There’s nothing worse than being faced with a hair disaster while you’re out and about with zero access to hair products. It happened to me a few weeks ago, when I was on my way to an important meeting and encountered a sudden downpour of rain – perfect! I hurried to the nearest bathroom to fix myself up when I realised I had no hair products in my work bag to attend to the situation – which was basically my living nightmare.
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I managed to utilise a few ‘features’ in the bathroom to get my hair into an acceptable condition (don’t even ask!), but I vowed to never let this happen to me or any other woman again. So here you go – your handbag hair saviours, personalised to your hair type. And may the hair odds be ever in your favour.
If you’ve got… Curly hair
Firstly, you need a good frizz fighter that you can use on the go – OUAI Anti-Frizz Hair Sheets ($28, sephora.com.au) are your new handbag MVP. With a few swipes over the hair from roots to ends, your curls will be left smooth and smelling amazing.
Next, you need a product that with breathe life back into end-of-day curls. We suggest the epic Moroccanoil Curl Re Energizing Spray, which is infused with nourishing argan oil to keep your curls all cute and bouncy.
Your final curly hair handbag hero is a heavy-duty brush to keep your curls in line. We love the EcoTools Travel Detangler Hair Brush, which will ensure your hair stays knot-free without leaving it all separated. BUT make sure you only brush those curls when they’re wet or you might find yourself dealing with breakage.
If you’ve got… Oily hair
Girl, you know I’m gonna recommend you buy a bomb dry shampoo to keep on hand at all times. It’s always good to keep things travel-size, so go for the 30ml version of the Cedel Dry Shampoo. This product is totally waterless (cause the last thing us greasy gals need is more moisture!) and it’ll make all that excess oil vanish in just a few sprays.
Since you’ll be loading up on the dry shampoo, you’ll need a pocket-sized brush to ensure the product is brushed out. I’ve been loving the Drybar Lil’ Lemon Drop brush ($17, sephora.com.au) for a quick hair fix, minus the bulky size.
From there, we need to get you stocked up on a good hairspray. Being that your hair is oily, it’s probably harder for your locks to hold a style – enter Schwarzkopf Taft Styling Lacquer, Extra Strong Hold. You’ll never see a strand out of place again.
If you’ve got… Thin hair
Volume powder is your new best mate thin Lizzy! And I’ve got just the pick – the uber-luxe David Mallett Gold Dust (from $99, net-a-porter.com/au). It’s pricey I know, but it’s a miracle worker – a revamped version of the brand’s best-selling Volume Powder, this bad boy simultaneously adds shimmer to the hair while also encouraging collagen production and improved hair elasticity thanks to the inclusion of bamboo extract. It’s also excellent for sensitive scalps, so near not if your head’s a little fussy.
Once you’ve boosted your roots, it’s time to texturise those ends for a fuller effect. You need something weightless, so try the Aveda Light Elements Texturizing Crème, which will add texture to your hair (obviously) without leaving a crunchy, sticky situation (preferable).
Lastly, if you can fit it into your bag, get yourself some travel hair stylers. The ghd ultimate travel gift set contains a lightweight mini hair dryer, which can blast the volume back into your roots, and a mini styler to help you stay groomed on the go.
If you’ve got… Thick hair
Heaven help you! Thick hair can be rough, but the right handbag hair essentials will sort you out. Start by picking up a product that will keep your mane smooth – we love the Pureology Smooth Perfection Smoothing Serum, which is designed for normal to thick hair types. It offers colour protection and 72-hour frizz and flyaway control, ideal for more robust hair types.
A brush is an absolute essential for thick hair due to those arm-strength-inducing knots that seem to appear out of nowhere every day. For this, you need the Michel Mercier Professionel Travel Brush – Thick in your life, which will detangle your tresses in a hot minute, with significantly less hair fall and a convenient travel size.
Lastly, don’t get caught without an industrial-strength hair tie that you lift your XXL strands up and out of your face at a moments notice. Scunci Active Braided 6 Strands No Damage Hair Elastics are three times stronger and more durable than regular hair ties, so you won’t get those dreaded hair-aches or struggle to put your hair up.
If you’ve got… Dry hair
Strung out, stressed out strands need a good hit of moisture throughout the day. Add a hair oil to your bag to smooth the hair fibre and protect it from further damage. We’re huge fans of the Klorane Mango Oil for a budget-friendly hair treatment that smells as good as it feels on your dry hair.
A lightweight dry shampoo can also make your hair look like it’s just been given a hit of bounce and body. But not all dry shampoo formulas are created equal and the last thing you want is a product that makes your sahara-desert strands look even drier! Go for a dry shampoo with hydrating ingredients, like the argan oil found in the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo.
Ditch those coarse brushes for a gentler option that will be kind to your stressed-out strands. Choose something with boar bristles that will smooth out your locks without causing them any further damage. The Lady Jayne 100% Boar Bristle Brush will do just that, while also stimulating the scalp – and it’s less than $20 for the purse-size brush, so it’s a winner!
What’s in your handbag hair kit?
