These are truly my curly hair travel essentials — the realistic things that kept my curls hydrated and defined all weekend.
Traveling with curls in winter is always an adventure — cold air, unfamiliar water, long days outside… everything tries to steal your moisture.
For this little weekend getaway in Lyon, I wanted to bring things that were simple, light, and practical. Since I do this trip as a French local mom with curly hair, I packed realistically: products I truly use (only the essentials), my winter skincare minis, my travel-friendly curl tools, and a cozy outfit that made me feel cute.
1. My Mini Beauty Pouch (Skincare + Little Luxuries)
For short trips, I try to keep my skincare gentle, hydrating, and simple. My goal is soft, comfortable skin — not a 10-step routine. I packed only the things I know I actually reach for.
What I brought:
- Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté (FR) — my go-to winter moisturizer in France
Avène Hydrance Light Hydrating Emulsion (US) — the version I also use; it has the same fresh, hydrating feel.
Note: The French Nuxe version isn’t currently available on Amazon US, so I linked the closest French-pharmacy moisturizer I personally use and love.
- Vaseline lip balm
Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips with Rose and Almond Oil
- Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (I used it on my hair and on my body — so practical for travel)
The original Huile Prodigieuse I use isn’t available on Amazon US right now, so I linked the shimmer version (Huile Prodigieuse Or). Same nourishing formula — just a subtle golden glow that looks beautiful on hair and skin.
- eos Shea Better Body Lotion
This whole pouch stayed super small — no stress, no overpacking.
2. My Curly Hair Travel Routine (Simple + Lightweight)
I keep my curly routine VERY minimal when I travel. Lyon is cold and a bit humid this time of year, so I focused on moisture and definition that lasts a whole day.
Here’s what I packed for my hair:
Curly essentials:
- L’Oréal Elseve Hyaluron Repulp Leave-In (the purple one — my go-to for winter trips)
Note: The exact Elseve leave-in isn’t available on Amazon US, so I linked the closest Hyaluron Plump product from the Elvive US line.
- Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler Brush
- Satin scrunchie (for gentle updos)
- Satin bonnet (for sleeping and protecting curls)
I also brought 5 mini empty containers so I could decant products into tiny travel sizes.
They saved SO much space — honestly one of the best small travel purchases I’ve made.
- Travel Bottles for Toiletries
I kept my curly hair travel essentials really simple so everything fit in one small pouch. For winter trips like this, these curly hair travel essentials make packing lighter and curl care much easier.
3. The Tiny Makeup I Took
No complicated routine — just the basics I know work with any outfit:
I brought:
- NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Bare With Me Concealer Serum
- Essence Lash PRINCESS Sculpted Volume Mascara
- HD Skin Matte Powder Foundation
Comme la poudre MAKE UP FOR EVER HD SKIN est indisponible en France, j’ai simplement mis la KIKO Milano Matte Fusion, que j’utilise aussi au quotidien.
- KIKO Milano Lasting Matte Veil Liquid Lip Colour 04
That’s it.
Everything fit in a tiny pouch, and it made getting ready super fast.
4. A Cozy Little Winter Outfit for Lyon
Since it was a weekend trip, I focused on warmth + comfort:
- Soft long-sleeve (thermal sweater)
This thermal top isn’t available on Amazon US, so I’m only linking the French version — I tested it this weekend and it’s genuinely amazing.
Ce modèle n’est disponible que sur Amazon France, mais je le garde quand même ici car je l’ai testé ce week-end et il est incroyable.
- My winter jacket
- Knit scarf
- Warm sweater
- Jeans
- Comfortable boots
Just a few cozy pieces that I could mix and match while walking around the city.
I keep my fashion recommendations minimal, because my main focus is still curly hair and skincare — but when I truly love something (like this thermal top I wore all weekend), I’ll share it with you. If you want more cozy outfit ideas in the future, let me know — I can create a full travel style edit.
5. What I Actually Used During the Trip
Here’s how my curly hair travel essentials held up once I was actually in Lyon.
Used all weekend:
- Nuxe face cream
- Lip balm
- Leave-in cream
- Detangling brush
- Scrunchie
- Concealer + mascara
- Body cream
- Nuxe oil for ends
Barely touched:
- My perfume
- Satin bonnet
- One of the hair minis
- Extra skincare I thought I might need but didn’t
These curly hair travel essentials are exactly what kept my curls hydrated, defined, and easy to manage all weekend. Minimal packing always wins. It kept my bag light, my curls hydrated, and my morning routine quick. If you like this kind of soft, practical travel content for curly girls, I share more routines, haircare tips, and my favorite Amazon finds on Pinterest every day. You can also explore my Shop page for travel-friendly curly essentials.
Want My 5-Minute Curly Hair Guide? (Free Download)
If you like simple routines, you’ll love this.
I created a quick 5-minute curly hair guide you can use on busy mornings, travel days, or whenever you want healthy curls fast.
It’s short, practical, and super easy to follow.
