When it comes to traveling, whether you’re on vacation or living out the digital nomad style, one thing that often happens is the lack of focus on health. If you rarely get to travel or if you’re so excited about the location you’re in, it can be understandable. You probably want to try cuisines and dishes you’ve never had before; you want to indulge in something unique, drink cocktails instead of water, and sleep less to see more. All of this is entirely understandable. Plus, packing can be a challenge too.
You’re limited to what you can even pack, whether it’s natural beauty products, medication, and even your clothes. Since you’re limited on your schedule, what you can pack, and even what you’ll be doing, the last thing you’re going to want to focus on is your health. Especially when it comes to your hair, skin, and even your nails. But one thing you need to remember is that while you might be on vacation, your body isn’t. That lack of sleep, lack of hydration, and even the lack of nutrients are eventually going to show.
So, what can you do to ensure that you look healthy, look good, and feel great during your travels? Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be complicated at all, so even if you’re on a busy schedule or if you absolutely need to be a light-packer, then here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind!
Deep Condition Your Hair Whenever You Can
When traveling, hair can become damaged by the air-conditioner in hotels, harsh shampoos, city smog or pollution, bright sunlight, and salty sea water; the list could go on and on honestly. Deep conditioning is very important to restore the shine and softness of your tresses. So, this is something that may or may not be complicated to pull off. It’s really about how you’re traveling and how much you can pack.
But even putting some deep conditioner in a travel-size bottle should suffice as well. Ideally, try to do it twice a week. But overall, just be aware that a lot of things can make your hair become brittle, and you need to take a look at this ASAP, or else your hair will only get worse and worse. Depending on how long it takes, as well as the texture, it may take days or even months to get your hair back to its original health.
Keep a Normal Cleansing Routine
If you only shower three times a week, then try to keep it at that. Too many changes can be bad for your hair and skin. This is especially apparent when it comes to travel since the potential pollution that you may be exposed to. Use gentle yet hydrating cleansers that are suitable for your skin type and hair texture, and make sure to moisturize afterward to keep your skin and scalp healthy and hydrated.
Something else you need to keep in mind when it comes to your cleansing routine is the type of soap and lotions you’re using. After all, the last thing you can do is dry skin, so be on the lookout for Dry Skin: causes, treatment, and prevention for all of it before traveling (if possible).
It’s All About Shampooing
So, when it comes to your cleaning routine, you shouldn’t under wash or overwash, and that goes for your hair too. Washing your hair daily will wreak havoc on it, so try to limit washing your strands to once or twice per week. This will help keep your hair hydrated and bouncy. If you must, spritz dry shampoo on your strands to get rid of any excess oil between washes.
Keep To Items You Already Use
While free hotel soaps are great because they’re free (and less to pack), there is a pretty big downside too. Just think about it, these are usually cheap (unless you’re staying at a fancy hotel), mass-produced, and do the bare minimum. In fact, more hotels are going for the whole all-in-one, that’s, shampoo, conditioner, and soap combined. These are especially not good for your skin and hair, so if you’re able to, try to use something that you’re already used to. That way, you won’t have an unexpected surprise such as a rash, allergic reaction, or something else bad.
Moisturizing is Everything
If you’ve been flying around during your travels, then you’re especially going to need to rehydrate and embrace moisturizing even more. Airplanes have a way of zapping all the moisture from your skin, leaving it all flaky, and this goes for your scalp too. You already need to do this in your day-to-day life, but it’s going to be even more important when you’re aware. Are you staying in a hot and humid place? Using the AC more often? Then you’re especially going to need to moisturize.
While it’s totally understandable to let your normal beauty routine go out the window while you’re traveling, however, it is important to remember that your skin and hair need extra care when you are away from home. So you need to ensure that you’re well-hydrated at all times. This means drinking plenty of water, and it may be a good idea to pack some hydrating beauty products like facial wipes that can be used throughout the day.
Also, make sure to pack a moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type. This is essential to keep your skin hydrated and protect it from dryness caused by air travel and different climates. Drink water, eat plenty of fruits and veggies, and use skin care products that will help you feel better and look better. This is honestly one of the MOST important things to keep in mind when traveling, as this tends to be the biggest mistake everyone makes. Moisturize more on your trips.
Don’t Forget About Your Lips
Have you ever noticed during sunny days, your lips burn, or on cold days they get chapped? Well, your lips are even more sensitive than your skin, so you can’t forget them. While the lips tend to be the most easily forgotten part of a beauty and skincare routine, it’s still just as important. Plus, on the bright side, SPF and moisturizing lip balms are small, so there’s no excuse not to pack one
Allow Yourself to Decompress
When it comes to traveling, whether it’s work, vacation, or anything else, it can get pretty overwhelming, and chances are your schedule is hectic. Now, your physical health is reflected by your skin, hair, and nails, but it’s the same for mental health too. If you’re stressed, you’re going to look tired, and your hair may be unkempt too. So, just be sure to allow yourself the chance to decompress. You owe it to yourself to just relax, unwind, and just take in all of your surroundings.
Traveling can be stressful on your skin and hair. Try your best to find some way of decompressing, whether it be taking a relaxing bath or reading a book on the beach. This will keep your hair and skin looking healthy and radiant despite being away from your regular routine. It will also help you feel better overall, so your trip can be more enjoyable! If you’re at a hotel with a spa, then be sure to decompress in there too!
At the end of the day, it can be challenging to a degree to look and feel healthy on your travels. But it’s so important to push yourself. Be sure to push yourself to keep up a good grooming routine, keep up with a healthy diet, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and so on. Just by focusing on your health, you’re going to feel great while you travel, which is going to make everything more enjoyable.
