Jetting off on holiday is truly one of the best feelings in the entire world. I mean you’re mere hours away from pure relaxation (or unreal adventure if you prefer), what more could you want? Plus, if you’ve prepped properly (got your SPF, hair SPF and everything in between?) then your beauty regime should be sorted, right?
Well, not necessarily. Because if you’re not thinking about hair care during air travel then you could arrive at your destination with more stressed-out strands than you had planned for. You might have your in-flight skincare product picks down to a fine art but remembering your pre-, during and post-flight hair regimen is essential for healthy hair. You see, just like your skin, the plane environment can be super drying for your strands too, especially if your hair is already susceptible to dryness (hi, hello, me).
I’ve fallen victim to this many a trip States-side leaving Heathrow looking somewhat moisturised top-to-toe and arriving at JFK looking like a shrivelled-up raisin. “The recycled air in a plane cabin has a lower humidity than regular air, meaning there is less moisture, resulting in trans-epidermal water loss and causing the skin to feel tight, dry, and irritated,” notes Alice Dawkins, Hair Expert at Milk + Blush. To combat this, and keep my hair in the best condition for my travels I apply the below simple rules now and luckily, they have all been co-signed by a pro. Happy flying!
Travel hair care tips
Don’t stress
Ok, not to sound like an airport dad but it’s better to not cut things fine pre-flight and yes, better for your hair too. You see, as Alice puts it, “Stress and anxiety can also trigger more intensive oil production, as it causes our bodies to release the stress hormone cortisol, which will boost it, and travelling can be stressful.” Oily roots lead to more frequent washing which can then lead to drier tresses. It’s a cyclical nightmare, people.
Hydrate in every way
You can’t moisturise enough when it comes to flying. Ensure that you’re sipping water throughout your travel day for peak internal hydration and to avoid a dry, itchy scalp. Alongside that, you need to be locking in hydration with a thirst-quenching conditioner prior the plane. “Water makes up around 25% of the weight of a hair strand, but this can change depending on shifts in temperature and humidity,” explains Alice, “The recycled air in a plane cabin has a lower humidity than regular air, meaning there is less moisture, resulting in trans-epidermal water loss and causing the skin to feel tight, dry, and irritated.”
Prep for your flight by washing your hair as close to flying as possible. Personally, I always try and do it the day before so that depending on how long I’m away I only need to wash it max once or twice. Concentrate on conditioning your lengths (avoiding your scalp). Follow up with a leave-in conditioner and lock in finally with a serum or oil. Dry ends? We don’t know her.
Avoid ponytails
Oh, it’s tempting, isn’t it? Very very tempting to sling your hair into the highest scruffy bun known to man and veg out on Toblerone while watching a just-out-of-the-cinema flick. BUT, it’s not ideal for your locks. “Avoid high and tight ponytails and buns. Instead, opt for a loose braid or low ponytail that’s more delicate on the hair and use fabric scrunchies to minimise damage,” advises Alice.
Keep things silky
If you have textured hair, like me you might want to think about bringing your trusty silk or satin bonnet or headscarf on board. “This can protect your locks from friction against the seat headrest which can cause split ends and frizziness,” I have to admit this is one I don’t do often but I do always wear silk hair ties and scrunchies in my airport braid. If you have a night flight and get a pillow (or you’re just super swanky and have a pillow ‘cos you’re in biz prem) then a silky pillowcase is an all round winner for smooth tresses on descent.
