 1-2 weeks, then a full sized bottle of shampoo or conditioner is obsolete.
• Do you want to deal with extra weight from bulk bottles in your bag? We’ve seen them. Some of those shampoo and conditioner bottles could pose as a weapon because of their giant size.
• Do you want to travel with the chance of spills and leaks? Regular bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products, aren’t made with the idea of travel in mind. Get them up in the air, with a bit of pressure, and pop! Leakage galore.
• Can you buy your hair product, or something similar, abroad? You’d be surprised what you can buy in the most random of places in the world. Pantene, for example, is a very popular brand that can even be purchased in countries like Kyrgyzstan.

So what’s the alternative to bringing normal sized bottles of hair care products on your travels?

• Purchase travel size hair products. These are available in nearly every brand and for every hair style. Many salon brands are now sold in travel sizes. You can purchase these in advance and place them into your carry-on.
• Buy product when you arrive at your destination; leave it behind when you head back home.
• Repackage your hair care products into special travel bottles. Pitotubes offers a set with a variety of tops for squirt or spray, allowing you to pack everything from hairspray to shampoo. GoToobs are easy to squeeze and come with a nice no-drop valve, but tiny Nalgene bottles provide excellent protection from leaks and tend to be our number one recommendation for travel bottles for that fact alone. We’ve got a great comparison of travel toiletry bottles to help you choose.

• You might want to take a look at this post if you’re still feeling skeptical: How Long Do Travel Toiletries Last?

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Benefits of Travel Size Hair Products

If you’re packing carry-on or personal item only, it is even more important to ditch the full size hair products and embrace the travel sized options instead. Here are all the benefits:

• TSA Compliance: If you are a seasoned traveler, you’ll know all about the 3-1-1 rule for carry-on travel. You can only carry liquids in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less in one quart-sized, clear plastic toiletry bag. Obviously, your regular hair products will not be allowed. 
• Easy to Carry: Travel sized hair products are a lot more compact and lightweight than their regular sized alternatives. By switching to travel sized hair products, you’ll be reducing significant weight and bulk from your bag.
• Convenient: If you’re a frequent traveler, you can keep your travel sized toiletries in your toiletry bag always ready for your next trip.
• Minimize Wastage: By bringing only what you need, you’ll be reducing waste and saving money. You don’t want to have to throw away good product to make room for your souvenirs if you don’t have to. 
• Space Saving: Save space in your bag for other essentials and souvenirs. Depending on how many hair products you packed originally, you might even decrease a bag size.

Planning Ahead to Save on Space

There’s no need to sacrifice style or convenience when you’re on the road, some simple planning means you can pack light and still keep your hair routine.

• Call or email your intended accommodation to see what types of products they provide. Many women travel with a blow dryer or flat iron as their luxury hair care piece, but even some hostels will offer blow dryers these days.
• Split and share with friends. Are you traveling with another female or two? See if you can’t share that pump hair spray or flat iron and cut back on wasted weight and space.
• Check with other travelers who have been where you are going. Find out if your “preferred” products can be found in that destination and plan to refill your travel bottle as you go.
• Look for fun ways to embrace your natural hair on the road. Learn some easy and cute up-dos, or integrate scarves and headbands into the mix. These are great ways to manage hair with minimal product.

Travel Size Hair Products to Pack

Travel sized brush – A popular model is the fold-up brush and mirror combo, but even high-end brushes can be bought in travel size. They can be more difficult for styling purposes, but save room, which is the name of the game here at Her Packing List. You might also consider a comb or pick depending on your hair type.

• Try this Mini Detangler Brush or the NuWay 4HAIR Travel Brush.

Headbands – Headbands are the ultimate travel hair accessory as they keep your hair out of your face, can make it more manageable, and help to hide your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th day hair if need be. A buff is another good option that can also serve as a neck wrap, scarf, or beanie.

Hair ties – Look for ones without the metal clasps, which prevent damage and the pain of getting hair stuck in the metal! These are essential for women with longer hair who plan to be outside in the sun and wind.

Hair spray – Don’t pack aerosols if you want to go carry-on only. There are some pump alternatives for keeping your hair under control, but as always, we worry about leakage when it comes to packing those extra liquids. Alternatively, look for products like gels and pomades.

• Try this 2 Oz TRESemmé Non-Aerosol Hair Spray.

Blow dryer – Most hotel rooms have blow dryers and even hostels allow you to rent them, so consider that before packing. If you do decide to bring your blow dryer, try to find a travel version that will take up less room in addition to coming with dual voltage settings.

• Try this REVLON Compact Folding Hair Dryer with universal worldwide dual voltage.

Flat iron – Many traveling females swear by their straightener and can’t leave home without it. Again, look for a travel variety if you bring one at all, but we highly recommend trying to embrace your natural hair on the road instead!

• The Wavytalk Mini Flat Iron (with dual voltage for worldwide use) is a good option.

Liquid Shampoo and Conditioner – As stated earlier, if you decide to pack liquid shampoo and conditioner, go with travel size. If not repackaging into special leak-proof bottles, we suggest taping the lids before you leave and putting them in a plastic bag. Airplane cabin pressure is usually what causes leaks. Just remember to go with TSA compliant sizes!

• Try the TRESemmé Travel Size Shampoo & Conditioner (3 oz each) or the Monday Haircare Shampoo & Conditioner Travel Pack (1.69 oz each)

Solid Shampoo and Conditioner – Solid shampoos and conditioners are convenient for avoiding liquid restrictions in your hand luggage. Lush makes a variety from all natural ingredients (plus they smell so good!). Ethique is another brand we love. (Or make your own conditioner bar!)

Dry Shampoo – Dry shampoo is not an alternative to washing your hair, but it’s a great thing to have for those in between showering or hair-washing days. It soaks up the oil in your scalp to make it look cleaner. Tip: Baby powder is an alternative for those with light hair.

• Batiste Dry Shampoo Mini Travel Size or Handmade Heroes Non-Aerosol Dry Shampoo Powder are both good options.

• Take a look at this blog post for some more shampoo options: Shampoo options for girls who travel

Tomorrow we’re discussing how to pack liquid toiletries.

What are the first hair care products you are crossing off your packing list? What are you planning to do instead? Let us know in the comments below.

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