Whether you are a digital nomad or frequent business traveler, living on the road can take its toll on your personal appearance and clothing. Constantly shopping for new clothing and spa services might seem like the fastest solution, but is far from the most affordable. Here are four appearance categories of concern and strategies to stay spiffy for each.

Hair:

Dealing with on-the-road hair care can be a real drag. If you’ve been on the road for a while, your favorite hair stylist back home is likely not available to you. Why pay top dollar for someone who has yet to prove themselves to you? Women and men can each take advantage of beauty school rates on haircuts, or grab a Sunday newspaper coupon for the nearest J.C. Penny’s salon. Ladies who opt for less complicated, longer cuts can get great style mileage from bobby pins.

Create a French twist, clip back your bangs with pins that match your hair tone, or create a selection of braids that can be twisted and pinned into a coil for a posh evening out. Protecting your ends with a dab of conditioner each day will keep your hair in great condition for longer, reducing the overall cost of cutting those tresses.  To keep your money-saving hair style in place, you can pour liquid hairspray into a smaller pump bottle and dilute by half. You’ll have a size
that easily meets TSA requirements and reduce your cost by half.

Clothing:

Consider performance pieces that resist wrinkles and stains, particularly for business travel. You’ll spend less time ironing in the hotel room, and more time closing that deal. Speaking of stains, be sure to pack wet wipes to handle minor food-related wardrobe malfunctions with ease. Travel-sized, folding lint brushes are also a great idea, and a shoe buffing brush can provide quick touchups in between visits to the shine stand.

Cosmetics:

Makeup stores offer free makeovers if you find yourself stranded away from your hotel, and compact cosmetic items carry well in clutches or pockets of a briefcase. I use lip liners for their intended purpose, as well as lip and cheek color. It saves me money and space, and allows for fast freshening up in between events.

Grooming:

Makeup isn’t the only thing that needs refreshing on the road. I like to pack small sizes of various products and implements to serve as an on-the-fly grooming kit when I travel. Nail clippers, emery boards, and travel-sized fragrances are all unisex items to keep things coiffed during an adventure or business trip. A bottle of clear nail polish adds shine without worrying about dark color touchups, and can also stop a nylon stocking run in its tracks.

Ladies and gents alike have a need to stay stylish on the road. You never know when opportunity will strike with your career, and being ready for impromptu media appearances and job interviews is one way to be prepared to jump on those opportunities when they do arise. Clothing, manicures, makeup and hair are common areas of concern. These thrifty tips will leave you able to focus on the more important aspects of your travels.

Myscha Theriault

Myscha Theriault

A lifelong money cruncher who can squeeze a nickel ‘til it cries, Myscha is a syndicated columnist, best-selling author, and founder of Trek Hound and We Be Sharin’.