In a few weeks, your social media feed will be filled with photos of people trotting off to exotic locations to enjoy the summer warmth. For some, that means finding a go-to protective style or finding a seasonal nail polish. Some people stock up on their favorite hair care products and travel-sized containers in anticipation of running out of options at hotels and other accommodations.
Depending on where you’re headed, purchasing beauty products upon arrival may be subject to a common “tourist tax” (when an additional fee is added to products sold in areas primarily visited by non-nationals) due to poor accessibility. This can be quite costly for a variety of reasons. ). Typically, hotels stack shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel in the room here, which is replenished by management. The problem is that these products will never work on anything other than fine to “normal” hair types.
This is a problem that occurs frequently, but is rarely addressed. Entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman shared her experience as a curly-haired traveler on TikTok, which has since racked up thousands of views. “I think it’s really a hassle to travel with hair care because you need so many products,” she said in the video. “But every time I go to a hotel, they don’t have the right products for textured hair.” Glossy reports that some hotels are incorporating beauty items into their minibar offerings, but hair care is not an option. It is very unlikely that it will happen.
This got us thinking. So what goes into choosing the hair products that come in your hotel room? Also, why are there so few products for curly hair types? As it turns out, there’s a lot more to this strategy than meets the eye.
How hotels choose hair care products
First, product sourcing is a multi-layered process. “This item has to be representative of the hotel brand,” says Patrick Fernandez, executive managing director of Carillon Miami Wellness Resort (which stocks the Geneva Green series, which includes a two-in-one hair and body wash). ” he told POPSUGAR. “It also has to comply with local requirements, such as the use of plastic products, and be practical for guests.” Additionally, the selected product line has to be suitable for a variety of hair and skin types and conditions such as dandruff. must also be effective. “Shampoo products also address the locations and situations most guests will encounter when visiting a property.”
Let’s say you’re going to a beachfront property where guests often use the beach and pool. The product lines used there may be more focused on combating the drying effects of chlorine. Typically, they go to their room and look for products from brands like Le Labo, CO Bigelow, and even Malin + Goetz in the case of high-end properties. Rather, unbranded products are often labeled simply as “shampoo” and “conditioner.”
In the first place, how a hotel develops a hair care brand can be a game of give and take. “Hotels typically select the product that meets the most criteria, understanding that not every box is checked,” Fernandes says. Additionally, many hoteliers don’t go to regular beauty supply stores like Sally’s or Target to purchase beauty products, so the brands they stock are unfamiliar to the everyday pedestrian. Possibly. “Hotels typically have a group purchasing organization (GPO) that maintains relationships that are beneficial to the hotel,” says Fernandez. “A lot of companies buy mailing lists and approach hotels that way.”
For Cessie Cerrato, founder of Cessie C. Communications, when it comes to the many hospitality brands she’s worked with, choosing hair care products is ultimately about saving money. “Hotels often buy in bulk to keep costs down, which makes it a little harder to find shampoos for all hair types,” she says.
Still, as someone with curly hair herself, Serrato has come up with a few hacks to avoid carrying her entire hair care routine with her when she travels. “I sometimes ask to borrow better products from hotel hair salons, but hair salons usually offer a better variety of products,” Serrato says. “I left my blowbrush at home once while traveling. The hair salon was very kind and loaned me a good one. They are usually very accommodating.”
How hotels can accommodate tourists of all hair types
Strictly speaking, the products in your room should be effective for all hair types, but many places have different amounts of moisture needed for curly hair, or even hair textures. It does not take into account the amount of product that tends to be produced. Now, rightly or wrongly, many people with thick, voluminous hair use more than the recommended dime-sized amount to get the suds they’re looking for when washing their hair. tend to use the product. This means the small bottles provided by hotels probably won’t last more than half of someone’s laundry session. Then you’ll either have to buy expensive hair products or prepare your own hair care products, neither of which is ideal. But where does this fit in for companies that prioritize cost reduction above all else?
While the current hair product landscape in hotels is often less than ideal, Serato recognizes that the industry is changing. “We’re seeing a huge increase in luxury hotels partnering with beauty brands, not just spas,” she says. “Brands such as Natura Bisse, Dermalogica and L’occitane can be found in hotels all over the world and the choice is great.”
Still, there’s a huge opportunity for companies to make textured hair products a staple in hotels around the world. This is something people are willing to spend money on. Take Bronfman’s example. Bronfman says she invests in activities like this to make the hotel experience better for herself and people with other hair types.
The introduction of beauty products in the hospitality space is constantly evolving, and Cerrato looks forward to seeing this space continue to thrive. “I think we will actually see more product diversity as hotels become increasingly aware of their guests’ demand for diverse products,” she says.
Ariel Baker is an assistant editor at POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines in Essence and Forbes Vetted.
