Some people have months to plan a trip.
They make lists, order outfits, schedule appointments and know exactly what they are wearing before the suitcase ever comes out.
I had less than a week.
One minute I was minding my business, and the next I was being surprised with a trip to Aspen, Colorado, for the Food & Wine Classic.
Naturally, my thoughts went in this exact order:
Oh my goodness, I’m going to Aspen.
Wait... I'm going to Aspen! What am I going to wear?
And more importantly, what am I doing with my hair?!
Because the excitement of a surprise trip hits a little differently when you realize you need looks for daytime tastings, VIP parties, luxe dinners, mountain weather and miles of walking, all while making sure your curls cooperate in every photo.
The trip was technically a work trip, but I was invited to come along, help where I could and enjoy the experience.
That sounded simple enough.
Let me tell you something: content creation is real work.
There’s filming, lighting, finding the right angle, talking to brands, capturing the food before somebody takes the first bite and trying to document the moment while still being present enough to enjoy it.
I helped, I watched and I learned. I left Aspen with a much deeper appreciation for everything that goes into creating good content.
But let’s be clear.
I still came for the vibes.
And Aspen absolutely delivered.
Aspen Was Giving Grown and Gorgeous
The daytime weather was beautiful, sunny and warm without being sticky.
There was little to no humidity, which was perfect for the over-45 crew who enjoys looking cute without melting before lunch. Aspen clearly understood the assignment.
The air was crisp, the skies were clear and the mountains seemed to rise behind everything.
Aspen in the summer is green, deep, rolling hills covered in trees, sunlight pouring across the mountains and trails winding through the landscape.
The town itself was charming and polished without feeling stuffy. There were brick buildings, flower-filled walkways, cobblestone streets and little shops that made you want to wander in even when you did not need a thing.
We walked, held hands, people-watched and popped in and out of stores with no real rush.
We rode the gondola up the mountain, where the views stretched farther than I could take in all at once. From the top, the town looked tucked neatly between the mountains, surrounded by layers of green that almost did not look real.
There were beautiful dinners, good conversation, quiet moments and plenty of quality time tucked between the work.
Aspen was giving grown, relaxed and outside... but not doing too much.
My kind of trip.
The Tastings, the Chefs and All That Food
Then came the Food & Wine Classic.
We attended the Grand Tastings, and “grand” was definitely the correct word.
The tents were filled with chefs, wineries, cocktails, restaurants and food brands from all over. Every few steps, there was something new to sip, taste or learn about.
One minute we were sampling a beautifully prepared bite. The next, we were talking with a brand, meeting a chef or trying another wine.
We attended cooking demonstrations and VIP parties with what felt like an endless supply of food and drinks.
At some point, you had to accept that you were not going to try everything.
That did not stop us from making a very respectable attempt.
I met the beautiful and talented Regina King and sampled her new wine MianU, which was such a moment.
I met Chef Kolby Kash, who was every bit as warm and sweet in person as he appears online. It was super dope because I watch his videos for recipe inspo!
I also saw Maneet Chauhan from Chopped and she is a total vibe! We even took pics together, I met several brands and experienced the festival from both sides, as someone enjoying it and as someone helping capture the content.
The days were full.
We walked, filmed, tasted, talked, changed clothes and headed back out again.
And through all of it, my hair held up.
Actually, my hair did more than hold up.
It looked good.
It seemed like everywhere I went, somebody had something to say about my curls... in the best way. And because I had packed for this trip in less than a week, every compliment felt like confirmation that I had brought exactly what my hair needed and nothing it did not.
The curls were officially Aspen-approved.
See the Full Aspen Recap
I could tell you all about Aspen, but you really need to see it. Come along for the food, drinks, scenery, shopping, mountain views and a few very good hair days.
WATCH THE FULL RECAP ON INSTAGRAM
How My Hair Survived Aspen
Travel can be rough on textured hair.
You have the dry airplane cabin, hotel air-conditioning, unfamiliar water, long days outdoors and weather your hair may not be used to.
Aspen’s low humidity was wonderful for comfort, but dry air can still pull moisture from curls and coils.
I knew I needed to stay on top of moisture, but I was not bringing a suitcase full of hair products.
I was not packing eight products that all did the same thing.
And I was definitely not spending my vacation standing in a hotel bathroom doing a three-hour hair routine.
I packed my Mini Tree-O Kit and my Satin Luxe Bonnet.
That was the core of my travel routine.
The Mini Tree-O gave me three two-ounce products that already worked together:
- Rice Flower & Shea Leave-In Conditioner for daily moisture
- Whipped Curl Crème for styling, softness and definition
- Natasha’s Growth Butter to seal in moisture and protect my ends
Everything was compact, carry-on friendly and easy to use whenever my hair needed a little attention.
What Each Product Did for Me
Rice Flower & Shea Leave-In Conditioner
The Rice Flower & Shea Leave-In Conditioner was my moisture foundation.
If a section of my hair started feeling dry after a long day outside or a night in the hotel, I could add a little moisture without soaking my entire head or starting my style over.
It helped keep my curls soft, pliable and easy to refresh before heading out for another full day.
One of our curlfriends recently called it her “can’t-go-without” favorite.
I get it.
Whipped Curl Crème
The Whipped Curl Crème helped me keep my curls soft, smooth and defined without making them feel stiff.
I wanted my hair to move.
I wanted it to look polished but still feel like me.
A small amount was enough to smooth, reshape or encourage any curls that needed a little help before we headed back out.
Because when every corner of Aspen looks like a photo opportunity, your hair does not have time to be confused.
Natasha’s Growth Butter
I used Natasha’s Growth Butter to seal in moisture and pay extra attention to my ends.
The ends are often the first part of our hair to start feeling dry, especially when we are dealing with airplane cabins, hotel air and a dry climate.
After applying moisture, I used a little Growth Butter to help keep it in place and give my ends some extra care.
The routine was simple:
Moisturize with the Leave-In.
Style with the Curl Crème.
Seal with Natasha’s Growth Butter.
That is the beauty of the Mini Tree-O.
You are not packing three random products and hoping they get along once you reach your destination.
You are packing one complete little moisture routine.
And Yes, I Packed My Bonnet
I do not care how nice the hotel is.
My curls are still not sleeping uncovered on that pillow.
My Satin Luxe Bonnet helped protect my hair from friction while I slept, preserve my moisture and keep my style together overnight.
That mattered because our days were full.
I did not have time to wake up and completely redo my hair before a tasting, cooking demonstration, dinner or VIP event.
Most mornings, I could remove my bonnet, fluff my hair, refresh a few curls with my Mini Tree-O and keep it moving.
More time for breakfast, tastings and mountain views.
Less time standing in the hotel bathroom negotiating with my hair.
That is exactly what a good travel routine should do.
It should make your life easier; not give you another project.
Tree’s travel-hair rule: Do not test an entirely new routine on vacation. Pack products your hair already knows, make sure each one has a purpose and bring your bonnet. Always bring your bonnet.
What to Pack for Your Next Trip
You do not need to pack your entire bathroom.
You need products that already work for your hair and serve a clear purpose.
Before your next getaway, ask yourself:
- How long will I be gone?
- Will I need to wash my hair?
- Will I be swimming?
- Is the climate hot, humid, cold or dry?
- Am I maintaining one style or changing it during the trip?
For a simple textured-hair travel routine, I recommend packing:
- A moisturizing leave-in conditioner
- A styling cream
- A butter or oil to seal your ends
- A satin bonnet
- A satin scrunchie or scarf
- A small spray bottle for refreshing
- Shampoo and conditioner bars if you expect to wash your hair
Planning to Wash Your Hair While Traveling?
I did not need a full wash day while I was in Aspen, but for longer vacations, beach trips or anywhere you may need to wash your hair, I would also pack the Bamboo Lemongrass Shampoo Bar and Green Tea & Coconut Conditioner Bar.
The bars are compact, solid and do not take up space in your liquids bag.
They are especially convenient when flying because you do not have to worry about leaks, bulky bottles or sacrificing half your carry-on for wash-day products.
Pack them in a draining travel container and allow them to dry between uses.
Between the Shampoo and Conditioner Bars, Mini Tree-O and Satin Luxe Bonnet, you can have a complete travel routine that still leaves room in your suitcase for all those outfits, shoes and extra things you packed knowing good and well you probably would not wear them.
No judgment.
We have all packed an outfit for a version of ourselves who apparently changes clothes four times a day.
The Trip Was Spontaneous. My Hair Routine Was Not.
Aspen was a full experience.
I enjoyed incredible food, met some wonderful people, took in breathtaking views and learned more than I expected about the work behind content creation.
There were Grand Tastings, cooking demonstrations, VIP parties, cobblestone walks, gondola views, luxe dinners, hand holding, good conversation and some very good hair days.
The trip came together quickly, but my hair routine did not have to be complicated.
That is the real travel lesson.
Your destination may be new.
Your plans may change.
You may have less than a week to prepare.
But the products in your bag should already be tried, trusted and ready to do their job.
Pack the outfits.
Pack the comfortable walking shoes.
Pack your charger.
Pack your bonnet.
And pack a simple routine that keeps your curls moisturized, styled and ready for every picture.
Because your trip may be spontaneous, but your hair can still look like you planned it for months.
Ready to pack your travel routine?
Shop the Mini Tree-O Kit, Satin Luxe Bonnet, Bamboo Lemongrass Shampoo Bar and Green Tea & Coconut Conditioner Bar before your next getaway.
