Best Vacation Hair Accessories You Need for Traveling Light

Smart, stylish picks for space-saving, no-stress vacation hair

When you're packing for vacation, you want the best vacation hair possible—without the bulk of styling tools, products, and accessories. If you're traveling with carry-on luggage only, every square inch of space matters. There’s no room for “just in case” extras, and every second you spend trying to style your hair in a new environment counts.

Whether you’re swimming in the ocean or just want to look put-together in five minutes flat on a hot summer night, these vacation-ready hair accessories will be your essential, roll-on-ready favorites.

1. A Trusty Hair Stick

See the handmade Hair Stick Collection

Perfect for: twisting up wet or dry hair, dressing up a simple outfit, and keeping cool on humid days.

Why it's essential:

• Super quick to pin up a hair bun or French twist

• Great for poolside or for a classy updo for dinner.

• Easy to re-adjust

• No extra bobby pins required

• Takes up almost no space in your luggage
  
  

Tip: If you're using a hair pin in the pool or ocean, choose one that isn’t made of metal or wood—resin is a great water-friendly option.

Not planning to swim? Take a look at these styling hair pins perfect for day-to-night looks.

Not sure about hair sticks because you don't know how to use them? Check out this step-by-step tutorial that shows you how to use a hair stick along with simple hair stick styles: How to Tie Your Hair with a Hair Stick.

2. Waterproof Hair Ties for Pool Days

Perfect for: beach day braids, pool lounging hair buns, or spontaneous mermaid moments.
Look for:

• Spiral ties (won’t snag wet hair or stretch out and come in fun colors

• Swim scrunchies made from quick-dry fabric
  
  

Tip: Toss a few in one of your packing cubes and keep one on your wrist while traveling.

3. Lightweight Statement Barrettes

Perfect for: turning messy tresses into a tamed manageable half-up dos to sleek vacation French twist dinner looks.

Choose ones that are:

• Lightweight (clay or resin) with fun simple or textured designs

• Strong enough to hold up your hair texture. For fine hair choose coated clips for extra grip. For thick curly or wavy hair choose larger hair barrette clips.

• Pretty enough to stand alone as an accessory
  
  

Think: one barrette = one instant hairstyle upgrade.

Check out these fun artsy hair barrettes for instant style: Handmade Hair Barrette Collection

4. Hair Elastics or Cute Bracelets?

 

 

 

Perfect for: plane rides, and those super hot and humid days to tie back your hair and apply your sunscreen with ease. They are always super handy and space saving in your carry-on luggage.

Go-to picks:

• Soft thick stretchy hair elastics that won’t snag your hair

• Great for creating instant hair buns, ponytails and tying off French braids.

• Styles that double as cute wrist accessories
  
  

Essential for keeping your hair healthy while traveling light. Check out these artsy hair ties that you can enjoy reuse the art and just replace the hair band once it gets old and too stretchy:

No high heat tools, no problem - you’ve got this!

6. Hair Grips for Windy Days 

Perfect for: pinning back bangs on the beach or windy city walks.
Great options:

• Bobby pins or hair grips are small and convenient to pin up shorter sections of hair clips you can match to your outfits or swimsuits

• 5-6 is all you need and they take no space in your bag!
  
  

Travel tip: Clip them inside your hat or to a small piece of card to locate them easier.

7. A Soft Headband for Working Up a Sweat

Perfect for: hikes, morning yoga, or those who like to hit the gym during their trip.  Look for:

• Stretchy, breathable fabrics like bamboo or cotton blends

• Wide bands that stay in place without squeezing

• Solid or patterned options that match your gym outfits
  
  

Bonus: They double up as makeup headbands, 

A Styling Tool-Free Backup Kit

You brought the travel plug adapter for your straightener or curling iron—only to realize it doesn’t support dual voltage. Don’t worry, it’s happened to me too! Or maybe your cruise ship or hotel doesn’t allow high-heat styling tools at all.

Here’s what to pack instead:

• A wide-tooth comb to detangle beach hair and remove wind-driven hair knots and sea salt
  
  

• A small, travel-size bottle of leave-in conditioner
  
  

• A couple of the hair accessories mentioned above
  
  

• A smoothing serum to help with frizz and humidity
  
  

• A travel-size hair spray
  
  

Pro Tip: Plan to battle humidity with leave-in conditioner and opt for updos using hair accessories. Style your hair right after washing using the hotel-provided hair dryer, then finish with a touch of smoothing serum to tame flyaways.

 

How to pack your favorite vacation hair accessories

You’ve chosen 2 or 3 of the best vacation hair travel-friendly essentials to pack for your trip. Here are some easy tips for storing them.

• A fabric zip pouch 

• A roll- up travel jewelry case

• Place them between rolled up clothing within your packing cubes (instant protection)

• A snack-size baggie tucked into your toiletry kit

• A soft zipable sunglasses case. Its slimline and can slot into the side of your carry-on inside pocket

• Pop them into socks and pack!

Because digging for hair ties at the bottom of your suitcase is the worst.

Pack Smarter and Look Fabulous!

You don’t need a curling iron, flat iron, blow dryer, and five brushes to look amazing on vacation. With just 2-3 easy to pack hair accessories can help you save time, stay cool, stylish, and be ready for anything—from sunrise yoga to dancing the night away!.

Want the best vacation hair accessories that are as pretty as they are practical?
Shop handcrafted, travel-friendly clips, pins, and hair sticks here.