I came to Bali prepared for a lot of things.
The heat. The humidity. The sun. The pool. The beach. The fact that I was absolutely going to take entirely too many pictures...
What I apparently did not prepare for was how much vacation hair care for locs would require me to pay attention to things I normally don't think twice about at home. My hair having its own Bali experience.
And somewhere between being outside in the sun all day, wearing my hair down more than I normally do, and enjoying vacation, I realized: my hair was getting very DRY.
Not a little dry either. The funny part? I should have known better. Apparently, I Needed to Take My Own Advice!
We were recently thrilled to see our founder featured as a hair expert in Vogue, sharing advice about protecting textured hair during the summer. (Yes, we’re still raving about and celebrating that one)!
And what was some of that advice about?
Protecting your hair from prolonged sun exposure and being intentional about moisture. Meanwhile, there I was in Bali…outside constantly. hair just frying.
The tropical sun is no joke. Add heat, wind, swimming, air conditioning when you finally go inside, and simply spending far more time outdoors than you normally would, and your hair can start feeling different pretty quickly. Mine certainly did.
Thankfully, I had a sample of Loc in the Moisture conditioner, one of the products we’re currently testing at NVLX Labs, with me. And let me tell you - I was so happy I packed it.
One of the ingredients we’ve been testing in the formula is squalane, a lightweight emollient that helps soften the hair and support moisture retention without the heavy, greasy feeling I absolutely do not want on my locs.
Squalane is especially interesting because it has excellent spreadability, helping smooth and condition the hair while reducing that rough, dry feel that can happen when the hair’s lipid barrier is challenged by environmental exposure. And after several days in Bali? My hair needed it.
I could feel the difference when I used Loc in the Moisture conditioner. My hair felt softer, more pliable and much less like it had been outside sightseeing all day with me.
We’re still testing the formula, so I’m not giving away too much yet - but Bali definitely gave this sample an unexpected real-world field test. So far? I’m impressed.
Then There Was My Decision to Wear My Hair Down…
At home, I actually don’t wear my hair completely down very often. At home, I am usually in a bonnet. But I’m in Bali. I'm OUTSIDE! Of course I wanted my hair out!
Long locs + tropical dresses + Bali scenery? Please. So I wore my hair down a lot.
And I quickly remembered one of the less glamorous realities of having long hair:
It gets into EVERYTHING.
It tangled more than usual.
It rubbed against my clothes.
It got caught under purse straps.
It brushed against chairs.
It got caught behind me when I sat down.
And then there was the moment I realized my hair had touched a bathroom floor.
Absolutely not.
That was when Bali Hair Phase Two began:
Two buns.
Cute. Easy. Off my neck. And- most importantly- off the bathroom floor. Wearing Your Hair Out Isn’t Always Harmless. This was also a good reminder that wearing your hair down constantly can create unnecessary mechanical stress.
Every time long hair rubs against clothing, handbags, seat backs, bedding or other surfaces, you’re creating friction. Over time, repeated friction can contribute to dryness, tangling, and wear along the hair shaft.
For locs, I also think about the additional weight and manipulation involved when the locs are constantly being moved, pulled, caught or repositioned throughout the day.
That doesn’t mean you can’t wear your hair down. I certainly did.
But there is a difference between wearing your hair out occasionally and having it exposed to friction and the environment all day, every day.
Sometimes putting it up isn’t just a style choice. It’s giving your hair a break.
And honestly, those two buns became one of my favorite vacation styles anyway.
A Few Other Things Bali Made Me Pay Attention To
Vacation hair requires a little more thought than I expected.
The sun: If I’m protecting my skin from prolonged UV exposure, I need to remember my hair and scalp are being exposed too- especially when I’m outside for hours.
Swimming: Pool and ocean days mean paying attention to what my hair is exposed to and not allowing salt, chlorine and minerals to remain inside my locs.
Friction: Clothes, towels, airplane seats, headrests, handbags…long hair encounters a LOT during travel.
Nighttime protection: Being on vacation doesn’t mean my satin protection gets to take a vacation too.
Moisture: Instead of waiting until my hair look dry, I’m paying more attention to how it actually feels. By the time hair looks noticeably parched, I’ve already waited longer than I should have. Mist, Mist Mist! Water is your friend. Moisture comes from water. Seal it in properly with our lightweight Lush Locs Hair Oil.
Updos: Sometimes the healthiest vacation hairstyle is simply getting your hair up and out of the way- especially when you’re spending long days outside.
Bali Hair Lessons Learned
The irony of this entire experience is not lost on me.
I literally gave advice about summer hair protection in Vogue…and then flew halfway around the world and had to remind myself to follow it.
But that’s also what I love about continuing to learn about my hair.
Even after years of working with locs, studying hair and developing products specifically with loc’d hair in mind, my own hair will still teach me something.
This time, Bali reminded me that environmental exposure matters, friction matters, moisture retention matters- and sometimes two buns are the answer.
It also gave Loc in the Moisture a much more intense field test than I had planned.
And I have to say…Bali may have just earned itself a spot in our product-development notes.
