Travel Essentials – How to Pack Smarter for Your Hair This Summer

If you’re a product junkie, packing for a holiday can feel like a serious exercise in restraint. The bathroom shelf does not translate neatly into a weekend bag – and hand luggage allowances? Don’t even get us started. But with the right edit, travelling light and arriving with great hair is absolutely possible.

We asked Lynette Rose, our Head of Retail, to share her tried-and-tested travel essentials – the products she genuinely won’t leave home without.

Over the years I’ve got packing down to a fine art – and these are my tips on what to actually pack to travel lighter this summer without compromising on your hair.

Lynette Rose, Head of Headmasters Retail

Sun Protection – Non-Negotiable

Hair in summer – especially colour-treated hair – needs protecting from the oxidising effects of UV, salt water and chlorine. This is the category I will never cut corners on, no matter how tight the luggage allowance.

I always make space for are the Kérastase Soleil Bain – a brilliant after-sun shampoo that gently removes chlorine, salt and sand while protecting colour and moisture levels.

Another product I love is the Kérastase Blond Absolu Blonde Guard. Don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t just for blondes. This superhero leave-in protects your hair and colour from UV, salt, chlorine and heat while keeping everything hydrated and glossy. It’s become completely non-negotiable in my summer bag.

Hydration – Your Hair Needs it as Much as You Do

Just like your body, hair needs serious hydrating in the heat. The good news is that some of the most effective hydrating treatments can do their work while you’re just lying by the pool or sleeping – meaning zero effort, maximum results.

My three favourites for travel are:

Kérastase Gloss Absolu Masque – lightweight but intensely hydrating and smoothing, it’s the one I reach for on pool days. Apply to wet hair, twist up into a bun and let it work while you sunbathe.

Redken ABC Leave-In – for added bond repair alongside hydration. This can be applied to dry hair through the day or overnight as a no-rinse treatment, making it one of the most versatile products in my kit.

Pureology Glow Catcher Oil – 72 hours of hydration and protection from humidity in one product. I apply this before bed and wake up to hair that feels completely transformed.

Go Smaller – Travel Smarter

This is where the real packing magic happens. I always decant my favourite products into smaller bottles where I can – but where travel sizes exist, I’ll always go for those instead. Here’s what I look for:

OLAPLEX No.4 Shampoo & No.5 Conditioner 100ml – super concentrated and brilliant for repairing damage, these tiny bottles go a surprisingly long way.

Kérastase Blond Absolu Blonde Guard 45ml – the perfect travel size of my non-negotiable sun protector. Fits in any bag.

Kérastase Elixir / Blond / Chroma Oil 30ml – whichever suits your hair type, these miniature oils hydrate, smooth and protect from heat and frizz in one step. Brilliant for refreshing hair mid-trip.

GHD Flight+ Travel Dryer – all the power of a professional dryer, half the size. Once you’ve used this you will never travel with anything else.

GHD Unplugged Styler – cordless, compact and genuinely brilliant for styling on the go. A real game-changer for anyone who likes their hair done properly even on holiday.

Ask Your Stylist Before You Go

Not sure which products are right for your hair type? Your Headmasters stylist will always be happy to put together a personalised travel edit at your next appointment – so you know exactly what to pack and nothing goes to waste.

Find your nearest Headmasters salon and book today. And for more summer hair inspiration, follow us at @headmastersuk on Instagram.

Love these tips? Keep an eye out for our Glam Guides on sections in your nearest Headmasters salon – a curated edit of the season’s best style trends, product picks and expert advice from our Creative Team, available to read in salons now.