by Bennii Blast of The Culture Pine
Last week I eagerly made my way back to the UK after what had seemed like forever. The journey took a ridiculous amount of time (start to finish around a crazy 17 hours) but I can’t complain as we saved a bucket load of money on the tickets, and being able to taste my beloved Nando’s again – you haven’t lived until you try this – made it all worth it.
Do Any Treatments Before You Go
If like me, your transitioning strands require frequent deep conditioning treatments to avoid matting at the demarcation line, why not do this beforehand if possible? This will help see that your hair is at its best before setting off and you can eliminate a product off the list.
Ask Ahead…
There are a number of products my mum uses for my sister’s hair that I use too. Last time I ended up taking things back with me that were already hanging around the house, so now I check-in prior to travelling to see which products are already there.
Anticipate Your Next Product Splurge
Living in the Netherlands is so darn expensive compared to some of the ridiculously cheap prices in the UK. For this reason, if I have little to know conditioner etc. left, instead of replacing it before I travel, I save myself a few pennies and buy it when I’m there. Why pay 3 euros for my Herbal Essences when I can get it for £1?
Try To Stay On Board!
Transitioning hair benefits from minimal combing and hair touching, frequent moisturising, and dedication. Try to keep this on your mind while you are away, so that all that hard work isn’t jeopardised over a few days of neglect. No – you shouldn’t be a prisoner when caring for your hair, but try not to have too many days where you jump over board!
Let me tell you ! if there is nothing you remember, and your brain fart clears up for that one split second , you needa grab your satin bonnet or silk scarf . It saves your life. sleeping in the car, WRAP IT UP. knocked out on the plane, WRAP IT UP. going to sleep in the hotel, WRAP IT UP (no pun intended). unless you wanna look a mess on the go, you know what to do.
I'd say try to plan which styles you're going to do so you know exactly which products you need. I went on vacation for Spring Break this year and took some stuff that I didn't need AT ALL. I knew that once I washed my hair I'd blow dry it and style it (just wearing the blow out the first night, bantu knots and braid outs from then on) from there, so why did I pack my twist&define cream, which is for WET twists and braids? I guess I thought better be safe than sorry, but it just added clutter to the hair products I brought.
This past summer I was abroad for 2 months and I took full bottles of everything (as opposed to travel size over break). I ended up finding someone that straightened really well, so after doing my hair myself twice (braid outs) I got it straightened twice at the salon. In the end, I didn't need all the hair products I had brought, but if I had to do it over I'd still take the full bottles. Being gone for several weeks you don't want to be stuck in need.
Oh, don't take heat tools abroad. It's likely that they'll get ruined. Over Spring Break my blow dryer broke, and over the summer my portable heat cap died. You don't wanna have to replace things once you return from your travels.
Great tips! @Sydni_Michelle, that's so important too! As a long term transitioner (12 months next week, yeah!), preparation beforehand has been so instrumental, including doing my twist outs right before I leave to try to get the most mileage out of them while i'm on my trip, and packing all my tried and true products in travel-size containers!
In two weeks, I'm actually about to embark on about three months worth of traveling to places where I have NO knowledge of the stores they have, so I am trying to figure out where I can get the most bang for my buck with my hair supplies. Multi-purpose products are getting premium space! I'm also doing my big chop (eek! very nervous) about a week before I leave (I figure this way if I hate it, I'll be gone for three months and have some time to get used to it and learn how to style it before I see people I know!), so hopefully that will cut down on some of the products I need to take. *crosses fingers*
I use travel size containers and usually aim for protective styles.
Renee
i'm more of a road trip kind of gal so i just put my fav products in a little travel sie container and carry on. but im very forgetful as well so its hard to develop any routines lol
My biggest thing was remembering to pack in the 2/3 oz jar. I forgot one time and had to throw away a bottle of brand new conditioner! I was heated, but I learned my lesson!