Calling all travelers! Hair on the go is one of the topics we are most passionate about here at Calista. We believe that great hair should be accessible anytime, any place – we even created a specialty line of tools specific to travel (GoGos anyone?)! Today, we’re picking the brain of our fabulous founder and expert on all things hair, Maria McCool, and answering all of your travel hair questions!
Q: How can different climates (humidity, dry air, cold weather) affect hair while traveling?
Maria: Weather always plays a role in how your hair behaves. Dealing with humidity will lead to hair that’s harder to manage, causing curls to frizz and straight hair to fall even flatter. Dry weather can often lead to breakage, as the lack of moisture in the air enhances the weakening of hair strands. While you can do your best to prepare for the weather in your destination of choice, you can’t always predict how the air will impact your hair. Pack styling products that you know work well with your hair type and be prepared to embrace your natural look as much as possible.
Q: What are the best travel-friendly haircare essentials to pack?
Maria: In my opinion, it’s best to have travel bottles and always ensure you can bring your favorite products. When you’re in a different location, you’re changing up all the elements of your standard routine. From the weather to the water to the air, everything is different and will impact the way your hair behaves. Travel bottles make it so easy to pack your own essentials so that you can keep your routine a little more consistent even when all of the surrounding elements are different.
Q: How can travelers prevent frizz and dryness in unfamiliar environments?
Maria: I love a frizz-taming serum to add some moisture back into the hair and smooth out your strands. I also think it’s great to have creams or sprays that block out humidity and offer sun protection for your hair as well. With dry air, you’re always seeking to add moisture back into your hair, so just be prepared by having the right products on hand.
Q: What are some easy, low-maintenance hairstyles for travel days?
Maria: My best advice with this one is to just go with what you've got! If you have curly hair, bring the products that highlight your curls. If you have straight hair, keep it sleek and work in a fun up-do or hair accessory. When it comes to keeping hair low maintenance, you’re always putting yourself in a better position by embracing your natural look.
Q: How can hard water or hotel water affect hair, and what are quick solutions?
Maria: The big issue with hard water is that it strips your hair of its natural oils, which can lead to dullness and dryness. The best solution here is to bring along your favorite hydrating conditioner and add in a great hair mask for extra moisture replenishment. Calista’s Jousse Mend Mask is a great option for bringing that hydration back into your hair - it deeply penetrates the hair strands and you only need a little bit to make a big impact on the look and feel of your hair.
Q: Are there any multi-purpose hair products that work well for travel (e.g., leave-in conditioner, dry shampoo)?
Maria: My favorite is Calista Embellish Styling Cream. This is a product that does everything you could possibly want your hair to do. It controls frizz, it adds shine, and it creates a nice fullness effect and brings out your natural volume and texture. It also blocks humidity and protects against breakage that you might experience in some of these drier climates. Best of all, it’s formulated with Vitamin E and argan oil to actively fortify and protect your hair. I do not travel without it in my bag!
Do you have any specific hair questions you’d like answered on the blog? Let us know in the comments!
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