Last night, I spent three hours in a braiding salon in Harlem getting large triangle-part braids for a quick trip to Miami. I don’t love how they turned out, but with the heat and humidity waiting for me, I wasn’t sure what else to do with my hair. My go-to twist out felt risky, ninety-five degrees is not “wig weather” for me, and I don’t want to spend my entire trip fighting frizz. Braids didn’t really feel like a “choice,” but more like a default.  

Packing my skincare felt easier. I packed one of my favorite hyaluronic acid serums because, while Miami’s humidity tends to have a mind of its own when it comes to my hair, my skin usually thrives in it.

For many Black women, preparing for vacation requires more planning than which outfits will make it to Instagram. Different climates can affect how long a style lasts, how our skin responds to sun and sweat, and what happens to the scalp with natural hair or underneath braids, wigs and weaves.

It turns out my vacation hair dilemma wasn’t all in my head. Celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway says that vacation is the time to think beyond humidity and frizz and consider sun protection, too. “The number-one tip I would give for protecting your hair when traveling is to create a barrier that blocks UV rays from your hair to reduce damage,” she says. Whether you’re wearing braids, locs, or another protective style, shielding your hair from the sun should be a focus.

But while I was thinking about my hair, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mona Gohara says many Black travelers overlook a more common (and potentially damaging) mistake: skipping sunscreen.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that melanin-rich skin doesn’t need sun protection,” Gohara says. “While melanin offers some natural UV protection, it’s not…

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