Whether you are going on holiday at home or abroad, preparing for your trip can be overwhelming.
From packing to getting ready, there’s so much to do to look and feel your best before you leave the house and board that plane!
How soon do you book all your beauty treatments? When do you start styling potential holiday outfits? You need a holiday to recover from all the stress of travel!
Luckily, fashion and beauty experts have the answers!
Read on for the ultimate timeline to prepare for your trip.
When to book your beauty treatment before a trip? Fresha’s global beauty and wellness experts reveal the most efficient timeline for your vacation
BEAUTY
Global experts at Fresh (the world’s largest beauty and wellness marketplace powered by free all-in-one business software with integrated payments) reveals the most efficient pre-departure beauty treatment scheduling, because no one knows more about booking appointments than they do!
With over 100,000 partner locations in over 120 countries, Fresha simplifies business operations and improves the customer experience.
1 month before departure – hair removal
“Whether you choose waxing or laser hair removal, it’s best to book your last hair removal appointment about a month before you travel,” say the experts at Fresha.
‘This way, any irritation can calm down.
‘We advise people not to expose the skin to the sun in the area to be treated for 2 to 4 weeks before treatment, because laser treatment makes the skin more sensitive to heat and UV radiation.’
Elizabeth Kugelman, senior esthetician/laser technician at Erase Spa in New York City, adds: “After laser treatment, I would recommend waiting two weeks for tanning, and for self-tanners/spray tanning I would say 24-48 hours.”
1-2 weeks before departure: ‘Now is the time to think about any big changes you want to make to your hair, so your ends are neat and your color is fresh,’ say Fresha experts
2-3 days before departure: ‘A few days before departure is the perfect time to get a manicure/pedicure,’ say Fresha experts
1-2 weeks before departure – hair care
“Now is the time to think about any major changes you want to make to your hair to keep your ends looking neat and your hair color fresh,” say the experts at Fresha.
However, if you decide to bleach your hair, you should take extra precautions while on vacation to avoid discoloration from bleached hair.
‘The sun is known to strip the melanin from the hair, causing it to discolour. Wearing a hat or headband is the easiest way to limit all exposure, but if you must have your hair in the sun, try to limit direct sun exposure for extended periods of time.’
2-3 days before departure – nails, eyelashes, eyebrows
‘A few days before departure is the perfect time to get a manicure/pedicure.
Whether you opt for classic French nails or intricate designs, you should book your nails as close to your holiday as possible to ensure you have the latest nails.
‘A few days before you leave is also a good time to have your eyebrows or eyelashes treated. A popular eyebrow treatment is a tint and then a wax or thread.
‘For eyelashes, you can opt for LVL, a treatment that lifts your natural lashes. If you want something more dramatic, you can opt for eyelash extensions.’
Day before departure – last minute DIY treatments at home
‘The day (or night before) you might want to treat yourself at home. Combine a hydrating face mask with a nourishing hair mask to feel well and truly pampered.
It’s also a good idea to exfoliate your skin before you leave, then follow up with a moisturizer and body oil for a last-minute glow.
‘Make sure you continue to follow the aftercare recommended by your beautician during your trip and of course, wear sunscreen!’
James Bridgman, holiday planner and head of marketing communications at Fresha, warns that this holiday prep calendar can help you prepare for your trip. Just make sure you leave enough time to book your appointments to avoid disappointment.
“Consider booking all of your appointments at least a month before your trip so you can plan your trip well and avoid last-minute crowds,” says James.
“And if you do get your hair cut, don’t forget to let it grow out for a few days so it looks perfect for your big trip.”
Stylists at Glamhive (a virtual styling platform that connects people with professional stylists for a variety of personalized styling services) reveal when and what to pack for your next trip
FASHION:
Stylists at Glamhive (a virtual styling platform that connects people with professional stylists for a variety of personalized styling services) share when and what to pack for your next trip.
One week before departure
“Start packing at least a week before your vacation,” says Glamhive Stylist, Kelsey O’Connor.
‘This allows you to plan your outfits well so that everything fits together and suits the activities you have planned.
‘If you arrive early, you will also have time to purchase any missing items and avoid last-minute stress.’
Glamhive stylist Georgia Milton adds: ‘If you give yourself this space, you can be more intentional. If you procrastinate and rush at the end, you’ll probably forget the right bra for that one dress or forget the belt that lifts the whole outfit, etc. etc. ‘
For an optimal holiday wardrobe and to avoid fashion mishaps, Georgia advises sticking to a simple color palette.
‘You want to focus on versatility as much as possible. So choose the items in your wardrobe that you wear most often (not boring, but just combinable with many other items).
‘Think of packing as putting together a little capsule wardrobe. It should feel like a cohesive little collection that’s specifically meant for your getaway.’
To avoid lugging around a bunch of bulky stuff, Glamhive Stylist Teresa Foss advises packing multiple outfits for each pair of shoes and each handbag.
Teresa says, “Bring more tops than bottoms, in different sleeve lengths and for formal occasions.”
Glamhive stylist Jamie Lewis advises checking the weather as the trip approaches.
“At this point you know if you’re packing too much or if you need to make adjustments,” she claims.
As part of the editing process, the expert suggests photographing all the complete looks.
‘This not only prevents you from taking too much with you, but you also have tried on all the outfits and styled them completely.
‘Now all you have to do is open your photo album every day.’