Quick answer: the best travel shampoo and conditioner is the one you already use, in a size that fits your bag and won't leak. You have two good options: 100ml minis of your usual shampoo, or a concentrated melted shampoo and conditioner, which are semi-solid so they won't spill and last around twice as many washes as a standard liquid shampoo. Liquid rules for hand luggage vary by airport, so check before you fly.
Why not just use the hotel shampoo?
Hotel and gym shampoos are made to suit everyone, which usually means they suit no one in particular. If your hair is coloured, curly, dry or frizzy, a few days of the wrong shampoo can leave it rough, faded or flat, often just when you want it to look its best.
Option 1: concentrated melted shampoo and conditioner
Insight's Melted range is made for travel and the gym. Each shampoo is a concentrated, semi-solid formula with a gentle isethionate cleanser instead of sulphates. Because it's almost water-free, an 80ml pot lasts around twice as many washes as a standard liquid shampoo, and the texture won't leak in a bag.
| Your hair | Melted shampoo | Melted conditioner |
|---|---|---|
| Any hair, everyday use | Melted Energizing Shampoo | Melted Energizing Conditioner |
| Dry, frizzy | Melted Hydrating Shampoo | Melted Hydrating Conditioner |
| Dry, dull | Melted Nourishing Shampoo | Melted Nourishing Conditioner |
| Damaged, brittle | Melted Restructurizing Shampoo | Melted Restructurizing Conditioner |
All the Melted formulas are free from sulphates, silicones and parabens, vegan and cruelty-free.
How to use a melted shampoo
Scoop a small amount with your fingertips, about the size of a hazelnut to start, and work it between your palms with a little water before massaging into wet hair. You'll need less than you think. Keep water out of the pot between uses.
Option 2: 100ml travel minis
Many Insight shampoos come in 100ml, and our masks in 75ml, so you can take your exact routine with you, including Energizing, Hydrating, Nourishing, Protective, Restructurizing, Volume Up and Antioxidant. For a gift-ready mini routine, the Stocking Filler Gift Box pairs a 100ml shampoo with a 75ml mask.
Browse the full travel collection.
Hand luggage liquid rules
Rules have changed a lot recently. Some UK airports with newer security scanners now allow larger containers, while others still apply the 100ml limit, and the airport you fly home from may have different rules. Containers of 100ml or less in a clear bag are the safest bet. Semi-solid products like the Melted range are still likely to be treated as liquids or gels at security, so pack them the same way. Always check your departure and return airports before you travel.
What else to pack
- Sun protection for your hair: Protective Hair Spray (100ml) helps defend hair against sun, sea salt and chlorine. See sun protection for hair.
- A finishing product: Liquid Crystals (100ml) for shine and frizz, or Bouncy Curls Hair Oil (50ml) for curls.
- Between washes: Bodifying Dry Shampoo is a 40g powder, not an aerosol. See how to use dry shampoo.
- Styling for him: Mattifying Pomade or Elastic Fibre Paste, both 90ml.
How to stop shampoo leaking in your bag
- Choose a semi-solid melted formula, which can't spill.
- Squeeze a little air out of bottles before closing them.
- Pack liquids upright in a sealed bag.
- Put a small piece of cling film under the lid for extra security.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best shampoo and conditioner for travelling?
Your usual formula in a travel size. If leaks or space are the problem, a concentrated melted shampoo and conditioner lasts longer and won't spill.
How long does an 80ml melted shampoo last?
Around twice as many washes as a standard liquid shampoo of the same size, because it's concentrated. Exactly how long depends on your hair length and how often you wash.
Are melted shampoos the same as shampoo bars?
Not quite. They're concentrated and low-water like a bar, but semi-solid in a pot, so you scoop rather than rub.
Can I take Insight minis in hand luggage?
Our minis are 100ml or less, which meets the strictest current limit. Check your airport's rules before you fly.
About the author
Charlotte Read has spent six years in the hair industry with Insight Professional and holds a First Class BSc in Business Management and Marketing. She writes with reference to real salons across social media and the wider Insight community, and draws on the Insight office team, who between them bring over 100 years of combined experience on salon floors.
Where technical expertise is needed, Charlotte consults Lorraine Matic, Head of Insight UK Education, who brings over 38 years of global experience in colour, technique and hair science.