How to Make Sure the TSA Doesn’t Snag Your Natural Hair Products

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.”