Do NOT Use This Hotel Room Freebie…Ever!

*Cue the horror movie music*

According to hair experts, the shampoo and conditioner often offered for free at hotels are filled with sulfates and harsh chemicals that are ruinous to your hair’s health. It can leave your locks dry and brittle and lend a greasy, drab look that no one wants while strolling along Oxford Street.

And it doesn’t stop there. A former hotel employee reveals in a now viral TikTok video that some hotel guests have added toxic stuff in the bottles, such as Nair hair remover. Yikes!!

So if you don’t want dull and lifeless hair or at worse to have your tresses Naired off, you’re gonna wanna pack up these travel-friendly hair products instead.

Kenra Anti-Humidity Spray 5

While traveling, it’s a total mood-spoiler when I catch a glimpse of myself in a shop window mirror only to discover that my hair has morphed into a frizz ball. Although my hair is naturally pin-straight, I can fall victim to serious frizz whenever I’m exposed to extreme humidity or a change in environment.

I recently went on a trip to the Caribbean. And although it was the most gorgeous place I’ve ever been to in my life, I couldn’t bring myself to share pictures of my trip on social media cause I felt so self-conscious about my frizzy hair.

Once I got back, my friend Tessa gave me a bottle of Kenra’s Anti-Humidity Spray 5 – perfect for eliminating frizz and humidity-damaged hair. Better late than never, Tessa!

So if you’re going somewhere that’s known for its heat and humidity, pop this product in your cart, stat. And your vacay pics will feature your hair perfectly luscious and healthy hair.

Dry Shampoo

I honestly don’t know where I’d be in life if it wasn’t for Batiste Dry Shampoo. Is that too dramatic a statement for a hair care product? Perhaps. But I wouldn’t be saying it if it wasn’t 100% true.

As someone who suffers from hair so greasy I can put Professor Severous Snape to shame, I *need* my dry shampoo packed and loaded at all times.

But be sure you store it safely in your suitcase rather than carrying it through TSA precheck. I made that mistake last Summer, and sadly watched the TSA staff toss it in the trash because it was over 3.4 ounces. Je suis très triste.

This Dry Shampoo is fantastic if you’re always on the go, and seek that blowout/stylized look without all that extra time and effort. In just a matter of seconds, you can go from drippy-drab hair to ‘90s Supermodel Blowou t. Cindy Crawford, who? We don’t know her.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

I swear, I’ve never heard of a single human soul who had anything bad to say about Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle. It’s the holy grail of affordable yet premium conditioners. We all know that traveling often leads to dry and brittle tresses. So you’re gonna need a quality moisturizing product to save your locks from the perils of airplane air.

And unlike the harsh shampoo and conditioners offered in hotels, the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle is 100% sulfate-free. It’s also cruelty-free, and PETA certified. Honestly, what more could you want? This truly is a 3 minute miracle!

Cloud 9 Travel Straighteners

Did you know there are travel-sized straighteners? If you can’t live without your hot iron hair tools but don’t have enough packing room, you’re in luck.

Cloud 9’s Mini Straighteners customer reviews praise it for being highly effective, as well as insanely long-lasting. (I’ve had my Cloud 9 straightener for a good nine years now.) It’s efficient, easily packable, and an ideal additional hair product for any trip.

Pattern By Tracy Ellis Ross Leave-in Conditioner

Where are my curly-haired girlies at?

If you’re rocking colossal curls, you’re gonna want to check out Tracy Ellis Ross’s Leave-in Conditioner by Pattern. Let’s admit it, traveling can be detrimental to hair health due to shifts in weather and environment. Because of this, it’s critical that you moisturize-moisturize-moisturize.

Make sure your hair remains sleek, shiny, and fresh with an excellent leave-in conditioner. An added bonus? This product is travel-sized, so it’s a TSA Approved Beauty Essential. Score!

Sun Bum SPF30 Scalp Mist

While it’s expected to slather your skin with sunblock as soon as you hit the beach on vacay, many people neglect to protect their scalp from harmful UV rays. That’s why I encourage you to have an SPF Scalp Mist on hand. The SunBum SPF30 Scalp Mist is a marvelous way to ensure protection while having fun in the sun.

Mini Bottles

Last but not least, you might want to purchase some mini bottles so you can simply load them with your go-to hair products. Instead of buying a bunch of pricey shampoos and conditioners that you might not love – and might not be optimal for your hair type – opt for your tried-and-true faves and put them in the travel-sized mini bottles.

My mom swears by this method because she’s smart enough not to trust the hotel’s complimentary shampoo and conditioner. She advocates for this wonderful method so you can fully focus on your holiday, rather than stressing over your hair care products.