Going on Vacation with Your Wig: 11 Tips for Traveling with Wigs

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Going on Vacation with Your Wig 11 Tips for
Traveling with Wigs
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• Paulas Wig Boutique has been providing the best
  human hair wigs in Toronto for over 25 years. As
  the premier human hair wig store in Toronto, we
  have invested great effort in making the finest
  bespoke real hair wigs as well as creating a
  sense of community where fellow wearers share
  their experiences, tips, and tricks to make
  wig-wearing more enjoyable.
• Lets face it, travelling is both a joy and a
  pain. Everyone loves the idea of going on
  vacation, but the logistics can add to the pain
  part of vacationing. Add to that all the possible
  issues that can arise from travelling with human
  hair wigs, and you may very well have the recipe
  for a less-than-perfect holiday. The following
  blog represents the best tips we have learned
  over years of making real hair wigs in Toronto
  about vacationing with your wig from personal and
  clients experiences.

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• 1. Packing your wig for travel
• If youre not wearing your wig on your journey or
  you are taking a backup piece, knowing how to
  pack it is important. There are some lovely
  pieces of wig luggage on the market that come
  with their own removable wig form (styrofoam
  head), which is the Rolls-Royce of packing
  options. Our main reason for discouraging using
  wig luggage is the possibility of the airline not
  allowing it to go as a carry-on. The dimensions
  of wig luggage are sometimes quite bulky, and
  with the constantly changing standards of
  acceptable carry-on sizes, we just dont think
  its worth the risk of having to send your wig in
  cargo. The best option we have found is to travel
  with a small cardboard box in which your wig is
  gently folded. Choose a size that easily fits
  into your carry-on. We strongly recommend against
  packing your wig in your luggage because of the
  possibility of loss. Cardboard is a natural fibre
  that discourages static, so avoid packing your
  wig in plastic.

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• 2. Freshly wash and set your wig before packing
• Theres nothing like wearing a clean wig, and
  starting your vacation with a freshly washed
  piece will go a long way.
• 3. Choose a wig that requires minimal or no
  styling
• We love our wash-and-wear styles when we travel!
  Our favourites are loose, messy waves, naturally
  curly, and silky straight. The advantage of these
  styles is that you can easily rewash these wigs
  and let them air dry. No one wants to travel with
  a suitcase full of hairstyling tools. Our motto
  is Keep it simple. If you love your wig even
  when its so dirty that its almost walking off
  your head, thats the wig to take on vacation.
  Wash-and-wear styles are the easiest to pack and
  look great even after sitting in a cardboard box
  for several hours.

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• 4. Protect your wig from the elements
• No one can accurately predict the weather, but
  being ready for the unexpected is a good idea,
  especially if you are a wig wearer. Sunny
  destinations come with their own set of issues,
  and humidity is probably the one that most people
  struggle with. Choosing an anti-humidity spray is
  a must when going to warmer climates. Of all the
  brands we have tried so far, our absolute
  favourite is Umbrella by Cotril. Spray this on
  your wig every morning before wearing it, and the
  effects of humidity are seriously mitigated. We
  have also found that this spray is wonderful in
  dry climates and keeps our wigs feeling soft and
  freshly washed. Getting stuck in a sudden
  torrential downpour without an umbrella is
  perhaps one of every wig wearers worst
  nightmares, but if you travel with a
  wash-and-wear type of style, leaving it to dry on
  a wig form overnight should be enough.

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• 5. Take a wig stand
• Its not likely that the place youll be staying
  comes equipped with a styrofoam head to leave
  your wig on when youre not wearing it. If you
  have room in your luggage to pack a short
  styrofoam head, thats ideal however,
  collapsible wig stands work almost as well. They
  are quite inexpensive and are available to
  purchase at most quality wig stores as well as
  online. In a pinch, you can also use a
  litre-sized bottle of soda. Never hang your wig
  on a wall sconce, as too many times people forget
  and turn on the light. The result is a giant hole
  burned into the top of your wig. Thats the
  perfect way to ruin your vacation.

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• 6. Give it a break
• If possible, try not to sleep in your wig. Its
  great to give your wig as well as your scalp 10
  to 12 hours to air out. Although this is not
  always possible, sleeping in your wig will
  require more frequent washing and styling and
  will shorten the life of your wig.

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• 7. Swimming with my wig
• Swimming in your wig is not ideal, particularly
  if you have a high-end real-hair wig. Chlorine
  and strong sunshine are damaging to your
  hairpiece. Consider using a bathing cap, or if
  you absolutely must wear a wig, consider using an
  accessory wig, such as a hat fall coupled with a
  large sun hat or extra-large hairband. This still
  doesnt allow you to go underwater however, its
  perfect for soaking and sunning. If youre
  planning on doing laps, invest in a cute bathing
  cap.

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• 8. Wearing a wig on the plane
• Going through security wearing a wig is a really
  common concern for our clients, particularly
  those that have metal clips inside their wigs
  that attach to their bio hair. The concern is
  that the metal clips or combs will set off the
  metal detector. If this happens and you are
  female, its always a female agent who will take
  you aside and check on you. If she asks to touch
  your head, just politely tell her that you wear a
  wig and it has clips. I have never experienced or
  heard of anyone experiencing an agent requiring
  them to remove their wig. If you are particularly
  concerned about setting off a metal detector,
  consider having your metal hardware removed and
  using a wig grip instead.

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• 9. Take a backup
• Please, please, please, never rely on only one
  wig. If you wear prescription glasses, you would
  never consider travelling without a backup pair.
  Your wig is almost as important. If anything
  happens, you need to know that you can always
  rely on a second (and I like to take a third as
  well!) piece to see you through your travels. A
  couple of fabric hair coverings are also a great
  option as backups.

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• 10. Keep wig care products in leak-proof
  containers and a Ziplock bag
• This may seem self-evident, but Im pretty sure
  everyone has a story of some goo or potion
  leaking in their suitcase. If youre taking these
  products in your carry-on, be sure to check that
  they are not over the allowable amount of liquid.
  Its extremely frustrating to have your valuable
  and, more importantly, necessary products taken
  away from you at security. Pack them in your
  luggage if they are over the limit, or transfer
  them into small travel-size containers. Dont
  forget to put everything in an extra Ziploc bag.

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• 11. Remember your dryer sheet
• One of our favourite wig hacks is the dryer
  sheet. Hair can become staticky depending on
  the environment or weather (think dry winter
  weather), and a dryer sheet is an instant
  cure-all. The straighter the hair, the more it is
  affected by static. A quick pass over with a
  dryer sheet and the static.
• These top 11 tips have been invaluable for us and
  our clients when traveling. We hope this
  information is helpful, and we wish you a safe
  and pleasant journey!!