I am in total awe of anyone who leaves a plane feeling completely fresh. From heaving heavy bags through terminals and rushing between airport gates to squished nap positions and airplane food—it’s no wonder we often disembark flights feeling frazzled, worn out, and slightly stale.
You can pack a clean change of clothes to change into upon arrival, lots of wipes to clean hands and surfaces, and plenty of in-flight skincare to lock in moisture and prime skin for vacations, but when it comes to hair, it’s almost impossible to ensure that you can arrive at your destination with your locks as preened and primped as they were pre-flight—even if you leave washing it until the very last minute before rushing out the front door.
How to look after your hair on a flight is a question that has stumped travelers for years. Does your hair actually get greasy more quickly on flights? If it doesn’t, why does it feel like it does? Is there any way to avoid it happening?
“Airplane air is very dry—it has low humidity and lacks moisture. This can dehydrate your skin, including your scalp,” says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley. “While not always the case, many people’s scalps may produce more oil to compensate for this dry air, leaving them with greasier roots.”
“Traveling is also stressful, and stress can further increase oil production,” Anabel adds. “Also, when stressed, you may touch your hair more than usual and subsequently transfer oils and dirt from your hands onto your strands. Plus, your scalp can get sweaty from rushing through the airport, lifting heavy suitcases and carting around carry-ons. Sweat can leave your hair even more limp and lackluster.”
Ahead of your flight, Anabel suggests “applying a hydrating serum to your scalp the night before you fly and shampooing your hair in the morning to help counteract bothersome roots. I love the Philip Kingsley Overnight Scalp Balancing Serum, which hydrates and gently exfoliates your scalp and helps regulate oil production.”
Dry shampoo is also a firm-favorite quick-fix solution. “The L’Oréal Professionnel Morning After Dust dry shampoo is brilliant for helping to keep your hair fresh,” says Adam Reed, editorial ambassador from L’Oréal Professionnel. “Wrapping your hair in a silk or muslin hair scarf before your traveling might also help. The muslin will help absorb any residue or oiliness in the hair and help maintain and protect your hairstyle (if you’ve had a blow dry, for example).”
Another option is to create a sleek updo that helps to hide limp plane hair. “My hair always looks greasy and flat after a flight, so I often wash the front part of my hair in the plane bathroom, let it dry and then put the rest up into an updo, using a beautiful hair accessory. Brands like Gucci and Chanel sell some, and hair stylist Syd Hayes designed elegant hair pins that help keep your updo in place. They’re super small, come in several finishes, and don’t take up too much space in your carry-on” says Anita Bhagwandas, Conde Nast Traveller UK’s beauty director.
The best beauty products to help with greasy hair on flights
Find more of our tried-and-true hair care products and tips below:
