Traveling with Natural Hair
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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 we don’t want you to be worrying over your hair the whole time. Whether you have it loc’d, straightened, natural, or in a protective style, we’ve got you!
What to Pack
- Product Case: Keep yourself organized.
- Products: Shampoo, conditioner, co-wash, styling cream, edge control, gel, oil, and [insert your favorite product here]
- Bobby pins, clips, hair ties, rubber bands, headbands
- Various combs and brushes
- Scarves and/or wraps
- Bonnet, if needed
- Plastic wrap or plastic bags to make sure your products don’t leak
- Shower cap (one that is large enough to fit your style)
- Microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt, if natural
- Extra hair weave replacement tracks, if applicable
- Converter and/or adapter for any tools you'll need to plug in (or plan to buy one once you arrive)
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.
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!
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. And the travel-sized containers will make it super easy for you to take weekend trips and travel around a bit, without having to go through the hassle of checking a bag.
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.
from My (Probably Incomplete) Black Girl Guide to Packing for Amsterdam
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
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 everyday 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.
Research online and on social media
Many of our Country-Specific Diversity Resources include links to local stores, salons/barber shops, and hair care advice from people traveling in your host country.
Check out YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for reviews and suggestions on where to go in your host city. Often you can find Facebook Groups of black people in your location. If social media isn't bringing you a lot of results, try Googling "Afro-shops" in your location.
You may not be able to find your favorite products abroad, so if you're willing to pay for the shipping, research websites that will ship your products internationally. While you're at it, research the type of water that will be available in your location. If the water is harder or softer than you are used to, you may need to adjust your product usage.
Find connections through your host community
With your Center’s help, search for a local African immigrant community. If you can find one, someone will be able to help you or point you in the right direction for your hair care needs. You can also search out local American military bases to find stylists and beauty supply stores.
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!
Want to take your self-sufficiency to the next level? Look into making your own hair products. This can come in handy if you run out of your stock-piled products!
Find stylists and stores while you travel
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.
This new culture may not be one that is familiar with your type of hair or may have different cultural customs around hair salons and barber shops. For instance, in some countries, the barber might wash your hair before cutting it, or trim your beard as something that is included in the service.
If you are visiting a local shop, don’t expect them to have the correct tools or know how to properly do your hair. With persistance, patience, and
Who knows, maybe you'll find you really like a new cut or style you hadn't tried before!
