Whether it is just a 30 minutes flight or a one-hour road trip, it’s important to look fresh and good when you arrive at your destination.
Here are 3 tips to ensure you are always at your best when travelling:
Dressing
Make sure you wear comfortable
shoes like slip-on canvass or ballet pumps for ladies. Get
insole gels/padding to slip inside your shoes so they feel more comfortable during the ride. Toss on a cap if you are having a bad hair day when travelling. It will cover all the craziness from tangled hair to the messy base of an old weave. You will stay seated for quite a long time in a
plane or car/bus so it’s best if you do not travel wearing tight clothes. You can wear loose-fitting (not oversized) outfits.
The plan is to be less self-conscious of your outfit during the trip. Layer up your clothes when travelling and adjust according to the temperature of the trip. If you will spend more time in a cold AC car from Lagos to
Abuja or an aeroplane from Kano to Calabar, take a sweater or jacket. If your road trip is short like from Benin to Abraka where the car windows will be open, a simple polo shirt or T-shirt and Jeans outfit will do. Speaking of fabrics, it’s best to travel with clothes that are wrinkle-free like synthetic fibres, knitted shirts or spandex blended fabrics. If picking up smells or sweating on your clothes during the journey worries you, keep spare clothes nearby so you can change when you arrive at the park.
Eating
When you are offered
food on a plane, avoid overindulging in unhealthy foods and alcohol. Stick to a light diet preferably fruits, salad or foods with low sodium and sugars like sandwiches. Beware of foods made at restaurants in transit locations like when the bus stops over at ore. If you can’t verify the health standard used in that restaurant, avoid eating there. The last thing you want is to have a stomach upset during your trip because of something you ate.
You need to stay hydrated so stick to drinking water. Have a glass or 10 ounces of water every hour during the trip especially if you are on a flight. You can also drink green tea or add lemon to your water to sip on during your journey to help your body detoxify while hydrating.
Body care
Moisturise your skin before your trip. Then wash your face with water (if in an aeroplane) or clean it with a cleansing wipe (if in a car/bus) when you are approaching your final stop. If you are travelling alone, you might not talk during the trip which might cause bad breath. So brush your teeth periodically during a flight or pop breath mints to freshen your breath. You can also chew gum to get your saliva juices flowing to prevent the build-up of bacteria that lead to bad breath. Also, brush your hair periodically during your trip so you don’t look frazzled upon arrival.
You can either pack your hair/weave or have it in a braid or plait if you don’t want the hassle of brushing your hair during a trip. As for your face, when you get close to your destination, touch it up with light makeup from a travel makeup kit. Best to go with a nude look that looks effortless. Choose makeup products that are long-lasting and waterproof, that way if you sweat, they won’t come off. You can keep a loose powder close for when the oils come out of your skin or you begin to perspire. Also, have deodorant in your carry-on bag when flying if you are not sure your perfume will hold out on the trip. And use mild smells that keep you smelling fresh.
Finally, make good use of your downtime on the journey. Take a nap or close your eyes to rest so you can feel relaxed when you get to your destination.
