7 Backpacking Hairstyles: Heatless & Easy Travel Hairstyles

Best backpacking hairstyles

I will organize these travel hairstyles based on how many days you can go without washing your hair, and they can still look good. As a backpacker, you know it is a very important criterium. 

You can create all these easy hairstyles for traveling yourself in your hostel dorm room or bathroom with a nice mirror.

However, for the last one, you might need two mirrors or help from a friend you made while traveling.

1. Half-up ponytail

Half-up ponytail is an effortless hairstyle that takes less than 2 minutes to make. It could take 30 seconds if your hair ties nicely on the first try, without awkward bumps.

This hairstyle works great for all types and lengths of hair, as you are only tying up the top layer of your hair. It looks amazing on curly hair!

This hairstyle works best for 2nd to 3rd-day hair, as I like to keep my hair loosely tied with some front pieces framing the face. However, adding dry shampoo helps to make it look good for longer!

• Hair type: All types of hair; long, short, straight, curly
• Tools: 1 Hair tie or a claw clip
• Days without washing: 2nd to 3rd-day hairstyle
• Time: 1-2 minutes

2. Half-up braid

Half-up braid is an elevated version of a half-up pony. For this hairstyle, I gather the same amount of hair as for the half pony and braid it down. You could do a half pony first and then braid it down if you want your hairstyle to be tighter.

Similarly, as the half pony, this hairstyle works best for 2nd to 3rd-day hair. It looks great in photos on straight hair because it adds some texture to the hair!

Half braids are fantastic travel hairstyles for medium hair, as you can see in the second photo.

• Hair type: All types of hair; long, short, straight, curly
• Tools: 1 small elastic or 1 big hair tie, or both!
• Days without washing: 2nd to 3rd-day hairstyle
• Time: 2-3 minutes

3. French braid

French braid is such a versatile hairstyle! If you are good at braiding your own hair, it takes you less than 1 minute to make it.

If your hair is wet, a quick French braid is the best travel hairstyle!

While it is definitely a cute hairstyle, I mainly do it as a heatless curls method for traveling.  If you saw my hair with more texture in some photos, I probably let it air-dry in a French braid.

And here is a tip for my girls with fine, straight hair! If you want to add more texture to your hair while traveling, let it dry in a French braid. It is the best hairstyle for fine hair as it gives you so much texture to work with.

• Hair type: All types of hair; long, short, straight, curly
• Tools: 1 small elastic or 1 big hair tie 
• Days without washing: 2nd to 3rd-day hairstyle
• Time: 2-3 minutes

4. High Ponytail

We are going back to the basics with a ponytail. Yes, everybody can make it, and it takes no effort at all. However, it gets your hair out of your face and brings back the volume your greasy hair needs.

Some people might want to go for a low ponytail. They look elegant if it works for you! However, it does not work for me.

A ponytail is a fantastic hairstyle for active travel days, a great hiking hairstyle, and if you sleek down your hair, a ponytail can also be an elegant hairstyle. 

Don’t underestimate the power of a ponytail!

• Hair type: All types of hair; long, short, straight, curly
• Tools: 1 big hair tie
• Days without washing: 3rd-day hairstyle
• Time: 1-2 minutes

5. Simple bun

Sometimes, you just want your hair not to touch you, especially if you’re backpacking Europe in summer. I can’t count how many times I gave up on having my hair down, just to put it in a messy bun on top of my head.

However, spend 3-5 minutes making your bun look nice, and it is a great travel hairstyle.

I found that a bun looks and stays in my hair best when my hair is longer. 

The way I do my bun is like bun #3 in this hair tutorial (go to 2:00 to see the bun I am talking about) This bun stays in place the whole day once I add a couple of bobby pins!

• Hair type: Works best on hair longer than shoulder length, straight or curly
• Tools: 1 big hair tie and 4 bobby pins, or 1 claw clip
• Days without washing: 3rd – 4th-day hairstyle
• Time: 3-5 minutes

6. Half-up double dutch braids

We are getting into some more complex backpacking hairstyles. Half-up double Dutch braids will take approximately 5-10 minutes to make, depending on how good you are at braiding your own hair.

Nonetheless, this hairstyle is worth the effort. Nobody will know you haven’t washed your hair in days. It looks fabulous in the photos!  It is my most complimented hairstyle on my Instagram.

Also, this is one of the best travel hairstyles for medium hair. As you can see in the second photo, your hair doesn’t need to be long for it to look good!

• Hair type: All types of hair; long, short, straight, curly
• Tools: 2 small hair ties or 1 big hair tie
• Days without washing: 3rd day and more!
• Time: 5-10 minutes

7. Double Dutch braids

Finally, we have the double dutch braids. They are one of my favorite cute hiking hairstyles that works great for active days on your vacation itinerary.

It takes some effort to make this hairstyle, but it is worth it.

Once you braid your hair in double dutch braids, it stays put for a whole day, even two! Some people keep it in for even longer, but my scalp starts hurting after a while.

These hairstyles for hiking take some time. Firstly, you need to evenly divide your hair. For that, you need two mirrors or help from a friend. Then you have to braid it.

I admit that this hairstyle can look better when somebody else makes it for you, but I do it myself. It works best on longer hair, but you can do it on shorter hair!

This hairstyle works great if you’re backpacking in winter and you want to wear a hat outside and have your hair look good when you take it off as well.

• Hair type: Works best on hair longer than shoulder length, straight or curly
• Tools: 2 small hair ties
• Days without washing: 3rd day and more!
• Time: 5-10 minutes

What’s my hair type?

I wanted to quickly address this, as you will see in the photos, my hair is relatively long and straight.

It gets greasy quickly, so ideally I would wash it every three days.

If you can go longer between the washes, I am jealous!

However, these hairstyles keep my hair looking fresh for longer and look great in photos.

These are my best travel hairstyles for long hair and medium-length hair. I will show you examples of how they worked on my hair when it was a different length.

However, most of them can work as hairstyles for short hair too!

My hair is straight, but all these hairstyles work great on wavy to curly hair.  Unfortunately, I don’t know much about coily, or natural hair, but if you girls try it out, let me know!

Travel hair styling essentials for backpacking

My travel hair care routine is very simple. Depending on the length of the trip, I will pack travel-sized bottles of my usual shampoo and conditioner or a solid shampoo bar.

I will transfer my usual hair products in travel-sized bottles for up to a month-long trip.

I find it best if you can keep your regular hair care routine while traveling. It is also a great way to save money for travel.

I will bring a solid shampoo bar if I am backpacking for more than a couple of weeks.

You could buy full-sized products once you reach your destination, but I don’t like the additional weight in my backpack. 

I don’t bother bringing dry shampoo if I travel in hot climates. You can easily wash your hair, and it will be air-dried in an hour.

On the other hand, if I travel in the winter, I will pack a travel-sized dry shampoo bottle.

Hair styling must-haves for backpacking

• Hairbrush – Tangle Teezer
• Regular hair ties
• Small elastics
• Bobby pins
• Claw clip

I love my Tangle Teezer brush because it is compact and efficient. It is the best hair brush for traveling and the only hair tool I bring backpacking!

You will also need hair ties. Pack at least 3 regular-sized hair ties that can hold your hair securely in a ponytail.

Then, pack at least 10 mini hair elastics. Unfortunately, most tend to snap easily and be single-use products.

I pack at least 5 bobby pins. That is how many I need for my bun to stay in place. If your hair is thick and curly, pack as many as you need! 

Finally, bring a claw clip. You can clip it to your backpack, and it is the easiest way to wrap your hair in a quick bun!