Whether you have it loc'd, straightened, natural, or in a protective style, we've got you!

A huge stressor for black people before they study abroad is the question of what to do with their hair. Well, we don’t want you to stress—studying abroad is going to be a life-changing experience, and there are certainly ways to care for your hair throughout it. We've compiled a list of tips and tricks you should keep in mind while traveling.

Hair Care Packing Tips

Couples walk down a market in Amsterdam lined on either side with vendors.

Stockpile Your Staple Products

You might not be able to find those exact same products abroad, so bring as much as you think you’ll need for the duration of your stay.

two students backpacking in New Zealand's mountains

Your Carry-On Bag

Though the majority of your products will be in your luggage, you should still carry on a little of everything you need into regulation travel-sized containers. If something happens to your luggage on your flight over, you should still be able to manage your hair for a couple of days.

two packed bags

Your Checked Bag

If you plan to be abroad for a while, pack the majority of your products in your luggage, not your carry-on. You’ll probably need a lot more product than the TSA will allow you to carry in your carry-on bag, so pack most of it in your luggage!

Taara Clarke
“You can never have too many headwraps in my opinion. They’re stylish, they solve any bad hair day, and they keep your head warm! That’s a win-win-win in my opinion.”
Taara C. • Rice University • Amsterdam – Social Sciences & Humanities

Get our packing list!

Whether you're a notorious over-packer, a last-minute packer, or the kind of person that always forgets something important, this list covers all the basics and includes packing tips to keep in mind.

Get the Packing List

Travel Styles for Black Hair

In the words of Oneika the Traveller, “K.I.S.S.–Keep it Simple, Sistas!”

Now’s not the time to start experimenting with your hair. You can’t be sure what products you’ll be able to find, what products will work best with your hair, what hair styles you’ll find the easiest to handle, or even if you’ll like how your hair looks when it’s natural!

While you study abroad, you don’t want to stress over your hair, so we suggest you stick to what you know and/or get a protective style. So, minimize your effort and maximize your experience—you want your trip to be about what you’re doing and experiencing, not about worrying how your hair looks. Choose a couple of go-to hairstyles that you can throw together quickly and still look good.

Style Suggestions:

  • Protective styles (braids, weaves, and wigs) will be your best friends
  • Buns/Pony-tails
  • Twist-outs, Braid-outs, Bantu Knots, and Wash n Go’s

How to Find a Stylist Abroad

Research Online
Check out YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for reviews and suggestions on where to go in your host city. Also, research websites that will ship your products internationally.
Find Connections Through Your Host Community
With your Center’s help, search for a local African immigrant community. There, someone will point you in the right direction for your hair care needs.
Become Your Own Stylist
If you have the time and inclination, learn how to style your hair yourself and bring your tools with you. Just remember to bring the correct adapter/converter if you need one!
Find Stylists & Stores
If you are planning on traveling outside of your host city, research your destination—they may have salons, shops, or products that are more readily accessible.
Embrace a New Experience
A big part of study abroad is experiencing a new culture. With persistence, patience, and some extra research, living with natural hair abroad doesn't have to be a stressful experience.

Hair Care Stories from Abroad

Take a page out of our staff's books with their tried and true hair tips and stories of what not to do while traveling with natural hair.

“While being natural abroad is difficult, it is not impossible. Some days I wish that I had a protective style to prevent me from combing my hair every day to save me time when travelling in this program; however, I also appreciated that I did not have a protective style because my natural hair got the chance to breathe when I let it loose.”
Brianna L. • Skidmore College • Freiburg – European Union

Browse More Identity Resources

Just as each study abroad experience is unique, each location offers a different adventure. So we've made sure to compile diversity resources specific to your host city and country. 

All Resources
students attend an LGBT parade