Best Hair Accessories for Travel

The best hair accessories for travel are the ones that do more than one job, take up almost no room and still hold after a long flight. You don't need a full drawer. You need a small kit that covers how you wear your hair on the road: up, back, off your face and out of the wind.

Start with what you actually do with your hair

Before you pack anything, think about the trip. A beach week means wet hair, salt and wind. A city trip means long days and not much time in front of a mirror. A work trip means one tidy look you can repeat every morning. Pick accessories for those moments, not for every style you might try at home.

The short list that covers most trips

• Hair ties. Pack more than you think. They go missing, stretch out and end up on wrists. Fabric-covered or spiral ties are kinder on hair than plain elastic and are less likely to leave a kink.
• A claw clip. A medium clip is often all you need to put hair up, so you can pack fewer pins. It puts hair up in seconds, sits flat enough for a headrest and holds damp hair while it dries.
• Bobby pins. A small handful for tucking in flyaways and holding a bun in place. Keep them in a closed container so they don't scatter through your bag.
• A scrunchie or soft tie for sleeping. Long-haul flights and hotel pillows are hard on hair. A loose, soft tie keeps it out of the way without pulling.
• A headband or wide clip. Handy for washing your face, doing makeup in a small bathroom or hiding second-day hair.

Think about your hair type

Fine hair slips, so look for clips with grip teeth and ties with some texture. Thick or long hair needs a bigger claw clip and stronger ties; a small clip will just pop open. Curly hair does better with soft ties and wide clips that don't break up the curl pattern. If your hair is coloured or fragile, avoid anything with a metal join that can snag.

Pack light, pack smart

Choose neutral colours that go with everything you're bringing. Skip anything bulky or decorative unless you have an event planned. Two or three pieces that work together will cover more looks than a bag of single-use extras. If you're flying with carry-on only, flat clips and ties are easier to fit around everything else.

What to leave at home

Heavy hair jewellery, oversized bows and anything that only works with one outfit. They take space and rarely get worn. The same goes for duplicates of the same clip in three sizes; one good size for your hair is enough.

When you're ready to build your kit, browse our hair accessories range for clips, ties, pins and headbands in sizes and finishes for every hair type, with Australia-wide delivery.