Hair used to be a huge concern before going on vacation, but now that many of us are embracing our natural textures, we tend not to worry about our strands as much when we go away, which is both a good and a bad thing. On one hand, most of us are no longer the girl who spent hours in the shop before her flight only to touch down and refuse to participate in any activity that could damage her stylist’s work. On the other hand, we might neglect to keep the tools and products we need to keep our ends from drying out in the sun’s heat after getting caught up in being away from it all.
It can be hard to find the right balance between being #TeamtooMuch and #TeamWetHairDontCare when it comes to taking care of our manes on vacation. That’s why we reached out to Pantene Celebrity Stylist Chuck Amos for guidance.
“When you’re on vacation it is a relaxation and a celebration combined; so your hair should be the same,” he told us. “Relaxed simple styles are always best. A loose braid at the nape of your neck is simple yet beautiful. You can always pin the braid to make a unique loose bun or opt for a side braid. If your hair is natural you can twist the front back while keeping the back loose, in its natural state. If it is really hot a topknot is always cute and sassy while on vacation, and simple to do. For the celebration part of your hairstyle, use flowers ribbons and sachets to adorn hair styles.”
Most us can’t wait to get to get to the beach or take a dip in the resort pool when we go abroad, but it’s imperative that we’re just as anxious about treating our strands after subjecting them to salt water and chlorine, Chuck said. And that goes for all women, whether relaxed, natural, or wearing weaves and extensions.
“After your swimming session, you should rinse the saltwater or chlorine water from your hair with natural tap water. If you have relaxed or natural hair and you opt to let it air dry for the evening, apply some Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Crème on the ends and work up to the roots. This will leave hair moisturized for 72 hours. Hair will air dry frizz free, moistened, and manageable.
“With hair weaves, this would be a great time to wash your hair to get all the excess chlorine and salt water from your cornrowed roots, where the extensions are attached. Then make sure your hair is fully blow-dried at the roots where cornrows can become damp. This will ensure a clean head of hair, no flaky, dandruff and that stinky smell from undried cornrowed hair-weaved roots.”
And while washing your hair after every swim is necessary, Chuck warned against over-washing hair during the summer months.
“Now that it’s hot and we sweat more in these summer months, we tend to over wash our hair, and this can dry it out. Try washing with Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash to clean hair without stripping it of moisture and its natural oils. And since the summer sun can be damaging to our hair, just like it is on our skin, it’s important to deep condition. I recommend the Pantene Gold Series Repairing Mask that provides intense conditioning for dry, damaged hair. Summer is also the perfect time to go heat free. Let your hair air dry instead of blow drying or diffusing it. This will strengthen your hair and keep it even more moisturized and healthy.”
These days, most women could be considered hair product junkies, but sadly we can’t take all of our favorites with us when we go away. So how do you choose what stays and what goes? “Hair care items in your bag should refresh, protect and be convenient to use,” Chuck said. Here are the specific items he suggests you pack in your carry-on.
- The Pantene Gold Series Intense Hydrating Oil is a must-have when trying to combat frizz. You can use it on straightened hair to smooth flyways or natural tresses to reduce frizz. With the Intense Hydrating Oil, any hairstyle you choose will be the best, whether straight or natural.
- Another must-have is the Pantene Pro-V Airspray. It’s great for protecting your hair against the elements of the day while leaving hair soft and manageable. It works on all textures and is a great mid-day hair refresher, especially after work.
- Lastly, the good old snag-free hair elastic. It’s just a great item to have in your bag. It helps you pull your hair back or up when having a bad hair day or when you need to tend to the children or get that great workout in after work.
The post Are You Making These Hair Mistakes When You Go On Vacation? appeared first on MadameNoire.