What counts as travel size? How to pack your toiletry bag smartly
There is a special kind of satisfaction in a well-packed toiletry bag. Everything you need, nothing you don't, and hair that looks just as good in the hotel room as it does in your bathroom at home. The art lies in the selection - here are the hair products that deserve their place in your hand luggage, whether it's a weekend away or a three-week holiday.
What counts as travel size?
Within the EU, the limit is 100 ml per container, packed together in a transparent, resealable bag of no more than one litre. What matters is the size of the container, not how much is left in it - a half-empty 200 ml bottle will be stopped at security. The right size is therefore not a recommendation, but a requirement. If you are travelling outside the EU, the limits may vary slightly, so check your airline's rules before you pack.
What size counts as travel size for shampoo and conditioner?
Usually 50-100 ml, which is more than enough for a weekend and often for a longer holiday too. Björn Axén's travel size range also includes dry shampoo, hair mousse and hairspray in smaller formats - the same contents, less volume and significantly less weight to carry.
The products you don't want to travel without
Some products feel unnecessary to carry in full size, yet impossible to do without. Björn Axén Salt Water Spray 50 ml adds texture and hold after a swim in the sea, and takes up minimal space. Björn Axén Heat Styling Protection 50 ml is the product you regret leaving at home the second the hotel hair dryer is switched on.
And a favourite for your handbag: Björn Axén Sleek Stick. A styling stick that you glide directly over flyaways - and since it isn't a liquid, it never has to compete for space in your liquids bag.
What should you consider when buying a travel hair dryer?
Three things: size, power and weight. A foldable handle is the difference between the hair dryer fitting in your bag and not fitting at all. The power should still be sufficient to dry your hair in a reasonable amount of time - a hair dryer that works at half the speed saves no space in practice. Björn Axén Travel Hair Dryer Flow is built precisely for travel: compact, lightweight and foldable, but with enough power for a proper blow-dry. Always check the voltage at your destination if you are travelling outside Europe, and place the hair dryer at the bottom of your bag with the cord loosely coiled - a tightly wound cord is the most common reason a travel hair dryer breaks prematurely.
A toiletry bag worth packing again
Travel size also has an advantage that has nothing to do with travelling - it is the easiest way to try a new product before committing to the full-size bottle. Pack smart once, keep your toiletry bag as it is between trips, and you will never pack the wrong things again.
