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While packing for a trip to Central America, I dug through my supply of travel-sized toiletry bottles and weighed my options. The trip was 3½ weeks long, about 24 days total. I knew my 100ml/3.4 ounce shampoo bottle was overkill, but could I get away with only taking the 30ml/1 ounce bottle?
How long do travel toiletries really last?
I was skeptical but also unwilling to pack the bigger bottle, so off I went with just 1 ounce of shampoo. I knew I could always buy more on the road if I had to, so it wasn’t really a risk. And every time I shampooed my hair, I jotted down the date in my phone to keep track of how long the shampoo lasted.
How long can you travel with just 1 oz of shampoo?
At the end of the trip, I counted up the dates. I had shampooed my hair 12 times in 24 days. And I STILL had shampoo left! So I kept using the travel bottle when I got home, and I got another 5 shampoos out of it. That’s 17 washes total with only 1 ounce of shampoo!
I have fine, thin hair. At the time it was a little longer than my profile picture at the bottom of this post. I made a conscious effort to use as little as possible. I definitely learned that I don’t need to use as much shampoo as I thought I did, even though I have oily hair. If you have thicker hair or longer hair, you might need a little more shampoo. If you have short hair, you can probably make your shampoo stretch even longer.
How much shampoo for 2 weeks?
A common question people ask is how much shampoo for 2 weeks. While 2 weeks is a common amount of time to travel, everyone’s needs are different.
- If your hair is fine, thin, and above the shoulders, you will probably be fine with just packing a 1 ounce travel-sized bottle of shampoo.
- If your hair is thicker, longer, or you need to wash frequently, a 2-3 ounce bottle may be necessary.
- Packing that traditional 3.4 oz (100ml) bottle of shampoo for a 2-week trip would be overkill in most situations.
To get a more personalized answer, track your hair-washing routine. Do you wash your hair daily, every second day, or weekly? If you only wash your hair weekly then even a travel bottle sized shampoo will be overkill.
Then, track how much product you use per wash (chances are you’re using more than you need to…I know I’m guilty of this). This will depend on whether you have long or short hair, your hair type, how much you sweat, and what styling products you use. Then evaluate how much shampoo for 2 weeks will be necessary.
You might want to fill a travel bottle with shampoo and test it at home to get an exact answer. That way you will always know just how much you’ll need.
What our readers say about their travel-sized shampoo
When I got back home, I asked the ladies in our community how long their travel toiletries last, and here are some of the responses:
Michelle: I use Lush shampoo bars (when I travel and at home because no packaging!) I was in Central America for 3 1/2 months and I didn’t even go through the entire bar! So I’d say I probably go through about a bar every 4-5 months. I go through sunscreen soooooo quickly though (like, a bottle every two weeks).
Karina: Til late last year when I moved to Lush solid shampoo I usually took 2 X 100ml bottles for 6-7 week trips each year and brought one back half full. 40ml roll on deodorant lasts that 7 weeks. 15ml toothpaste. 30ml moisturiser. 50ml sunscreen. 150ml contact lens solution (the no rub kind). 1 sunscreen lip balm stick.
Meissoun: I usually don’t bring any shampoo. Most hotels provide it. Or if I am in a country where service is cheap, I get it washed at a salon. (I usually wash my hair every 4 days.)
Shawn: On my last month-long trip I used 3 little hotel bottles of shampoo, but a full bottle of conditioner. It’s going to be so different for each person. I have really long hair but I co-wash, and only use shampoo about half the time.
Meredith: I wash my hair 2-3 times/week. When washing 3 times a week, a bar will usually last me about three months (give or take, my boyfriend uses the bar too sometimes) and I have been using Lush bars for about 3 years. When I’m traveling I tend to bring the bar with me and then if I am staying in a place for an extended period of time I will buy some shampoo in a local store. Cuts down on my liquids in my carry-on and will make my shampoo bar last for a very long time.
Annemette: 60 ml is enough for me for 4 weeks.
Want more info about travel shampoo options? Check out these helpful posts:
Travel-sized deodorants: How long do they last?
We asked HPL readers in the past about their travel-sized deodorant, and these were the responses:
Cailin: I’d say a month max.
Flissy: I can answer this! Travel size secret lasts 2 weeks. I WISH it were half the size of a regular deo. Doesn’t seem like much considering how (relatively) bulky the container is.
Roni: I never take travel sizes, I always take the regular ones because I don’t ever want to run out. And it can go in my carry-on.
Kaylin: I guess it depends on what kind of deodorant it is. I find the stick kind lasts longer than the spray-on…
Cailey: I took a travel size for a month and that would have lasted just fine. HOWEVER, I was in Africa and the days were very hot and it made the deodorant melty and it fell out of the tube in a big chunk. I couldn’t throw it out though, so I kind of had to make do but it was just such a mess and totally crumbled by the end. If you’re going to a hot climate just keep that in mind!
Suitcase Stories: About 2 weeks for me if it’s a spray, longer if it’s a roll-on but I’m not keen on those.
George: I had a 50ml deodorant with me this trip, it was pretty good, pretty strong, I’ve been traveling a month, and it’s a quarter through, this is a liquid roll-on, so it doesn’t melt. Hope that helps.
Hannah: I use this stuff daily and it is amazing. [The Crystal Body deodorant stick]. It’s better for you than normal deodorant and lasts forever. Doesn’t leak and all you need is water (doesn’t even have to be drinking water). They even have travel size which lasts 4 months.
Michelle: I’m with Hannah. I learned a long time ago to pack the Crystal Rock deodorant in warm weather since all others just melt and cause a mess in my travel bag. I absolutely love it and if you want a scent, carry some essential oils with you (if you must).
To Travel Too: Lost most of ours when we were in Cusco, Peru due to the altitude and leakage.
Track your toiletry usage before you go
An easy way to figure out how long your travel toiletries will last is to test them out before you leave for your trip. Fill up your travel-sized bottles, use them at home, and keep track of how many uses you get out of each bottle.
Karina says, “Years ago I stuck post-it notes on everything I use and marked them off with every use. So now I have a spreadsheet that tells me what to pack for which length trip.”
Restocking toiletries on the road
If you’re traveling for several months or a year, you KNOW you’ll have to get more shampoo or toothpaste along the way. Buy whatever size travel toiletry bottle you’re comfortable with, and when it starts getting low, pick up more to refill or replace it.
Even if you have to buy a bigger bottle, you can carry it around with you as long as it doesn’t bother you and ditch it or donate it to another traveler (after filling your travel bottle to the brim) the next time you have to hop on a flight.
Unless you’re going to an extremely remote location, you will be able to find what you need. It won’t always be the brand you like, but people in other parts of the world do shower, wash their hair, brush their teeth, protect their skin from the sun, and just about anything else you need to do.
Best travel-sized refillable travel bottles
It’s more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to get refillable travel bottles instead of buying new travel-sized products every time you travel. But with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to know which ones are the best.
Look for bottles that work well with the product you plan on using it with. Some work better with thinner liquids, while others work with thicker liquids. Some bottles are not compatible with certain chemicals, like alcohols just to name one, so it’s important to read the labels.
Pay attention to the tops as well. Spray tops work for your perfume (try solid perfumes instead), but not for your shampoo. It’s also important to make sure they seal well so your liquids won’t leak out. You don’t want to lose your toiletries OR have a big mess in your bag!
The material the bottle is made out of matters, too. Are the bottles flexible or stiff? How hard will it be for you to squeeze your shampoo out of the bottle? Will it break easily if you drop it on a hard surface? These are all important questions to ask yourself when choosing travel-sized toiletry bottles.
Some we’ve used here at HPL:
Caroline did a great comparison of three different brands of travel bottles which will help you decide which one is best for you.
Reminder: Most travel-sized bottles are overkill for many trips of a week or less so you may not need to even fill them up all the way.
Best solid travel-sized toiletries
Solid toiletries are becoming more and more popular with travelers (especially carry-on only travelers) to avoid the strict liquids rules that most airlines have implemented. If you’re unsure about what you can and can’t bring, we have a blog post that covers the 3-1-1 rule when traveling with only a carry-on.
Just like liquid toiletries, solid toiletries come in all different sizes. Depending on the length of your trip, a travel-sized option will most likely be the best choice.
Ethique makes trial and travel packs which are great for trying out a product before committing to a full-sized version and they’re the perfect size for travel. Ethique stocks shampoo, moisturizers, lotions, and body wash to name a few of their products, and they’re all made from natural ingredients.
They have shampoos for most hair textures (including curly hair) and products to combat specific issues like dry scalp, irritation, or excess oil. They also have a shampoo range free from sulfates.
Lush also has a large range of solid toiletries, like solid perfumes, shampoo bars, and more. They even make a travel-sized solid shampoo tin if you are worried about your shampoo bar making a mess in your toiletry bag. They also make solid toothpaste and mouthwash.
How long do your travel toiletries last? Let us know in the comments!
