Fit them into your carry-on to maintain your hair while on vacation. Plus, what the TSA says about gels, creams, and the 3–1–1 rule.
By Melissa Rose Cooper
As Juneteenth approaches, I am reminded that this celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black identity is more than just a holiday. These principles are present throughout everyday Black culture, including how we choose to wear our hair.
The relationship between my natural hair and air travel hasn’t always been an easy one, especially when it comes to what I can pack into a carry-on. For many Black travelers like myself who rely on multiple stylers and moisturizers, following the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) rules limiting liquids, gels, and aerosols to containers of 3.4 ounces or less can be a challenge. It often means choosing between a good hair day and what fits into a quart-sized bag, a choice I have had to make several times.
Add in the fact that not all products labeled “travel-size” are available in formulas that work for textured hair, and the stress can start before you even hit the security line. So I spoke with a team of hair experts to get their best tips for flying with natural hair care. From packing strategies to red-flag ingredients, here’s how to make smart choices for your curls, coils, and locs without having a bad experience with TSA or sacrificing your strands on the go.
Plan Your Hairstyle to Limit the Products You Need
For Samantha Fox, a content creator who focuses on natural hair, the key to avoiding frustration at security starts with planning.
“Before I travel, I think about the location, what the temperature and the weather are going to be like,” she says. “That will help me decide what hairstyle I want to choose. And then that, of course, will lead me to the products I will actually travel with.”
While traveling, Fox does her best to keep her products to a minimum, with shampoo, conditioner, and mousse, like Miche Set Gel-to-Foam Styling Mousse, usually making the cut. (See below for information on where to buy products mentioned in this article.)
“It has an end result that’s a great balance between hold and softness. It applies quickly and dries very quickly,” says Fox. “If it’s more than a week, then I know I’m probably going to wash my hair, so I have the mini version.”
Fox also likes The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam, which she says was the first foam product that visibly kept her curl definition on her hair after it was dry.
“Mousse Def is a versatile option for wash-and-gos but also for curl sets, twist-outs, braid-outs,” she says. “If you want more moisture from The Doux, the Crazy Sexy Curl Honey Setting Foam is similar to Mousse Def but has honey, which pulls moisture into your hair.”
But if push comes to shove and Fox has to leave something behind to meet TSA requirements, her must-haves include a good leave-in conditioner to keep the hair moisturized, as well as a gel. One of her favorites is the Strong Hold Gel from Pattern Beauty.
“With the gel, you can do a wash-and-go if you really want to, or you can put your hair back into a ponytail or puff. So I think it gives you some options,” she says. “Instead of using edge control, you can use a gel to slick your edges down if that was all you needed.”
And since switching up looks is part of the fun for many naturals, here are some tips Fox recommends for hairstyles she enjoys wearing on vacation.
Wash-and-Go
This is one of Fox’s favorite styles because she says it’s easy, fast to do, and lasts a long time with the right products. She recommends using the Miche Tropical Oasis Anti-Humidity Gel or their Set Gel-to-Foam, depending on how much hold you want or your hair type.
“If I want my hair to stay set in a wash-and-go for the whole time (one or two weeks), I will use the Miche Tropical Oasis gel. It has a solid hold without feeling super stiff and it has never flaked on me, even when I wear the style for a long time. You also don’t need to add anything else,” she says. “Just the gel, so that saves space.”
Fox also says both The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam and Crazy Sexy Curl Setting Foam are great options.
Twist-Out/Braid-Out
These styles aren’t a preference for Fox because she says her hair is prone to take on moisture from the air, which causes it to lose definition. “If it gets wet, you’d be starting over with styling.” But if she does opt for a twist-out or braid-out, she typically uses a creamy product to ensure moisture over time. She recommends either the Pattern Beauty Styling Cream or Styling Custard.
Mini Twists
This is another go-to option for Fox, especially when she is traveling for more than a couple of weeks. “When nearing the end of the trip, you can undo the mini twists and have a gorgeous twist-out that will look good for a long time because the original twists were small.” She also recommends using either the Pattern Beauty Styling Cream or Styling Custard.
Puff
Fox says this is a great secondary hairstyle if you need a quick switch-up. “So maybe a few days in, I might transition a wash-and-go to a puff for example. Since the hair is already moisturized, all I’d need is gel or mousse to slick it up.” She recommends using the same products that were used for the original style to avoid negative product interactions.
“If only a cream/leave-in was used prior, then try to stick with products from the same brand or line or those that you are sure work well together so that you don’t end up with white patches or balls.” A quick tip: Fox says you can mix a small sample of the products you are going to use in your hand before applying. That way, you can see how well they complement each other.
Dermatologist Chesahna Kindred, MD, whose practice is based in Maryland, says many of her patients plan their hairstyles around travel.
“If we’re going on vacation, we know that we might not have someone on site who knows how to do our hair. So we tend to get our hair in braids, braided extensions, or weave,” all of which are often referred to as “protective styles,” a term Kindred says dermatologists hate to use.
“We see some of the worst traction alopecia from braids,” she says.
That’s not the only concern. A recent Consumer Reports test revealed that 10 of the most popular synthetic hair products commonly used for braids contain dangerous chemicals that could lead to serious health problems, like cancer.
Natural hairstylist and hair loss specialist Susan L. Peterkin says a simplified packing list should include a cleansing shampoo, moisturizing shampoo, and conditioner.
If you “don’t want to travel with a whole bunch of stuff,” then “skip the regular conditioner and just carry the leave-in conditioner,” she says. “Use that to detangle and style your hair.”
Is It a Liquid? A Gel? What the TSA Says.
Thicker hair creams and stylers—often essential to keeping curls defined and moisturized—can fall into a gray area for travelers, especially when the product texture isn’t clearly a liquid or gel. When asked whether TSA screens these kinds of products differently, spokesperson Lisa Farbstein confirmed that texture doesn’t matter.
“If you can spill it, spread it, spread, pump it, or pour it, then it falls in the 3–1–1 category,” says Farbstein. While there are exceptions for items like baby formula and liquid medications, “there has been no exception made for any toiletry items, cosmetics, or hair products.”
That means even go-to stylers like curl creams, edge controls, and conditioners must comply with TSA limits. Fox suggests getting creative with how you pack them.
“In cases when I need to travel with products that are too large to pass TSA, I decant some into travel bottles to make sure I can take what I need,” Fox says.
Ingredients Matter, Dermatologists Say
Of course, no matter the size of the product, ingredient awareness is key. Kindred warns against using ones with popular ingredients like olive oil, which can dry hair and promote yeast growth on the scalp, and linalool, a compound found in many essential oils like lavender and rosemary that can contribute to hair loss.
“What we really have to drive home is not everything that’s natural is safe.”
Instead, she suggests looking for products made with nourishing oils like castor, grapeseed, argan, jojoba, or avocado. This applies whether you’re bringing full-sized containers in checked luggage or using travel-sized ones.
New Jersey-based dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, echoes the importance of ingredients. She recommends avoiding products with alcohol, which can be particularly drying for natural hair.
“They’re out of town for whatever it is—a week or longer—and they’re not going to their regular beautician or loctician. And so they develop kind of fine, minute, flaky scales.” She often sees patients returning from trips with seborrheic dermatitis, which she describes as “an angry case of dandruff.” Downie says people should be washing their hair at least once a week, regardless of hairstyle.
“If they do not wash their hair once a week, dandruff can build up on their scalp due to product buildup or an increase in yeast (Malassezia globosa) on the scalp just because of improper cleansing of their scalp and hair.”
Downie says some brands, like SheaMoisture, Paul Mitchell, and Creme of Nature, offer travel-sized options that work well for natural hair.
The Bottom Line
Even frequent travelers have to make tough choices. Personally, I’ve opted to sacrifice simple toiletries like toothpaste or mouthwash, which I know I’ll be able to find when I reach my destination, to make space for hair essentials that are usually more difficult to track down. And if you can squeeze it in, Fox recommends carrying an empty spray bottle in your carry-on that can be filled with water.
“It really helps to take a spray bottle with you as well to refresh when necessary,” she says. “Pattern has a mini spray bottle with a continuous mister like the one I normally use at home.”
In the end, traveling with natural hair doesn’t have to be a hassle—it just takes a bit of strategy. Whether you’re choosing braids, twist-outs, or a simple bun, knowing how to care for your hair on the go can help you feel more confident and prepared. And that starts with understanding what works for your hair, what fits in your TSA bag, and what can be left behind.
Where to Buy
Miche Set Gel-to-Foam Styling Mousse: Amazon and Miche Beauty
The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam: Amazon, JCPenney, Sally Beauty, Target, The Doux, Walgreens, and Walmart
The Doux Crazy Sexy Curl Honey Setting Foam: Amazon, Sally Beauty, Target, The Doux, Walgreens, and Walmart
Pattern Beauty Strong Hold Gel: Amazon, Macy’s, Pattern, Nordstrom, Sephora, Target, and Ulta
Pattern Beauty Styling Cream and Styling Custard: Amazon, Macy’s, Pattern, Nordstrom, Sephora, Target, and Ulta
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