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My Week in the Wilderness: What to do in Banff National Park

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I’ve always felt cheated by this trip due to the fact that I only saw the inside of a hotel, the inside of a canoe, and the inside of a freezing cold lake…but my ohhhh my was it a pretty lake indeed. Even through all the lights, cameras, action and nerves, I knew I’d make plans to come back to this exact spot without my cast members.

I set off a few days ago on a solo trip to explore what to do in Banff National Park. I’ve traveled the world plenty of times by myself, but it’s always been for a client and tied to work. This time around, I was able to do what I wanted and when I wanted…all in the name of F R E E D O M. If you’re looking for a great solo adventure spot, Banff and beyond is just what you need. Allow me to explain…

Day 1

I flew into Calgary and rented a car. The people at Avis were good salesmen and saw me coming. Because I didn’t check the GPS box when booking online, the GPS was more expensive at the counter. For just $4/day more, I could get a fancy pantsy BWM with built-in GPS. #SoldToMe

I had asked many of my readers and followers about what to do in the area and so many mentioned the adorable town of Canmore. To you guys, I say thank you! I loved this cute little town and immediately started here since it was a bit closer to Calgary than Banff. If you don’t stay here, it’s a good idea to at least think about buying any type of grocery items here because Canmore tends to be more inexpensive than Banff.

I stopped to eat lunch at The Iron Goat before driving to the trailhead of my first hike. I changed from airport attire to hiking attire in the car (oops) and started on my first hike of the trip to Grassi Lakes.

Buy my Merrell waterproof hiking boots

Grassi Lakes

Distance: 2 mile loop with a difficult and easy side. Note: Do the difficult side. It’s not that difficult and offers much better views than the easy side that has a ton of coverage and vegetation. I actually did the hard side on the way up and the easy side on the way down since it makes a loop 🙂

Elevation: 761 feet

Skill level: Easy and for all types of hikers

Final Thoughts: This was a great hike to start out with on my first day in Banff. I found it to be pretty easy yet stunning all the way up to the lakes – but definitely take the “difficult” side and go on a sunny day so the sunlight reflects the beautiful blue hues of the lakes.

After the hike I drove the 20 minutes to Banff, checked into the Juniper Hotel and made my way to Park Distillery for dinner. This place was magical and so was its rotisserie chicken, even though I was told to get the poutine. Sorry guys, but I just couldn’t stomach fries, cheese and gravy at that time. I can only be so Canadian in one day 🙂

Day 2

I woke up at 7:30 and knew I had to go back to Canmore. Ha Ling Peak hike was calling my name. First of all, this wasn’t an inconvenience in the slightest since 1) it’s only a 20 minute drive and 2) that drive is sooo beautiful. As I was turning into Canmore, Tim Hortons stood out like a baby in a bar at midnight. I hadn’t had breakfast and their maple donut went in my mouth and into my belly faster than you could swipe my credit card for another. Oh well, Ha Ling Peak was up next and part of me thought it wasn’t going to be quite as easy as Grassi Lakes. I needed some necessary fuel!

Ha Ling Peak

Distance: 3.6 miles

Elevation: 2,588 feet

Skill level: Moderate to Difficult, started around 9:45am and ended around 2:30pm

Final Thoughts: This hike was a bitch, but an amazingly beautiful bitch at the same time. It’s basically nature’s stairmaster and steep AF, enclosed by forest until about the last quarter of the hike when you’re much more exposed. The view at the end is a 360 degree view of Canmore and the Canadian rockies. Bring bear spray or find really nice Brits who have bear spray 😉 You can find it in various places around Banff for about $30.

Buy my Merrell waterproof hiking boots

The town of Canmore has plenty of great places to eat, but carbs were calling to me and Rocky Mountain Bagel Company won that day. I then drove back to my hotel in Banff to record my podcast with Reality Steve, and if you haven’t listened to it yet, you should. It’s super honest, raw and Bachelor filled with a side of travel and surgery. It’s almost two hours long, so cuddle up with a beverage or make it a work commute activity 🙂

One of my favorite things about Canada in the summer is that it doesn’t get dark until about 10pm. After my podcast, I then ventured to Surprise Corner in search of this Banff Springs hotel view, then on to Two Jack Lake followed by Minnewanka Lake at sunset. I even caught this gorg pic of bride and groom getting their photos taken. #CoupleGoalsAF

By the time I even thought about dinner, I was crazy tired and couldn’t bare sitting down anywhere for a long drawn out evening. Don’t judge me, but I passed Subway, made a u-turn, got it to-go, and ate it in the bath before passing out for the evening. Zzzzzzz.

Day 3

I fully realize the sun rises around 5:30am in Banff around this time of year, but I couldn’t be bothered to capture sunrise on my personal vacation. This entire trip was completely unsponsored, and I was doing exactly what I wanted when I wanted (which didn’t entail an alarm clock).

I woke up around 8am, scrolled social media for a bit as you do, ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant which was delicious, packed up, did some work and then set off around 11am to see what the Upper Hot Springs and the Banff Gondola were all about. If I’m being honest, the hot springs are just a glorified pool, and I’d probably opt for the hike up Sulphur Mountain instead of paying $62 CAD at the regular rate for the gondola ride up Sulphur.

After meandering around for the morning, I drove the 30 minutes to hike Johnston Canyon.

Johnston Canyon

Distance: .68 miles to Lower Falls or 3 miles round trip to Upper Falls and back. Note that you can also hike up 3 more miles to the Ink Pots

Elevation: 1,279 to Upper Falls

Skill level: Great for all skill levels

With over one million visitors per year, Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Banff. I set out on the hike with one goal in mind: to find the secret cave. As I ventured off the walking path towards what I thought was the cave and the sound of a waterfall, I found a group of people at the water’s edge. They asked if I was looking for the secret cave too, I said yes, and they asked if I wanted to join their expedition group. After 10 more minutes of searching, we went off course and to our surprise, we found this cave at last! We were a group of Americans and Canadians in complete awe of this place. We cheers’d as we celebrated with beers and hung out for another 45 minutes before parting ways. This is why I love solo travel, because to be honest, I’m only solo for so long.

How to find the secret cave: I can’t help too entirely much because there is no clear path. About 20 minutes after the lower falls on the upper falls trail, keep looking for paths to your right that may take you down the the water bank. It’s hard to spot but look closely at every clearing you can and have this image in mind as it’s right off the trail leading to the water:

Final thoughts: This was more of a walking path than any kind of hike, but it’s great for people of all skill levels and ages. There were lots of kids and families here, and there were less and less people as the lower falls continued into the upper falls and onto the Ink Pots.

I grabbed lunch at the cafe on the trail (can’t miss it) – don’t forget your wallet in the car like I did or you’ll have to do some extra walking for food.

Afterwards, I drove another 30 minutes to Lake Louise. I checked into Paradise Lodge & Bungalows (cute and generously sized wood cabins) and got dressed to witness what I’d come for – a second viewing of the lake! Sadly, it started pouring as I was about to walk out the door, so I spent the evening getting some work done and eating dinner at Deer Lodge before exploring the next morning.

Day 4

Today was the day! I was so nervous that the bad weather would persist, but thankfully the sun came in and out and allowed the turquoise colors of the lake to shine. Don’t be surprised when you see tourists in abundance here as Louise brings in the crowds from all over the world. I think I heard Spanish, Portuguese, German and French all in the span of 5 minutes. I spent hours meandering, reminiscing, and remembering my first experience here with The Bachelor. I walked over to these canoes and remembered how Chris Harrison told us how we were all going to paddle out to the other side of the lake in the canoes and that there was an open seat in Sean’s canoe.  He asked who wanted it and my entire body jolted forward to be next to him. I should’ve known we weren’t going to work out when our conversation wasn’t exactly fluid on the way to the other side. Oh well, wuddyagonnado?

It was lunch time and I wasn’t ready to leave. I wanted to go roam the massive halls of the Fairmont Lake Louise, and when I did, Chateau Deli caught my eye. Head here if you want a quick fix before exploring for the afternoon.

Lake Agnes Hike

Distance: 4.1 miles

Elevation: 1,794 feet

Skill level: Moderate

Note that there was a fair amount of snow and ice when I hiked on June 1st. There was also an avalanche warning, however that didn’t stop many hikers from partaking in the hike. The trail was very much still open even with the warning sign.

Final thoughts: This hike came HIGHLY recommended from everyone, probably the most recommended hike in Banff or Canmore. I may have enjoyed Ha Ling Peak a little more than this one just because I found it a bit more diverse and challenging, all with a cooler view at the top. The tea house definitely adds unique character here though, so be sure to bring cash so you can enjoy some tea or hot chocolate! Afterwards, many people go on to hike the Little or Big Beehive trails, although it was covered in snow when I was in Banff. Next time 😉

At around 4pm, I headed to a place that again came so highly recommended from my followers – Emerald Lake. It’s situated in Yoho National Park about 30 minutes away from Lake Louise via car. I found the lake to be so peaceful since I went towards the end of the day with no crowds, however mosquitoes were in abundance so bring lots of bug spray!

Day 5

I woke up early to go see Moraine Lake on my last morning. I knew I couldn’t leave without snapping a few photos here, and I was glad I arrived before 9am since that’s around the time that large crowds descended upon the area. I needed to go pack up my stuff at the hotel and head to the airport. Departure is such sweet sorrow, but I know I’ll be back – I didn’t have enough days to see the Icefield Parkway and Jasper National Park, so Alberta round 3 is up next!

I’ll be posting more about solo trips and how to take photos when you travel solo soon! Stay tuned 🙂

When Life Gives You Lemons, Wear Them!

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After coming across this lemon print midi dress on ASOS, I knew I would be living in it all summer long. The bow detail top and asymmetrical hem create an effortlessly feminine moment. For a more casual Sunday afternoon look, I paired it with simple summer slides and a cross body bag. However, you could easily dress up this look with a pair of strappy nude heels and a fun summer clutch. Throw on a denim jacket for brisk nights, and even white sneakers for a street style moment. This dress would also make a fab travel go-to since you could base SO many outfits off it. How good would this look on the streets of Portofino?

The Packing List: My Lovely Lemon Outfit

 

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How to Layer on Planes for Summer Travel

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Sound familiar? There really is no feeling like realizing you will be stuck on a 3 hour flight with no jacket, cardigan, throw blanket, what have you. To avoid becoming a temporary airplane popsicle during your summer travels, I’ve rounded up my favorite ways to layer on frigid planes.

The Base Outfit

Before we get to all of the cozy cardigans and warm wraps, let’s begin with your base outfit. It may sound tempting to wear a short dress or shorts on a plane in 90 + degree weather, but I usually refrain unless I’m boarding a quick 30 minute puddle jumper in somewhere like Belize that screams to be half-naked. Leg-baring outfits will make you feel cold faster, and unless you have a throw blanket handy, you will be miserable the entire flight. I like to opt for maxi dresses, linen pants, lightweight or boyfriend jeans, and a cute top. Feel free to mix and match comfy separates, just make sure you have a generous amount of coverage.

The Packing List: Your On Board Attire

 

Now It’s Time to LAYER

I like to think there’s a reason for Miley’s ever-famous lyrics of “I hopped off the plane at LAX with a dream and my cardigan.” Girl was COLD on that flight. Ah, how I love a good cardigan! A good cardigan is a frequent flier’s best friend. Depending on location and time of year, I keep an arsenal of sweaters and cardigans in my “closet.” Whether it be a chunky knit or light beach option, you will get every penny’s worth out of a good layering piece. Also, don’t be afraid to add on optional layers such as oversized denim jackets (currently obsessed), anoraks, or trench coats. Finally, scarves can be used as blankets in a pinch. Always have one in your carry on!

The Packing List: Cardigans, Jackets, & Scarves OH MY

…A Word on Footwear

Now that we have most of your travel attire situated, let’s talk shoes. The perfect travel footwear is open to interpretation because I know some people who refuse to travel in open-toe shoes and some who travel in flip flops. I think traveling in heels is a general no-go we can all agree on. Personally, I prefer to wear some sort of sneaker on long international flights so that I can take off my shoes and still have some warmth with socks (for the love of God please wear the socks so other passengers can sleep and smell in peace). On short flights, I’m not against open-toe shoes like sandals and flip flops. My feet sometimes get a little chilly but if the flight is under two hours, I can deal. Below are my favorites this season!

The Packing List: Flats on Flats on Flats

 

Do you have a special game plan when it comes to airplane attire? Are you a sneaker gal or sandals all the way?

My Under $100 Father’s Day Gift Guide

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For the Style Savant

If your dad loves an impactful style moment, or if he needs one, I’ve rounded up a few things that will up your old man’s style cred. If your dad veers towards classic styles like mine, I would hit up brands like Brooks Brothers, Southern Tide, and Sperry’s. Never fails to impress, trust me.

The Packing List: For Fashion Dads

*Click on any of the above images to shop the item*

For the Sporty Guy

From weekend hikes to 5am runs, if your dad is always on the move or looking to step up his fitness gear game, below are some great presents for the sporty minded. Things that athletic men will never tire of? Headphones, socks, and fitness trackers. I fully realize these are not exciting or “creative,” but they will NOT go unappreciated.

The Packing List: For the Gym Rat

*Click on any of the above images to shop the item*

For the Entertainer

Whether your dad is the beer-in-hand BBQ pitmaster or the guy making sure everyone’s wine glass is constantly topped off (Vent S. Murphy, I’m lookin’ at you kid.), we all know the party harty father who keeps the good times rolling. I love to get my dad new wine gadgets or subscriptions since vino is his area of expertise; however, if your dad loves the grill or is a regular Bobby Flay, I’ve included fun new kitchen toys to appease the culinary greats. Personally, Vent tends to forget about whatever might be on the grill that night, resulting in some, er, overdone meat, so he will be getting that handy meat thermometer that sends notifications to your phone. No more dry steaks!

The Packing List: For the Party Animal

*Click on any of the above images to shop the item*

 

Fun idea: Customize a gift with a “dad quote.” You know, that one thing your dad is always preaching that never seems to stick. Growing up, our dad would always use the excuse “times are tight” if he didn’t want to buy us things. #humble

Fathers day giftLeatherology Valet Tray

For the Jetsetter

Truth be told, I would purchase many of the below items for myself. If your dad spends a lot of time in the air or on the road, these travel-friendly products will be greatly appreciated. A mobile charging iPhone case is a must have if you’re always on the go! Also, for those with a schedule full of business trips, the hybrid laptop/duffle bag below from Nordstrom is a fab option. Finally, complete travel size grooming kits that you can easily slip into your carry on are always a godsend when packing in a rush.

The Packing List: For the Frequent Flyer

*Click on any of the above images to shop the item*

Hope this helps in the seemingly endless search for gifts for dad! Why are dads always so hard to shop for? What are you getting yours this year?

Northern Lights in Canada: My Yukon Travel Diary

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At the end of March, I set off to travel through snowy Yukon via snowmobile, dogsled and scenic ski plane. If I could dream up the perfect winter adventure, this would be it because what’s more fun than schlopping through feet of white powder in unconventional modes of transportation?

Short answer: nothing.

This would be my very last trip with the old me (read: the old boobs) and if you haven’t heard that I recently had a prophylactic double mastectomy, this is me telling you…again. I can’t think of a better goodbye party than bouncing up and down and all around on snowmobiles, and the Northern Lights even put on a vibrant light show for them! It was special.

Day 1

After meeting up with fellow blogger and friend Kirsten, our guide Stephen from Travel Yukon and Hannah who founded Curio Trips – a boutique travel design business dedicated to helping any type of traveler book a unique vacay – we all boarded the small plane from Vancouver to Whitehorse circa 10pm. Let the winter escape commence!

Inn for the night: We were so tired from travel the first night, so Bluejay Manner B&B helped us get a great night’s rest as we skipped Northern Lights viewing. Oops. There would be 4 more nights to catch the show, and I needed some beauty sleep. How cute is this Victorian style house?! WANT.

Day 2

After devouring breakfast, we started the daily fashion ritual of suiting up in gear given to us by Travel Yukon…and THANK GOD because my waterproof pants and layered sweats didn’t cut it with these temps and this wind. Thanks to friend Kirsten for capturing my lovely ensemble.

This day would be my second time snowmobiling through Canada, and I thought I knew what I was doing…the end of the day would prove differently. We set out on Fish Lake with Mark from Up North Adventures, and this snowmobile experience was very different than my first time around in Whistler. It was so incredibly open without any kind of vegetation or coverage since we were moving across a lake. It was an amazingly freeing experience that I’d highly recommend, especially since we stopped after a few hours to make our own fire with hot dogs and hot chocolate to go along. Yeah, that day didn’t suck…

…until I broke my snowmobile. Oops. I think I tore off the entire front axel, or maybe the suspension? I forget, and I’m not well versed in mechanics, but whatever I did, I was leaving a trail of shrapnel in my path until we just flat out stopped moving. This is another formal apology to Up North Adventures. I hope you got that baby working again!

Dinner: If you’re in Whitehorse, do yourself a favor and eat at Antoinette’s. You just simply can’t go wrong with a lil’ Caribbean flavor in the north. Get the pork and crème brûlée. Not the best pairing combo, but kinda the best pairing combo at the same time.

Lodge for the night + Aurora Viewing: Sundog Retreat would forever be where I first viewed the Norther Lights. It had been a long day of exploring, so we got into bed around 10pm, setting alarms for 11:30pm, 2am and 4am. Only after Hannah knocked on the door to show me her first photo, and after Kirsten started bundling up in heavy duty winter gear did I slowly start to get dressed, too. Around midnight I finally made my way outside and into the snow with camera + tripod in tow. It was cold, I was slightly delirious, but the lights were out and about. It was time to get my shit together. To be quite honest, I felt a bit lost. My photography skills have grown immensely after three years of having a camera in my hand almost daily, but this was another beast entirely. To adequately capture the Aurora Borealis was intimidating to say the least. I’d done a lot of reading before night 1, and I’d say it was a great practice round! After two hours of shooting, we turned off the remaining alarms.

Day 3

I must say, Northern Lights trips are a wee bit exhausting. Not only are you exploring all day but also all night. Waking up at various intervals to search for lights doesn’t exactly make for good sleeping habits, and then when you decide that they’re good enough to shoot, well, prepare yourself to be outside in the cold for a few hours. YAAAWN but OMG was it worth it in the end. To anyone planning a trip like this: mentally prepare yourself for amazingly awesome exhaustion.

In the morning, our tired selves made our way to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. I got to be honest here. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to partake in this activity because to me, it just sounds a bit unexciting. I really love being proved wrong. Bisons, thinhorn sheep, caribou and moose were all out to play!

Wildlife viewing is guaranteed, and with over 700 acres, the animals live a great life here. I had a grand time capturing the arctic foxes, and look how in love these two are. Kisses!

Lodge for the night + Aurora Viewing: Southern Lakes Resort hosted us for the evening, and this was my favorite lodge of the trip. If you have a view, tasty food and a bath, that’s a triple threat in my book and Southern Lakes had all three 😉

The above photo is of Souther Lakes’ signature drink, the Aurora Borealis. It’s green, yellow, and blue. Get it? Ok, good.

Round two of the Northern Lights decided to come out as the sun decided too as well. That’s what you’re seeing behind the mountains – early hours of sunrise. The craziest things I’ve learned from this experience is that 1) the lights are completely random and will come out when they please and 2) what you see with your naked eye is not what your camera sees with long exposures. Those popular Aurora photos you view over and over aren’t exactly the norm in the skies which was hard to grasp and something I never read in my research. There was one 20 second interval that was the coolest light show though. It danced and pulsed in vibrant colors right above us, and we had finally seen what we’d come to see!

Day 4

EEEKKKKKKK. I remember that sound escaping from my mouth as we walked towards the dogsled team at the base of Southern Lakes Resort. The dogs, the excitement, the scene, the cold and the Iron Will vibes were all too much. The pups couldn’t wait to get going, so we bundled up as MC, the owner of the dogs, gave a quick lesson in how to drive our very own team (insert nervous AF emoji here). It’s hilarious to me that at the very beginning and the very end of the 5ish hour trip, I fell. Hard. Like, physically fell. On the ground, sled going sideways. And BAM. Me plus snow and ice making contact. I couldn’t help but to laugh. I’ve always felt pretty strong and athletic but damn, that day I just couldn’t get it together.

If you could choose between snowmobiling and dog sledding, what would you rather partake in? Dog sledding seems like such an old world sport, and if you feed the dogs well and take care of them, they’ll always bring you back home…unlike my snowmobile. We all know what happened to that.

So I’d go with dog sledding. MC and her dogsled team sold it for me with her authentic vibes and friendly nature. People in the Yukon are just like this – real, laid back, ready to lend a helping hand, and one big happy family. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that?!

Lodge for the night + Aurora Viewing: After traversing Fish Lake and eating lunch on the trail, we finally arrived to Tagish Wilderness Lodge, only accessible by ski plane, dogsled or boat (in the summer). It’s situated in the middle of nowhere, a location that I’ve grown to love. I firmly believe the further you travel into the abyss, the better. The sweet couple who run the lodge said they’d radio us (no service here!) if the lights were on. That radio signal never sounded throughout the night…

Day 5

After falling asleep to the sound of cracking stove fire in my log cabin (note: the cozy cabins don’t have running water/bathrooms inside as outhouses and the main building are equipped instead), I woke up before the sun. I remember feeling so refreshed at that moment after not having choppy sleep like the three previous nights before it. I guess that’s what happens when the Northern Lights get shut off. Zzzzzzzzz. I put on my winter gear and headed down to the frozen lake for sunrise.

After breakfast, which was a feast due to Hannah’s birthday extravaganza, we packed up and boarded Alpine Aviations‘ bright orange Cessna. This thing was so tiny that I could barely fit myself, my camera, GoPro and iPhone all within my personal space. I’m sure other passengers on my scenic flights get uber annoyed with how I act, constantly moving behind and between my DSLR, GoPro and iPhone lenses, but I can’t help myself. What if I get off that bright orange Cessna and want more photos? What if the majority of them suck, only to come out with a few good ones due to the fact that I took a bajillion? I never want to walk away unhappy. #noregrets

See those two plants on the ground in the photo below? Yeah those aren’t just random bystanders. Those are runway markers 🙂

You know it’s going to be a good time when you came into the wilderness on dogsled and you leave the wilderness via plane. Please tell me about a cooler experience. I’ll wait…

If you ever get the chance to spend a few hours or days in Carcross, do it. It’s funky, quirky, colorful and screams to be discovered.

Lodge for the night + Aurora Viewing: The Inn on the Lake was a beauty with lovely rooms, a spacious deck and scrumptious food. But the real kicker was our Aurora sendoff. Unlike the other light shows, this one had many guest’s in the lodge coming together at about 10pm, the earliest we’d seen them yet! Everyone was still very much awake, happy and enthusiastic to shoot since it was our last night. Who knows when I’d get to see this light show phenomenon again?!

Yukon Tips 

First and foremost, this year marks the 150th anniversary of Canada – lots of events are happening and parks are free!

Download the app My Aurora Forecast for Northern Lights forecasts. A reading of 4,5,6 are best and means the lights are strong.

The Yukon territory is a popular place, especially during the Aurora season. Here are a few more hotels I loved along the way…

Boreale Ranch: This masterpiece started as a summer-only biking company doing day trips to the ranch alongside mountain biking trips. After many successes, they build an amazing ranch complete with a main building and yurts!

Northern Lights Resort and Spa: Owners Ranata and Wolfgang literally provide it all, even helping with Norther Lights photography, and guests can even rent cameras and clothing for cold nights.

MANY thanks to our fearless and informative guide Stephen from Travel Yukon and Hannah from Curio Trips for making the trip possible. If anyone is looking to book a trip around the world but doesn’t know how, has multiple questions or is completely overwhelmed, Hannah is your one stop shop!

Testing Top Rated Dry Shampoo Brands

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Living Proof Perfect hair Day Dry Shampoo

Living Proof’s Dry Shampoo from their Perfect hair Day (PhD) line of products checked all of the boxes for me. This formula actually cleans hair in addition to soaking up excess oils. Full disclosure: I tried this product after a particularly hard SoulCycle class. Even after drying heavy amounts of sweat into my hair (no shame.), Living Proof’s dry shampoo left my hair feeling miraculously clean, with a bit of lightweight volume. After spraying into hair, leave the powder be for 30 seconds to activate the cleansing, and then massage and brush out. I was pleasantly surprised by the time-released clean scent, allowing its effects to hold up throughout the day and night. I’m sold.

DryBar Detox Dry Shampoo

Not being a huge fan of DryBar products, I was wary of DryBar’s Detox Dry Shampoo. However, I’ve read some good reviews of it, so I decided to give it a shot. At $13 for the travel size, I figured it would be a great addition to my gym bag or carry on. Warning: the aerosol spray is intense, so make sure you spray farther away from your hair or you will end up with that chalky look that takes a bit of work to brush out. While it gave my hair a bit of a dried out look, it definitely soaked up any oils and made my hair smell great. It also held my hair style all day. While I probably would not use this daily, I love the travel size to tote around for greasy hair emergencies.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Nettle

The Klorane brand prides itself on creating products with safe plant-based ingredients, so I was excited to see if their dry shampoo stood up to the hype. The brand offers a few different dry shampoo options. I went with the Dry Shampoo with Nettle, an ingredient that is particularly great for soaking up oils. Right off the bat, I loved the subtle clean scent. It wasn’t perfume-y or overwhelming, and the spray wasn’t too intense either. I could tell it was a primarily natural formula in that its effects fell short of lasting throughout the day. However, if you need a small lift before a night out, this would be a great option. Klorane gave a subtle bit of life to my roots, and I never felt like I had tons of product in my hair which is a big plus for me.

ORIBE Dry Texturizing Spray

Okay, okay, so ORIBE’s Dry Texturizing Spray is not technically a “dry shampoo” in the traditional sense. This cult favorite is part texture spray, part holding spray, and part dry shampoo. The formula includes ingredients that act as tiny sponges for oil, giving it a dry shampoo effect. So while it does not actually “clean” hair, it makes it look FAB due to the other ingredients that give hair amazing texture and repair damaged strands. Also, the texture and volume holds throughout the day due to specially formulated polymers. Seriously, this spray does everything which is why it is on this list (semi-illegally). Want a perfectly undone model-off-duty texturized look? You need this product in your cosmetic bag. It’s worth the price tag, trust me.

Psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo

They say you never forget your first, and Psssst! Instant Dry Shampoo was my first ever dry shamps to buy from a drug store back in the day. It’s cheap and gets the job done. I actually have it with me now as I hike through Banff National Park in Canada. I haven’t washed my hair since Sunday. It’s now Wednesday, and I’ve completed three hikes (don’t judge). I hope that’s testimony enough to how good it is. It’s the perfect travel companion. All hail Pssst! It’s a godsend.

The Packing List: Dry Shampoo

 

Lastly, a quick pro tip, if you’re on the go and left your travel size spray bottle at home, don’t hesitate to use any form of powder to soak up oils. Seriously, baby powder and translucent face powder work well in a pinch! Just make sure to massage in any residue. As always, I love to hear what your go-to beauty brands are, so let me know if I need to test out your favorite dry shampoo. You can never have too much of a great thing!

 

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