Curly Hair in the Wild
As a curly hair backpacker, I often find myself waking up extra early to wet my hair in the nearby stream, pulling out my tiny bottle of Cantu leave-in conditioner and braiding my hair long before others leave their tent.
There are many tips and tricks out there for novice backpackers but the one thing I’ve always struggled to find are tips on what to do with my hair while in the outdoors. Many of us curly haired folk know that taking care of curly & textured hair is a long learned process and that's with all of our at home products to help. But spending days overnight in the wilderness poses a particular challenge for us.
To help us we’ve gathered tips from folks in our community on how to care for your hair while enjoying the great outdoors.
Free Free as Can Be:
When I go backpacking I always braid my long hair on the first night and on the following days.
Since I'm prone to frizz I started bringing a satin pillowcase from home. At night I stuff it with my puffy and other clothes to make a pillow.
Moisturize:
"Moisturizing is important! I carry a small spray bottle of jojoba, olive or almond oil for when I go on day adventures outside."
"Before going outside in the heat I always apply a leave-in conditioner and then I detangle it with a wide tooth brush so my hair doesn't get matted down."
"My tip is to prioritize nightly hair oil, finger combing ratty patches, and braiding before bed. If you don’t have hair oil or want to bring that as a priority item, salve or balm makes a good substitute!"
New Hobby? New Hairstyle!
"Braid that hair!" I also shave half of it off so you have less to deal with."
"There are specific hairstyles for textured hair that help protect your strands and keep moisture in like cornrows, twists, and box braids."
Tips for Water Babies:
"I always use a top knot when going for a soak to avoid wetting my hair."
"I love to go swimming multiple times a week but I'm not a fan of chlorine. I co-wash in between my sessions and am adding a protein treatment to my routine."
Tops for Climbers (& helmet wearers):
"I now have an adjustable helmet that will fit different hair styles but I used to do braids to the side or two low buns."
"A braid is really the only option for me. Crags are often cold and windy and a pony tail just won't cut it for curly hair. I also make sure to deep condition it before a trip"
Final Thoughts:
I spent years straightening my hair to a crisp before I finally embraced my naturally curly hair. Now I wear those curls long and loose when hiking and bouldering outside. It’s true that it can be a tangled mess and I often find myself pulling twigs out of my hair at the end of the day but having my hair flowing on a beautiful sunny day is a feeling that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Whatever your curl type or style is I say embrace it!
