I love holidays. Although that probably goes without saying. Aside from cocktails, sun, and sea salt, I love that a holiday allows me to pare back my beauty routine completely—distilling my makeup bag down to its absolute essence is a near religious experience. The same goes for my hair. I see a cheeky week-long trip as a chance to streamline my look, spending as little time styling as possible. With some planning in advance, it is absolutely possible to enjoy effortless, tousled holiday hair for a full week without washing it. And, if you plan it just right, the only tool you’ll need to bring is a comb.
They key is in the prep. Anthony Nader from Sydney’s RAW Salon crafted these three travel-friendly looks, designed to progress with you through seven days of bliss and remain chic enough to live on forever in holiday snaps.
Keep reading to see how to take your hair from pre-flight through to the very last day of your trip without packing a hairdryer, straightener, or even shampoo and conditioner.
Days 1 – 3: Beachy Waves
The day of your trip will require the most effort. Before you leave, use a nourishing shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair as healthy and shiny as possible for the whole week—we like the nutrient-rich OGX Vitamin B5 ($18). Then use your preferred method of creating waves; whether with a curling tong, straightening iron, or (in the case of Nader’s advice below) both.
Anthony Nader’s Tip: “When applying a wave to hair I like to use two different types of hot appliances. Alternate them and leave some ends out so the result is lived-in and not too glam looking. For this look, I swirled chunky sections around a flat iron and also used a 1¼ sized barrel tong, winding the other sections in the opposite direction. I know this sounds like a lot of work and investment, but creating different effects is key to making it look like it was done by a pro.”
Days 4 – 5: Textured pony
After a fun-filled three days, your hair will start to look a little greasy at the roots, mostly at your part. You can hide this by brushing back into a low pony, which will look perfectly textured and tousled thanks to the waves you crafted on Day 1. Brushing your hair out of its normal part will hide the worst of your oily roots, too.
Anthony Nader’s Tip:“Keep the base of the ponytail low, not halfway up the back of your head like you were unsure of where it is meant to be. Then brush it, place it and secure it. Soak up oily roots and stuck-to-the-head surface hair with a dry shampoo to liven up your new low pony. Spray it on the root area, then massage the scalp to emphasize the texture.”
Days 6 – 7: Macaron Buns
We profiled this sweet ‘do a few months ago; the tail-end of a holiday is the perfect time to try them. Work with the slickness of your hair to pull it all back firmly into two low ponytails—if you’re dealing with some humidity-related frizz, work in a small amount of hydrating oil, such as the OGX Coconut Miracle Penetrating Oil ($9). Wrap the hair of each ponytail loosely around its base, but let a few strands fly loose in keeping with your new relaxed vibe.
Anthony Nader’s Tip: “There’s a very fine line between these buns coming off cool or spacey. Be careful not to place them too far around on the sides of your head, otherwise it’s going to look a little strange. Keep them near the back of the neck and no need to be precise with making sure they’re too clean and slick. The more they look like natural hair, the better.”
Photography: Dave Wheeler. Hair: Anthony Nader of RAW Salon. Makeup: Jessica Diez from oneninetynine management. Talent, Styling & Creative Direction: Crystal Andrews