Warning: what I’m about to say may cause controversy.
I’m going to pack a hairdryer AND hair straighteners in my backpack for my RTW trip. Heck, I may even take a pair of not-so-sensible shoes. And a laptop. And my makeup.
Normally I wouldn’t even attempt to cover a topic as potentially divisive as what I will or will not be packing in my backpack (God knows you can find enough conflicting information about it out there on the World Wide Web), but I feel compelled to have my say as I have read several articles recently lambasting long term travellers who like to take “superficial” items with them.
Quite frankly, as long as I’m willing to carry the weight around on my back, I don’t see what difference it makes. I do not want to look like a total hobo throughout my whole trip, even if I may feel like it at times. This does not mean to say that anyone who doesn’t use these items look like hobos (luckily a lot of people are more fortunate than me in the hobo department), but more that it’s all about a sense of personal taste. How you feel about your appearance is a big part of how confident and happy you are and how much that allows you to enjoy yourself. If I want to take straighteners with me so that I don’t cringe every time I look at a photo of myself from my trip, then so be it. I refuse to conform to the notion that long term travellers must concentrate only on the ‘experience’ and that no-one cares about their appearance. That may be so when you’re relaxing in a hostel lounge with other travellers, or hiking up the side of a mountain. But what if I want to splurge on a nice meal or a cocktail in a funky bar every now and then? The local patrons in these places will not appreciate my at-one-with-nature appearance as much as fellow travellers would. And I would not feel good about myself.
The first time I realised how seriously some travellers take the whole “au naturale” lifestyle was when Amy from Don’t Ever Look Back posted a blog about the beauty items she was allowing herself to take on her trip and in it she mentioned that she had discovered that some women stop shaving while they’re travelling so that they don’t have to buy shaving supplies. I hate to say it, but this appalled me. The thought that someone would grow their leg or armpit hair to a length where it can be plaited simply as a time/space/budget saving exercise is just wrong. No-one wants to see that ladies, seriously. I beg you. (Yes, Julia Roberts, we haven’t forgotten. Shame on you.)
Then shortly after, I stumbled upon an article on a respected website discussing how to keep your hair looking good on the road. It of course recommended that you don’t take a hairdryer or any kind of styling implements. The person who wrote this has obviously never had to deal with hair as unruly as mine. I particularly liked this one little nugget of information imparted by the author: “Gel and hairspray are great for keeping your hairstyle tidy while you’re travelling”.
I have several issues with this. 1) Gel?? I’m not a 12-year-old boy with a crew cut. 2) Hairspray?? This person has obviously never encountered the humidity of Asia. If they had, they would realise that hairspray in these conditions levies one of two outcomes: limp and lifeless or Sideshow Bob. Either way, you’re not looking your best. 3) So it’s not acceptable for me to carry a travel hairdryer, but it’s perfectly acceptable for me to carry tubs and cans of gel and hairspray? This is sheer craziness.
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| What I may look like on my RTW (minus the PVC and studs, obviously) |
When I was in Vietnam last year I took both a hairdryer and my GHDs. And I used them pretty much every day. Some days it was the only way you could make yourself feel half human after sloshing around in the monsoon rains all day. And the fellow travellers who hadn’t taken them? They ended up looking at mine longingly and asking if they could borrow them.
As this has turned into a much-longer-than-intended foray into the minefield that is travel packing, I will conclude by saying this: please don’t write a ‘helpful’ post encouraging people to pack / not pack this or that. Everyone is different and travels in a different way. If you want to make yourself feel good by applying a bit of eyeliner or blow drying your hair every now and then, you should be able to (guys, this applies to you too 😉 ) . No-one tells you not to do it at home; the rules should be no different on the road. #endofrant
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