Summer days, driftin’ away… those kids in Grease weren’t kidding. Labor day is on the fast approach, and so is your end-of-summer getaway. Read on for how best to pack, prep and primp while you’re away.
PACKING AND PRODUCTS
Be A Team Player – Traveling with family and/or friends? Share the load! Mom can bring the curling iron; sis will pack a hair dryer iron; and you? You’ll have room for an extra pair of shoes! Better yet, call your hotel before you leave to see if they’ll supply a hair dryer for you. Most will, which means your sister can fit those sexy espadrilles you’ve been dying to borrow.
It’s Not The Size; It’s How You Use It – Girl, you’re about to wear that yellow polka dot bikini for a week straight. It’s time for portion control–of 14” shampoo bottles, that is! If you okay with stressing your tresses, then slather on those hotel shampoo/conditioner combos. If not, get your itsby bitsy, teeny weeny behind to the nearest beauty supply or drug store. Travel size bottles are your new best friend. Just make sure they’re 100 mLs or less if you want to put them in your carry on.
Pro Traveler Tip #1: Buy the empty containers, and fill them with products you already own. You just bought yourself another Sex On The Beach!
Pro Traveler Tip #2: For travel-sized mousse, grab Prive Concept Vert Volumizing Froth. This non-aerosol solution is carry on-ready and entirely eco-conscious. It might even make you feel less guilty about flying in a plane, should you happen to run into Al Gore. Oh, wait… Available for purchase at beauty stores nationwide.
READY, JET SET, GO
The air is stale; you’re one row in front of a screaming infant; and no matter how much water you drink, you feel dehydrated. Don’t even get you started on how greasy/stringy/downright dirty your hair feels by the end of the trip! How do those celebrities look so travel chic every time they deplane anyway? Look closer, lovely.
They’re Wearing Hats – Conductor caps, fedoras, floppy felt trilbies – not only will these babies protect you once you hit the sun; but they’re excellent accessories and the perfect camouflage for hair you’d rather hide. Glitzy headbands work the trick, too. Hah, Emmy Rossum, we’re on to you!
ALOHA – YOU’RE HAAAAAIR!
At last, you’re poolside, and all the last minute to-dos are far behind you. Those Mai Tais are oh-so-good, but now you’ve got a new problem… holy humidity, it is HOT! You’d love to look your best. But at this point, you’d settle for decent. Turns out, you don’t have to!
Sun Care For Your Hair – You brought SPF 1,000 and apply it every 15 minutes. But have you thought about your crowning glory? Sure, your strands may not show sunspots, but that doesn’t mean they’re UV-resistant! Aveda’s Sun Care Protective Hair Veil filters out harmful rays, and lasts up to 16 hours. Don’t worry–it’s light-weight and water resistant, so you can maintain your mane all day. Cutler/Redken Stylist Franco Della Grazia also recco’s the Cutler Protectant Treatment Spray. I do, too!
The Sultry Sweat Band – Ever wonder how those Hamptons heiresses stay looking so polished? Here’s their secret. Prep by grabbing your fave summer scarf and… a sweat band, like the kind Goodie makes. Slide on the latter to secure your hair away from the face, and lay the scarf on top. Once you knot at the nape of your neck, you’re good to go.
Forbidden: Skinny Dipping – Planning on getting wet? Wet your hair in the shower, and apply deep conditioner before getting in. Allow it to dry a little before you submerge – that way, your mane won’t absorb the salt water and/or chlorine.
TIME FOR DIN DIN
Back to borrowing from the Hamptons… Those ladies may look uber fem, but when they’re in the shower, it’s their high-rolling hubbies’ shampoo that they swipe! Redken’s Mint Clean Shampoo, says Della Grazia, is perfect for oil elimination. You won’t care that it’s from the men’s line when you feel that peppermint on your scalp! And once your hair is dry, put in a few trusty Velcro rollers and spray away. Let them sit while you do your make-up, and bouncy your beautiful hair to dinner.
– Caitlin Garthoffner
