Relaxed On The Road: Taking Care of Relaxed Black Hair
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Taking Care of Relaxed Black Hair on the Road:
Relaxed Black hair has certain needs that must be met no matter where in the world you are. This list has the tools and hair care products you need to make sure you don’t have to sacrifice healthy hair for adventure.
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What You’ll Need
Travel-sized Bottles
If you’ll be traveling with checked bags you don’t have to worry about this but if you are a carry-on traveler like me then you’ll need travel-sized bottles and containers for the specific shampoos, conditioners, and leave-ins that your hair loves.
Sulfate-free Shampoo & Conditioner
Sulfates strip our hair of its natural oils and no one has time for that. So fill your travel bottles with sulfate-free cleansers and moisturizers to keep your hair healthy while traveling.
My Recommendation: Shea Moisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Leave-In Conditioner
Leave-in conditioners are a vital part of the relaxed Black hair care routine. They help to detangle hair, fight frizz, moisturize and prevent split ends. I put some of my leave-in conditioner in my travel container and never have to worry about the disaster my hair would be without it.
My Recommendation: Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream
Natural Oils
By now we are all aware of the positive benefits of adding natural oils to our hair care routine. My personal favorites are Coconut Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Coconut oil is a wonderful moisturizer that works great as a pre-poo treatment. It will protect your hair while you shampoo so you can get nice and clean without over stripping.
Extra Virgin Olive oil is perfect as a moisturizer and sealant. The olive oil will help to ensure that all the moisture you worked so hard to put in your hair actually stays in. Olive oil is light, does not have a strong smell and won’t weigh down your hair as long as you use a dime-sized amount.
**Note: Put your oil in really good leak-proof travel containers. Test them out before you travel because there’s nothing worse than opening your pack and finding your things covered in olive oil. I speak from experience.**
Dual-Voltage Travel Hair Dryer
If you bought all these wonderful electronics in the US that you plan on bringing on your overseas trip then you need to make sure it can handle the voltage. If not, I’m told it will blow up. I’m not sure if there will be an actual explosion but I’m not too eager to test it. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get your hands on a dual-voltage travel hair dryer.
My Recommendation: TESCOM Travel Hair Dryer
No Heat Option: Flexi Rods
If you prefer to keep heat out of your hair care routine then Flexi Rods are my go-to. They are another way to manage my roots without burning them into submission. The Flexi Robs will stretch out your roots and let them dry relatively straight. Make sure you give your hair plenty of time to dry and wake up the next morning with beautiful curls.
Satin-lined Pillowcase
Sleeping on satin is so much better for your face and hair because it is not as absorbent as cotton. Cotton pillowcases leech all the moisture out of your head causing dryness and breakage. Then, they leave you with lines all over your face to add insult to injury. Since switching to satin I have noticed a significant change in the health of my hair and now I pack my pillowcase with me on every trip.
My Recommendation: Luxury Satin Pillowcase
Satin-lined Beret
The cheap fabric on plane seats, bus seats, train seats, all the seats, aren’t meant to be rubbing against relaxed black hair. It causes friction and friction leads to breakage. When we are traveling we can’t really avoid these methods of transportation so to protect my hair I always have my beret nearby or on my head. It’s handy as a sleeping cap if you’ll be on an overnight bus or plane. Also, if you don’t want to carry around the satin pillowcase at all, you can just tuck your hair into your beret at night.
My Recommendation: Always Eleven Satin Lined Knit Beret Hat
Protect That Hair
It may have just been me but I was really concerned about how I was going to continue my hair care routine while I was backpacking. But thankfully, I found a way around every problem. I was able to bring all my favorite products with me and fit them into my carry-on luggage. Black hair has different needs but they can still be met even while you’re on the road. So good luck and Happy Travels!
For more travel essentials check out my Resources page!