Natural Hair Travel Essentials for Protecting My Hair While Travelling

I am a black woman with natural hair that likes to travel to places with heat, humidity and water adventures (also known as flat iron straightened hair enemies). I’m also not the type of woman who enjoys sitting for hours to get my hair braided or wearing wigs. As a result, throughout the years I have carefully curated my straightened hair to natural hair travel kit for protective hairstyles. I have listed below the items that I cannot travel without (to guard against hair damage) and how I’m able to fit them all in my regular travel toiletry bag with all of my other toiletries.

Links directing you to where you can purchase these items are included below. Some of the links below are affiliate links; meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. All Affiliate links have an *.

STRAIGHTENED HAIR ESSENTIALS

I usually start every trip to a tropical location with straight hair. Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother because I never make it past Day 3 before surrendering to my natural hair texture (but I digress). During those first 3 Days, these are the things I need.

Mesh Bag and Straight Pins

I use a small mesh bag to store the straight pins I use to pin curl my hair at night. This keeps them organized and easy to locate. A half sandwich baggie will suffice too. My favorite mesh bags are Sea Team Portable Travel Toiletry Pouch*.

Hair Bonnet or Silk or Satin Head Tie/Scarf

Most hotel pillows are made of material such as cotton or polyester that can be very drying for my hair, which will inevitably lead to hair damage or breakage so I need to make sure there is a protective barrier in the form of a satin hair bonnet or silk/satin head tie/scarf. This is very necessary when I wear my hair curly as well. If I’m feeling particularly lazy I’ll drape the head scarf over my pillow and put on a silk or satin head band and sleep like that. My favorite satin head band is the Driew Silk Satin Elastic Headband* and my favorite hair bonnet at the moment is the Stay on Stain Edge Bonnet*.

Flat Iron and Heat Protectant

Humidity and sweat collectively wreak havoc on my straightened roots and edges in the tropics so when attempting to keep my hair straight as long as possible I heavily rely on a ceramic ionic flat iron and a heat protectant. My favorite travel size flat iron is the Amika Travel Size Ceramic Ionic Flat Iron. My favorite travel size heat protectant is Fantasia High Potency IC Heat Protector Straightening Serum*. If I can’t get it in travel size, I use a travel size container like the Kitdine Portable Soft Silicone Travel bottles*.

Blow Dryer

To be completely honest, I usually never feel motivated to spend the time it takes to blow dry my hair on vacation but if I did I would use a travel size Ceramic Iconic Blow Dryer. My favorite is the BabyBlissPRO Tourmaline Travel Blow Dryer*.

CURLY HAIR ESSENTIALS

Miniature Jar of Hair Balm or Grease

Hair Balm or Grease is what I use to moisturize my hair for a wash and go hair style. I don’t usually use very much (because I pre-treat my hair with hair oil) so I transport it in a 1 oz jar. My favorite 1 oz jar is TopWell Bamboo Lid Cosmetic Cream Jar*. My favorite hair balm at the moment is Jane Carter Solutions Nourish and Shine*.

Travel Size Tubes of Hair Oil

I make my own hair oil. It is nothing complicated; it is simply coconut oil and a few drops of Argan oil. I use this oil after coming out of the ocean or the pool because both salt and chlorinated water strip all of the moisture out of my hair and to pre-treat my hair for wash and go hair styling. My favorite way to transport my hair oil using Winage CocoTube Coconut Oil Dispenser Bottle*. They have water tight caps and are made squeezable for oils that have a tendency to congeal in colder temperatures and melt in warmer temperatures. I usually carry 2 to 3 filled tubes with me.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Most hotels do not have shampoo and conditioner that will do my hair any justice so Shampoo and Conditioner is a must. I usually bring two bottles of conditioner (I use more of conditioner because my go to curly hair style on vacay is a wash and go) and a bottle of shampoo. My favorite bottles for transporting shampoo and conditioner are the Kitdine Portable Soft Silicone Travel bottles*. My favorite travel shampoo at the moment is Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo*. My favorite travel conditioner at the moment is Giovanni 2Chic Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Ultra-Sleek Conditioner*.

Although the shampoo, conditioner and hair oil bottles are leak proof I still like to carry them in a leakproof toiletry bag or ziplock baggie. The leakproof toiletry bag I am using currently is Organized Explorers TSA Approved Toiletry Bag*.

CARRYING CASE

I know this seems like a lot of stuff to carry just for your hair but I actually am able to fit it all in a Toiletry Carry Case with the rest of my Toiletries.

My favorite carrying case, made by Tumi, is the Tumi Madina Cosmetic Bag*; but there are also way more economical versions available. For example, check out the Expert Travel Premium Travel Bag*. Which ever one you buy, make sure it is one with at least 4 compartments that can zip up into a compact carrying case.

And there you have it! Hope my natural hair travel essentials list is helpful to you! What are some of your natural hair travel essentials? Let me know in the comments below.

As a reminder, some of the links above are affiliate links; meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. All Affiliate links have an *.