Guys: How To Keep Your Hair Perfect When Traveling

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