Packing for a Beautiful Vacation

Summer vacation is an American tradition that is different from what most of my friends around the world are accustomed to. Most European and New Zealand friends have 30 days of vacation, while in Asia many countries, including China, offer 20+ days off paid. But in America, a 1-week vacation in the summer is the norm and this changes things. When we think about this, a month long vacation is more of a journey and a one-week vacation is more like an event, so packing is entirely different.

When someone takes a 30-day vacation, they need to pack in 1 of 2 ways and both with utilitarian reasoning. First, you can’t pack a months worth of clothes, so outfits become mix and match and a different pair of shoes for everyday is also not a sane option (though maybe Kim Kardashian might be able to pull this off.) And make-up/hair care becomes generally more about looking great rather than creating looks. The second variable is if you’re going on a month long vacation. You’re either seeing lots of places, which means you need basics that work everywhere, or you’re going to a place for a month like Tuscany, a Greek Island or climbing Mount Everest, which means you are packing for a specific environment.

When Americans pack for vacation it’s different. We know where we are going and generally we know what we are doing. We’re not exploring, we’ve planned and we are ready. From what bathing suit we are wearing each day with which shoes and then at night we have a different outfit planned, with different shoes, and in many places change of hair and makeup too. No matter Jamaica, the Jersey Shore, Hampton's, Disney and even in lake communities, beauty goes on vacation and it’s planned. But here’s the catch, if you’ve never experienced 100% humidity and heat then you don’t understand why you need to pack differently to make sure you look hot and not like a “before” in a frizzy hair tutorial. If you have not experienced a dry baking heat that literally pulls the moisture and life from skin and hair creating damage that will be an unwanted souvenir from the vacation, you won’t know what to pack. From lake water, to salt and pool water, to even in the most pristine conditions, the combination of water and sun change hair quickly, if you are not prepared.

So what can we do? Create vacation kits for your guests that they can grab and go. Make it fun, pack it in a beach pail from the dollar store or go to the fabric store and get some tulle or netting so you can pack things clam bake style. Create an opportunity to keep your guests looking great and let them take you on vacation too. So where should we go? Make packages for Jamaica, Disney or the Jersey Shore and Las Vegas with a goal of 5 products for each vacation that the guest can layer for different looks. Then, add a special offer for a pre or post service like a treatment or clarifying the hair too.

Jamaica - No problem, man this works for island vacations

When traveling to Jamaica or any tropical island, humidity and sun are two factors and wind can be a third, but the laid back atmosphere also means no one is flat ironing their hair for dinner or to go out. Here, the key is to embrace beauty, protect the hair/scalp and release humidity – it’s like gravity you, can fight it, but it will win. Here are my 5 recommendations, 1 - texture creme or spray for day and night, 2 - leave-in w/SPF to protect hair and scalp during the day, 3 -texture spray for night to add volume, create a great ponytail or add texture to short hair (I love Playable Texture from KMS for this), 4/5 - shampoo and conditioner, I like choices - color protection, humidity, frizz, sun or even a hair mask/treatment and clarifying option.

Disney or the Jersey Shore, making sure hair is happy too

When traveling to the happiest place on earth, or New Jersey, humidity and sun are two factors and wind and water from rides can be a third and forth, but the laid back atmosphere of the families can differ greatly from high fashion of some of the vacationers without kids to family casual. So, having options is not an option. Here are my 5 recommendations, 1 - texture creme or spray for day and night, 2 - leave-in w/SPF to protect the hair and scalp during the day, 3 -heat protection spray for at night to add volume, create a great ponytail or add texture with an iron or wand (I love 2-in-1 from KMS for this), 4/5 - shampoo and conditioner - I like choices here, color protection, humidity, frizz, sun or even a hair mask/treatment and clarifying option.

Las Vegas, making sure what stays in Vegas isn't every ounce of moisture.

When traveling to Vegas for the young and jet set it is a non-stop party and fashion is just part of the ticket. From the bathing suit you can’t swim in, to hair that needs to look great until dawn, Vegas is 24/7. Here are my 5 recommendations, 1 - texture creme or spray for day that work with the hair down or pulled back, 2 - heat protection spray for at night to add volume, create a great ponytail or add texture with an iron or wand (I love 2-in-1 from KMS for this), 3 - hairspray that can party all night, 4/5 - shampoo and conditioner I like choices here, color protection, moisture, sun or even a hair mask/treatment and leave-in moisture spray option.

Now get ready to pack and let them take you with QR codes or links that they can access with their smartphones. Make some quick videos saying, “Hi, I’m glad you wanted to take me on vacation with you and here’s a how to you can use…” Each video only takes a couple minutes, you can even demo on your head and your guests will love that you took the time to make sure they always look great. Then upload to YouTube and share the link or create a QR code so they can find you at the airport, pool and even in their hotel room.