by Aisling Ashbery

Created on: July 01, 2010

If you’re planning on traveling this summer and you want your hair to look great when you arrive at your destination, you will need to exercise a little more care and caution than the average traveler.  How long you can keep your hair looking nice will depend on how long you are on the road.  To prolong terrific tresses, follow these summer travel tips for your hair.

1. Start Clean

Though it may seem silly to wash your hair before embarking on a long car ride, you can’t keep things looking nice if they didn’t start out that way to begin with.  Starting with a clean slate will give your hair a longer time that it will last, even on the road. 

2. Save the Products

Though you should start with clean, dry hair on your journey, wait to use products like hair spray, mousse, or gel until you arrive where you’re going.  The affects of these products will probably have worn off by the time you reach your destination anyway, and on the way the products combined with heat and lack of air will just make your hair greasy or stringy.  However, if you tend toward frizzy hair it is ok to use an anti-frizz product before you start your journey, as the frizziness might be irreversible otherwise when you reach your destination.

3. Invest in a Natural Fiber Scarf

Tying hair up in a natural fiber scarf is a great way to protect it from rubbing against seats of cars or planes and therefore looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed when you arrive.  It is important that the scarf is a natural fiber like cotton or silk because these fibers will still allow air to reach your hair - the fabrics “breathe.”  Synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, or spandex do not allow this air flow.

4. Dab Powder to Combat Grease

If you are traveling for a long while and your hair starts to feel greasy but you don’t have time to grab a shower, follow this simple trick.  Charge a large powder brush with translucent face powder and dust it into your part to absorb excess oil.  Don’t go overboard or it will look as though you’ve just sneezed into the flour bin, but a little touch can take the extra greasiness out of your hair.

It can be a difficult task to keep hair presentable after a long journey, but by starting clean and keeping your tresses protected, your locks will be in the best shape possible.

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