Traveling as a Woman: Practical Tips! (Part 2)

Traveling as a woman? A topic I've started discussing, first by addressing the underlying question behind women's travel from a societal perspective, and then responding to your questions about contraception and menstruation in a first part of practical information. In this second part, I will cover all the other themes you requested: what hair removal method to choose while traveling? How to choose your bra? How to manage hygiene, health, and beauty on the road?

As always, I will address these questions based first on my personal experience, but also on feedback from other female travelers and scientific reviews. And if your question remains unanswered after these two special articles, feel free to ask it in the comments, I'll be happy to respond!

A thorny subject (if I may say so!). I've pretty much tried everything... From razors, wax, depilatory cream, tweezers to electric epilators, and let's say, letting it go natural. Each of these solutions has its advantages and disadvantages, and for now, I tend to oscillate between the last two options.

Personally, I've chosen the Braun Silk-épil 7, and judging by the comments in female traveler groups, I think I'm not the only one who decided on this model. It has the advantage of being quite small, compact, and cordless. It needs to be charged first and can only be used when it's not plugged in, and being waterproof, it can even be used in the shower. Don't hesitate to compare models to find the one that suits you best.

Here too, the best approach is to start from your usual way of doing things and ask yourself the questions: am I satisfied, what could be the limitations while traveling? In principle, there's no wrong answer!

And, even though I personally have never tried it, there is also always the possibility of going to a local beauty salon or even attempting permanent laser hair removal.

Hair removal is also a controversial topic: you will find many articles explaining, on one hand, the negative health effects and, on the other hand, the implications of hair removal on the image of women and their freedom. If you want to delve into this subject, I invite you to read this article, which details it well, and to watch this video by Marinette: >.

What support should you bring for traveling? A question I only vaguely considered during my first long trip, as my wardrobe back then was very limited!

Choose a style that makes you feel good; that's the most important thing! You can bring, alongside your regular bras, a sports bra for a bit more active activities (horseback riding, mountain biking, Muay Thai...). Avoid taking your favorite bra if you're concerned about damaging it: on a long journey, with stops at local laundries, it might come back with colors and a shape that prove it has seen the country!

Beyond the comfort aspect of the model, you should also pay attention to the materials of your bra: some materials will be more irritating or will react poorly to sweat.

You might have missed this controversy, but there are a lot of articles on the subject (such as this one): wearing a bra is said to be bad for your health. Not only does it promote the appearance of cysts, but also breast cancer. Not wearing one, conversely, is good for breast tone and your back, contrary to popular belief.

After all, a woman (and a breast) is not another: some will be uncomfortable without a bra, even with a small bust. Personally, I tested this experience during our last long journey: I stumbled upon one of those anti-bra articles while we had been traveling for a month, and I thought it was a good time to take the test and stop wearing one. I set myself a timeframe of one month to really test, to overcome the psychological discomfort of without the support (that feeling of being naked without it) and physical discomfort (in daily movements, but also feelings of pain and heaviness). I had to hang in there, as the beginning was not easy, but once a certain threshold was crossed, wearing a bra didn't feel natural anymore: I felt like I was back in corset times, restricted everywhere, limited in my body and my freedom. Now, I never wear one when I'm at home or when I travel, but I do wear one occasionally when I feel the need or desire: depending on the situation or, often, regarding the clothes I wish to wear, as not all clothes adapt well to a bust without a bra, especially if you don't want to attract attention. But then again, this management of gaze and body is deeply culturally marked: in certain areas of the world, seeing women without bras is common, does not attract attention, and seems to shock no one. That's delightful!

While it's true that often, while traveling, hygiene does not always reach the same level of realization and importance as in sedentary life, that doesn't mean one becomes careless or unkempt once they don their backpack!

I hadn't intended to talk about this topic, thinking I had no particular advice to share... But here are a few tips that might resonate with less experienced female travelers.

On the hygiene side: pack some gel or disinfecting wipes in your bag to clean your hands before eating.

On the practical side: there are solid shampoos that, in addition to being very effective, are unlikely to break or spill in your bag and take up less space. Winning on all fronts! I've already tested several, varying brands and styles, including these two: Cedar Pulp Shampoo Bar and Solid Shampoo for Normal Hair with Yellow Clay. There are also solid toothpaste and even solid deodorants!

On the eco-friendly side: there are soaps (and shampoos, toothpastes, deodorants...) made from natural components, free from toxic chemicals for both you and the environment. An easy action to adopt and particularly important in remote regions of the world where you'll be camping, and your wastewater will be directly released into nature.

And for those who like to be hands-on, you can also create your own care products, be it shampoo, moisturizer, or even deodorant. You will find several recipe ideas on the site of Générations Cobayes.

On this point, I am probably the least qualified person to give you advice, as I never wear makeup, neither when traveling nor in daily life. A choice I've made gradually, partly because I am not skilled at applying makeup (that doesn't help!), then because it's time-consuming and costly (and it's not a priority for me), also because the makeup industry often tests and produces in unethical conditions, and finally, primarily because many studies prove that makeup is not good for your health.

However, for the last two points, it is entirely possible to find ethical and organic products (and zero waste, while we're at it!). Don't hesitate to look for more information on the topic if you love to wear makeup daily.

I am not against makeup per se: everyone does what they want with their body! But ask yourself whether you truly want to wear makeup. Reclaim this choice, rather than accepting it as an automatic response or a societal pressure. Try, from time to time, to go out without makeup: for some women, the feeling of being naked can be just as strong as when they try a day without a bra (go gradually and maybe don't test everything at once!).

However, even though I do not wear makeup, in recent years, I always carry a moisturizer with me, either a general one or specific for hands and/or face. I particularly love those based on argan, like this one for the face and that one for the hands. I will address the topic of skin hydration in a future article dedicated to tips for traveling in the cold.

I hesitated to bring this up here, as sunscreen isn't more of a concern for women than for men... but since we are talking about health in travel and good practices, I might as well continue! For those who don't know, here are some quick reminders:

So, if protecting yourself from the sun remains an important gesture, what are the alternatives? There are two: switch to organic or > (make your own sunscreen).

There are organic and ethical sunscreens, as explained in this comparison between classic sunscreens and organic ones. Claire (blogger from The Green Geekette) draws the same conclusions: just as effective, and especially not harmful to our health or the environment, but a greasier texture and harder to apply... and a higher price. But, as often, it's better to spend a few extra dollars on a quality and healthy product! Be careful though, some organic-labeled products also use harmful substances, like titanium dioxide and nanoparticles.

Here are a few suggestions for brands of organic sunscreens: EQ, UV BIO, Phyt's, Lavera, Gamarde, Biosolis. A few ideas also for bio facial sunscreens: the transparent gel from UV BIO or the sensitive skin facial cream from Biosolis. And, of course, there are also options for children, like the one from Lovea. Don't hesitate to extend this approach to after-sun products, like the one from Lovea.

In addition to organic sunscreens, there is also the possibility of making your own sunscreen... and it's not that difficult to do: you just need to gather all the ingredients and follow the recipe. Of course, there are several possible recipes, I recommend checking out those proposed by Emma from Planetaddict and Générations Cobayes.

I hope this sharing of experiences can help you find the solutions that work for you. Never hesitate to try different options, starting a few months before departure, nor to consult your doctor for medical advice. It's better to start your journey with a peaceful mind and clear away the little doubts that settle in your mind. Being zen while traveling starts with being well-prepared!

If you still have questions or additional tips to share, the comments are waiting for you!

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