Preparing your wig for travel: a wearable hair how-to
Have wig, hit the road? Maybe that’s not the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, you might be tempted to just hole up at home, with the extra work of traveling with a wig. And how do you travel with a wig, anyway?
Here, a Follea wig on a travel wig stand with wig accessories like a Wet brush, a Wig Grip wig cap with integrated wig band, and a Buff tubular scarf for when your wig isn't on your head.
You’ll need a few things to travel with your wig successfully:
How long are you going for? A week in a beachy location might mean that you only wash your wig once (if at all), and for sure a week on business you probably won’t have to. Where you’re going and how often/long you’ll be wearing your wig will necessitate what you have to bring.
First off, know that the TSA will not require you to take off your wig. In fact, they won’t even know you have it on if you're in the PreCheck line. In the big body scanner, they can see it, but unless you have something tucked up under your wig, they won't hassle you at all. Travel confidently!
1) A portable travel wig stand – these are plastic, and fold completely flat even in the smallest carry on suitcase or even a 30L backpack (we’ve done it! More than once!) Your wig stylist can hook you up with one when you get your wigs
2) Your wig brush - we like the Wet brand brush
3) Wig conditioning spray in a travel size bottle
4) Wig shampoo and conditioner in travel bottles
5) Clips or WigGrip headband (and a backup headband)
6) A second wig or a backup headcover for when you’re not wearing your primary wig
7) A travel case – while you can pack them into your wig box, a safer way is a large plastic storage container (like Ziploc). Put your wig in it’s bag, stuff the crown with socks or undergarments to hold the shape – or a few scarves – and place it in the plastic box. We didn’t trust this to the airlines’ cargo, preferring to take our wigs in our carry on bag.
8) A couple of scarves and Buffs for workout, swim and athletic activities outdoors
9) A sun or winter hat (depending on destination)
Overseas flights present unique challenges - you’re not going to want to wear that wig to sleep in it on the plane or for 10 hours. Plan ahead and take your wig bag into the restroom and carefully put it in it’s box (or just do a quick change at your seat with Buff headwrap and wig). Bring a small travel sized bottle of witch hazel to rub your head down before you put your wig back on in the “morning”.
When you get to your hotel or residence, caring for your wig is the same at home – washing, styling is all the same as usual. If you’re going for a longer trip, you may be washing your wig at least once. If you’re going on a shorter trip, just placing your wig on your stand at night and spritzing it with the conditioning spray is probably suitable. Bring a dry shampoo for the ends that touch your face, if needed.
A traveling wig stand snaps flat and lays even in a smaller backpack for travel.
You might be tempted to just not travel – the hassle of wig wearing on the road might seem daunting, but as a world-traveler with many business and pleasure miles under my belt, I’d say, go for it. There’s nothing quite like travel – to jar you out of your current zone and give you a new, happier outlook on life.