by Kyle McManus
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With summer looming, millions of we gents are making travel plans.

Wherever you’re going, sitting on a plane, train, or boat for hours and hours tends to leave you looking and feeling past your best. Even if you start your trip without a single strand out of place, you’ll still probably look like a scruffy shadow of your former self by the time you reach your destination.

Basically, you need to travel-proof your hair, but that’s not as easy as it should be. Fear not though, chaps – we’re here to help
 
Tip #1: Wash and Go
Be sure to wash your hair during your morning shower before you head to the airport.

Why? By being thorough with shampoo and conditioner, you’ll give your hair much-needed texture and remove excess oils.

As a result, your hair scalp will be in better condition while you travel. If you style hair that hasn’t been washed in a few days, it’s bound to look worse after hours on a plane with all that oil and product mixed together.

Tip #2: Dry and Dry Again
Grab a travel-sized can of dry shampoo, and then just spray it lightly on oily spots throughout your journey (be sure to do this in the bathroom, so you’re not irritating your fellow passengers).

This is ideal if you want to top-up your style too, letting you refresh your locks ready for a dash more product.

Still, with that in mind, be sure to …

Tip #3: Go Easy on the Product
You want to look good when you touch down or step off that train. You want to drop your luggage off and get straight out there, seeing the sights and sampling the local delights.

Obviously, you want to style your hair just as you like it, so you still feel like YOU even though you’re halfway across the planet (or further!). Still, it’s essential that you don’t overdo it on the product – even though you might think you need more to keep it looking sharp during long periods of travel, you might end up overloading your hair, leading to an oilier, messy look later on.
 
Use as little as you can to maintain your style, and go with water-soluble wax or a light gel. Start with a small amount, and then add more as needed; don’t just slap a golf ball-sized clump on.
 
Tip #4: Resist Temptation or Sit on Your Hands
When you’re a few hours into a long flight, it’s easy to start feeling uncomfortable, frustrated, maybe even a bit stir-crazy. You’ll probably be tempted to run your fingers through your hair, check your style in the mirror, play around with the odd strand here and there …

Don’t do it!

While you might think you can make your style look better by constantly smoothing or twisting it into shape, you’ll keep adding more oil (from your hands). These will mix with those oils already on your scalp, too, making for a pretty unpleasant look and feel.
 
Tip #5: Mix it Up
Of course, you don’t HAVE to keep your hairstyle exactly the same while jetting off on holiday. What better time to try something new, fresh, and cool than when you’re breaking from your usual routine?

Maybe go for a shorter, lower-maintenance cut, or for longer styles, go for a top-knot. The less you feel the need to keep it perfect, the more travel-proof your hair will be!

We hope these tips keep you rocking your favourite look when travelling – have fun, and remember to keep it Rugged, Yet Smooth!
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This article first appeared on Rugged Yet Smooth

by Kelsey Rzepecki
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When it comes to your hair while traveling, it can be frustrating and time consuming when humidity or other drastic changes in weather throws your hair routine for a loop. Depending on when and where you’re traveling, you should take time to evaluate your current hair routine and prepare for different weather and climate changes that could require you to take a different approach when it comes to styling. But you might be asking yourself: where will I find a hair salon near me? While traveling, you will have to compromise on upkeep since you won’t have the comfort of your favorite stylist nearby. Remember these useful tips on your next great adventure!

Anyone can learn how to achieve easy and trendy hairstyles while out and about. These hairstyles shouldn’t take time away from your traveling adventures. Also, learn about some versatile hair products to take with you that were made to make your life easier while traveling.

Pre-Flight Blowout
Get a pre-flight professional blowout. Instead of spending a lot of money on a full-blown hair appointment before you leave, opt for a trip to a blow dry bar instead to save some extra cash. The service includes a wash, blow dry and style, then you’re on your way. You can make an appointment at a salon or simply walk in at a blow dry bar that’s near you. To achieve fresh, voluminous hair right off the plane, this is a hassle-free way to start a trip off because you won’t have to worry about taking the time to freshen up and wash your hair when you get to your destination. Added tip: just throw your hair up in a loose pony the next day to help maintain volume.

What to Pack?
Collect travel and sample-sized items. No one wants to be stuck lugging around full-sized bottles of hair products when they’re traveling. It can be hard to stray from your normal hair routine and part ways with your favorite products, but you really don’t have to. For the sake of convenience and space, utilize small sample packets of shampoos, conditioners and lotions - you name it and there’s probably a smaller version out there! Don’t forget to re-use old makeup tins and small perfume vials by transferring small amounts of your favorite products that you know you will actually use and won’t go to waste. You can always find TSA-approved sizes of plastic travel containers at Target, Walmart, or any other general store.  Keep the containers under 4 oz to take with you on an airplane.

Remember to keep it simple and think about the necessities: extra hair elastics, bobby pins, hair wraps or scarves and clips.  Put the items in a compact, small bag or secure container to easily find them because when we’re traveling we all know the less fuss, the better.

Easy Travel Treatments
There are natural hair care products and treatments you can do to keep your locks healthy anywhere. An easy remedy to revive your dry hair after a hot and sunny vacation is a coconut oil hair mask, feeding the hair with the natural oils and moisture it is craving.  Another alternative is an avocado hair mask that brings dull hair to life emitting a soft and silky texture while also adding shine from the heavy dose of natural oils.

Cute Travel-Friendly Hairstyles
Traveling can also be a great time to embrace and enhance your natural hair and texture since you’re not constricted by your usual day-to-day hair routine. Time to embrace the freedom of low maintenance styling. No hot tools required for these looks!

African hair braiding is a popular, low maintenance style that is perfect for traveling because the braids keep the style in place and can be worn for long periods of time while still looking fashionable.

A topknot or half-knot is a simple hair staple to combat flat hair and helps keep hair out of the face; especially, in hot and sweaty conditions. It can also preserve hair volume by giving your hair an added boost at the roots.

Braids are a go-to style because you can undo them later to reveal effortless, natural waves.

Must-Have Hair Products When Traveling
Travel-sized dry shampoo will fit easily in your purse and uses non-aerosol packaging, which means you won’t have to worry about it making a mess on an airplane. Just squeeze the bottle and a perfect-sized ‘poof’ of product comes out to absorb oil, prolonging your style and pumping up your hair’s volume.

Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer from Bumble and bumble: A multi-purpose product made for all hair types that protects, moisturizes and makes styling that much easier. Their unique lightweight formula is infused with six different types of oils that provides protection from UV and heat and also tames frizz and protects against hair breakage.

The Conair Vagabond Compact 1875: This is the best travel hair dryer to consider based on a high number of positive customer reviews and affordability. It is compact in size, has consistent drying power and includes a dual wattage dial that allows you to switch to 240 European wattage. It is compatible with plug adapters and has a foldable handle. A compatible watt converter is also an optional add-on that has 5 different adapter plugs for various wattages.

For those who can’t part without a dose of fast hair straightener style, CHI makes a ceramic travel set. This trifecta set contains some of their popular hot tools in compact sizes along with a sleek travel bag. The set includes a 3/4 inch straightener, 1000 watt hair dryer and a 1 inch curling iron.

Remember, the less product you bring, the less you have to lug home. You and your hair shouldn’t have to stress because traveling is not only a nice vacation for you, but it can also be a great break for your hair from the daily styling and damage we tend to put it through day after day.
 
This article first appeared on The Right Hairstyles

DIY: Pink Salt Hairspray Recipe

What  you'll need:

• 1 cup pink salt crystals (you can steal it from your kitchen)
• Aloe Vera Leaf Juice
• spray bottles 
• essential oils (lavender and wild orange, but you can choose whatever you like for the scent you favor.)
• a funnel (here’s a good set)
• filtered water

Using the funnel, add 1 cup pink salt to your empty spray bottle.

Next, add six drops (each scent) of the essential oils.

Next, add 1/2 cup aloe vera juice and 1.5 cups filtered water.  Keep the proportions 1 part aloe to 3 parts water, and you can use whatever you need to fill your container.

The aloe vera juice is important because it is moisturizing and the essential oils are what adds the scent to your recipe.

Shake the spray before each use.  After many uses, the pink salt will begin to fully dissolve, but the spray will remain pink.

Use this spray to create beachy waves when air drying and after being outdoors in the warm months. It’s great for adding texture on days when you want tousled, messy hair.

This article first appeared on A Beautiful Mess

The Truth About Your Cut, Style, and What Your Stylist Thinks About Your Hair

We all want great hair, and it starts with a haircut. You may bring in a photo, or describe what you want in your hairstyle to a "T", but are your expectations for a new look on par with what your hair can actually do? Does the celebrity style that you've been coveting match up with amount of time that you're willing to spend on your hair? Here are 11 things to consider, and points that your stylist likely won't say out loud, before you go in for your next haircut.

1.  Great Hair Takes Work. Sorry. 
On some level, if you want your hair to look good it's going to take some work. Unless you have perfect hair, with great body, beautiful thickness, and absolutely no issues whatsoever, you will need to do something with your hair to make it look like that photo you brought in. By the way, I'm pretty sure that the aforementioned perfect hair doesn't really exist.

2.  Surprise! Celebrities Have Hair Just Like You 
Celebrities are born just as human as you and me, with one exception when it comes to hair. Celebrities hire teams of stylists, use extensions, wigs, top of the line hair products and processes that cost a fortune. Unless you're willing to pay those kind of prices, it's probably not realistic to have celebrity perfect hair everyday.

3.  You Want Wash and Go Hair? Me too. 
The truth is, very few people on this planet have wash and go hair. Many people look like they do (like the girl you work with whose hair is perfect all day long), but they have to work at it. They experiment with the right shampoo, get regular haircuts, try out new styling techniques, and they probably use product in their hair. By the way, we all secretly hate the girl with the perfect all day hair. It's okay.

4.  You Need to Use Hair Products 
If you don't want to use product in your hair, don't expect your hair to look like you did. Have you ever noticed how many products your stylist uses during your haircut/blowout? If you're still using Panteen ProV and Aqua net, it's time to find out why professional products are superior and will actually help you achieve salon hair everyday. Bottom line: new professional products are awesome and could give you a brand new appreciation for your hair. 

5.  You're Using That Product Wrong 
Just because you're using product, doesn't mean you're using it right. If you're one of those girls that have been using the same product you used 10 years ago (it's okay, you don't have to admit it out loud), it is time for a change. Ask for advice on your hair products, and implement that advice at home. If your product isn't working out, ask to exchange your product for something that will work for you. 

6.  Change is Good. Embrace Change. 
If you ask for a new look, but style your hair the same way you always have, you will likely not be happy with your hair's result. In fact, it will probably look like it always did. A haircut is simply the foundation to a great look. Styling is key. Ask your stylist for advice on properly styling your new cut. 

7.  If at First You Don't Succeed, Try Try Again 
Practice makes perfect. Try new things with your hair and re-try them when you don't get it right the first time. Trust me, even hairstylist have a hard time blowing out their own hair, and it takes some skill to learn to curl your hair with a flat iron. Rome wasn't built in a day, neither is great hair.

8.  You're Asking for the Impossible 
Have real expectations with your hair. If you're only willing to put 5 minutes of styling into a hair style that should require 30 minutes, expect your hair to look that way. Ask your stylist to help you choose a look that matches the level of effort that you're willing to put in and that matches your hair's texture.

9.  Long Hair Takes More Work 
The more hair you have, the more time it will take to style. Which is a real drag if you were "blessed" with ridiculously thick hair, but it's just a truth that you have to accept.

10.  Your Hair is Different Now, Deal With It 
A salon chair is not a time machine. Hair changes over time as we age, just like our skin and our rear ends. It sucks, but we can only realistically work with the present condition of your hair. As much as you'd love to have your hair look the way it did 15 or 20 years ago, you will be much happier if you work with what you have, at the present moment, instead of focusing on what you once had.

11.  Your Hairstylist Ain't Happy Unless You're Happy 
Your hairstylist sincerely wants you to look good and feel good about your hair. You represent her talent, experience, skill, and her good name. We honestly stress about your hair, and we want you to feel good about it. We want you to love it, to tell your friends about it, and to come back in six weeks with enthusiasm about it. If you don't love it, talk to your stylist about it. And if you do love it, tell her about that, too.

​This article first appeared on About Style