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Creams, oils, conditioners, oh my!
Natural hair care is an important part of the planning process when it comes to preparing to travel abroad. Studying abroad in a country that may be unfamiliar with your hair texture can be stressful. But it doesn't have to be! You should feel comfort in knowing there are various ways to take care of your natural hair while you are abroad. This module contains a few tips, tricks, and resources you can use in preparation for traveling abroad.
The Perception of Natural Hair Abroad
People in your host country may not be familiar with your hair texture, which may cause unwarranted stares, comments, and touching. Learning about how black people and natural hair are perceived in your host country can give you a better understanding of your identity and how to navigate your identity abroad. For more information about navigating your identity abroad, visit our diversity resources page for a list of resources for black students (and other minority groups) traveling abroad.
*If you experience a bias incident during your time abroad, know that our local Arcadia Abroad staff are there to help and support you. If you would like to report a bias incident, please contact your local staff.
Finding Accessible Hair Care Services and Products Abroad
Natural hair care services and products can be hard to find during your time abroad. So, what can you do? Here are a few tips and resources you can use to help you find accessible hair care services and products in your host country.
Watch influencers and YouTube - You can watch YouTube videos of other black expats living abroad in your study location to see where and how they get their natural hair care products.
Search Online - Have no fear, Google is here! Do a quick Google search to find blogs, articles, and videos written and created by black people living and studying abroad. Sometimes, they’ll have a recommendation handy for where they get their hair done (if they are unable to do so themselves), which can be a stress reliever if you do not know how to do certain protective styles or need to find a stylist and various hair care necessities.
Expat Groups for Natural Hair Care Abroad - There are expat groups on various social media platforms, such as Facebook, that are dedicated to helping other black people share their experiences living or studying abroad. You can even find a recommendation or two about what services are available in your host country, where other black people get their products from, and how to manage and take care of your hair. As always, please exercise caution if you decide to join and engage with communities on social media sites.
Learn a Few Simple Styles - Learning how to do your own hair can be frustrating. But, there are several protective styles you can do that are beginner friendly. Simple protective styles like buns, braids, or twists can be great in a pinch. Learn a few simple protective styles that work best for you and alternate between them during your time abroad. You can also invest in scarves, or head wraps for a quick on-the-go protective style. We recommend keeping your styles simple and versatile!
Join Our Arcadia Abroad ZeeMee Community - You may be wondering, "...what is ZeeMee?" Well, let us tell you! ZeeMee is an app that allows our students to connect with each other before and after their study abroad experience. There are several chat channel spaces that already exist within our ZeeMee community. Sharing tips and products can be super helpful, especially as you begin to navigate and explore your identity before, during, and after your study abroad experience.
How to Join Our Arcadia Abroad ZeeMee Community
How to Join Our Arcadia Abroad ZeeMee Community
Scan the QR code below to download the ZeeMee app (it's free!)
Find the Arcadia Abroad Community and join
Introduce yourself in our country-specific chat spaces to connect with other students going on your program
Introduce yourself and connect with other students going abroad!
Tips for Packing Hair Care Products and Accessories
Pack Your Staple Products - You may have already established a hair care routine before your travels. We highly recommend packing the products you use daily. It might be hard to find hair care products for natural hair abroad, so stockpile what you can! Put bottles In plastic bags for transport In case they leak.
Your Personal and Carry-On Bag - You should pack your bigger hair care products in your checked luggage. But it never hurts to pack a small toiletry bag in your carry-on if your checked luggage is lost. Pack a few travel-sized toiletries and hair care essentials to last a few days so you don’t have to stress about managing your hair or personal hygiene during your travels. Please be mindful of TSA regulations regarding the amount of product you are allowed to have in your carry-on and or personal bag.
Your Checked Luggage—Your checked luggage will contain the bulk of your hair care products, aside from the travel-sized toiletries and containers you may have packed in your carry-on. Bring your staple products, tools (like brushes, combs, and styling tools), and hair care accessories. You can never go wrong with an extra bonnet, scarf, or headwrap in your collection! If you choose to bring any styling tools, please make sure you have the right adaptor to plug your styling tool into.
Resource Library
Our resource library contains YouTube videos primarily focused on helping you maintain and style your natural hair while you are abroad. These videos were created by black expats living and/ or studying abroad. In them, they share their experiences navigating their identity and maintaining their natural hair in their host country.
Aleese Lightyear (YouTube) - Expat Life | 5 Tips for Natural Hair Care While Living Abroad
Melody Alisa (YouTube) - How to Maintain Natural Hair While Living in Korea
Navigate to pages for Black student resources
Navigate to pages for Black student resources
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