Whether it’s visiting some tropical beach paradise or retreating to a secluded cabin in the woods, there are few things more enjoyable than the idea of a vacation getaway. Sadly, as enjoyable as these trips may be, the unfortunate reality is that traveling can take quite a toll on our hair. Whether its dry airplane air, humidity fluctuations, or simply spending too much time in the sun, there are numerous factors involved in travelling that present a risk to your hair’s health. Fortunately, our guide below will provide you with an action plan to keep your hair safe and healthy for a worry-free vacation!
Embrace Hair Serums
Have you ever noticed that after a long flight, your face suddenly feels much drier and tighter than before? Airplanes circulate incredibly dry air within their cabins, and this extremely low humidity can cause our skin to seep moisture, causing dryness and discomfort. The same principal applies with our hair, as the outer layer of our hair dries out and causes moisture from within the hair shaft to rise to the surface and evaporate. In the case of preventing facial dryness, the common advice is to apply a hydrating mask or occlusive moisturizer to seal in the moisture. Likewise, to prevent hair dryness, the best advice prior to your flight is to apply a rich, hydrating serum, such as Sutra’s Rejuvenating Hair Serum, that effectively coats the outer cuticle layer to prevent moisture loss and lock in hydration.
Sun Protection (For Your Hair!)
For those of us looking to take a beach getaway, the very first thing to remember is to apply loads and loads of sunscreen on our skin to prevent sunburn. However, did you realize that the sun can cause similar damage to our hair, as well? Aside from severely drying out our hair, prolonged sun exposure also leads to the fading of hair color, which not only spells disaster for our color treatments but can also potentially lead to premature greying. Thankfully, there are a number of options on the market for infusing your hair with lightweight, easy-to-apply sun protection. One such product is Sutra’s Hair Cocktail, which contains coconut oil for a natural SPF of 8.
Prepare Accordingly for Humidity
Few things are more frustrating when on vacation than waking up in the morning to find your hair explode into a massive, frizzy mess. When travelling from an area of low humidity to an area of high humidity, our hair goes into “humidity shock”, causing dramatic moisture loss and unmanageable frizz. Thankfully, this can be remedied by incorporating moisturizing hair care ingredients on your trip. Even if your hair is naturally normal or slightly oily, make sure to invest in travel-sized shampoos and conditioners that are designed for dry hair to accommodate the temporary change in your hair. Better yet, bring along a leave-in conditioner like Sutra’s Leave-In Conditioner for long-lasting moisture.